K-Musical "Maybe Happy Ending," Sweeping the Tony Awards, Faces Casting Controversy in the US

Filipino-American Actor Steps Down...
Replaced by White Actor

The Broadway production of the popular musical "Maybe Happy Ending," which won six awards at the Tony Awards in the United States, has become embroiled in a controversy over a casting change.

According to the New York Times (NYT) on July 31 (local time), the Broadway production team of "Maybe Happy Ending" announced that Darren Criss, a Filipino-American actor currently playing the lead role of the robot "Oliver," will step down next month and be replaced by white actor Andrew Barth Feldman. Feldman is scheduled to appear in the production for nine weeks starting from August 2.

A scene from the musical 'Maybe Happy Ending'

After this decision became public, a series of comments expressing dissatisfaction and protest appeared on social media. Some pointed out that the decision may have involved considerations related to "race."

The Asian American Performers Action Coalition (AAPAC) expressed disappointment with the decision by the "Maybe Happy Ending" team in a statement. The organization stated, "Another (negative) precedent has been set," and pointed out, "This is a precedent that reduces opportunities even for groups of actors who are already too often excluded due to cultural specificity." They added, "If this casting was intended to demonstrate the 'universality' of the story, it only reminds us once again that stories about people who look like us, and stories featuring people who look like us, are not considered universal enough."

Veteran Chinese-American stage actor BD Wong also emphasized in a Facebook post that some Asian-American actors felt betrayed by the casting news. He wrote, "I know that no one takes casting decisions lightly," but added, "Unfortunately, this 'turning point' negates the recognition and celebration that 'Maybe Happy Ending' brought to the Asian community. Witnessing and feeling this situation is deeply painful."

In this musical, seven out of eight actors are of Asian American, Native Hawaiian, or Pacific Islander descent. Previously, the production team stated, "Although this casting was not intentional, we are proud to have created a musical in which all roles can be performed authentically by Asian actors."

"Maybe Happy Ending" is a Korean original musical that tells the story of Oliver and Claire, robots created to help humans, who meet and fall in love in a future Seoul. Premiering in Korea in 2016, the musical made its Broadway debut in the United States in November of last year and won six awards at the 78th Tony Awards in June. Criss, who was excluded from the current casting, became the first Asian American to win Best Leading Actor in a Musical at that time.