Latest news with #MaybeHappyEnding
Korea Herald
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Korea Herald
Park Chun-hue writes across borders — and touches hearts
Tony-award winner on 'Maybe Happy Ending' 'I wanted to present a world that feels familiar yet strangely unfamiliar to Korean audiences, and one that feels foreign yet oddly relatable to international audiences,' said Park Chun-hue, also known as Hue Park, reflecting on the origins of "Maybe Happy Ending," the 2025 Tony Award-winning musical he co-created with Will Aronson. That creative vision has defined Park's approach as a writer and it has resonated widely. Developed with longtime collaborator Aronson, "Maybe Happy Ending" has become one of Korea's most beloved original musicals, recently making history on Broadway with six Tony Awards, including best musical. For Park, "Maybe Happy Ending" represents more than accolades: It marks a deeply personal artistic milestone. 'It was the first time Will and I built a story entirely from scratch. Creating a world and characters without a pre-existing source was both exhilarating and terrifying," he said in a recent email interview. "I don't particularly know why it is loved. From when we first began writing in 2014 to the Broadway opening last fall, we kept refining it, trying to improve its quality even a little. I'd like to believe that's the reason," Park said. Set in a near-future Seoul, 'Maybe Happy Ending' follows the story of Oliver and Claire — two outdated HelperBot androids discarded by their human owners — who find each other and form a bond neither expected. On June 8, "Maybe Happy Ending," the Broadway hit adapted from a Korean musical released 10 years ago, won six Tony Awards, including best musical, best book of a musical and best original score. Park became the first Korean citizen to win a Tony. Central to that process is Park's extraordinary creative partnership with Aronson. Though often introduced in Korea as the composer, Aronson has co-authored every narrative layer of the show. 'In the US, we're simply called writers -- whether working with notes or words,' Park explained. Their collaboration of 17 years has grown from professional partnership to a kind of artistic kinship, sustained by daily conversations, shared sensibilities and deep mutual respect. 'We've never divided the work between us. Every challenge, every joy, every step forward — we've gone through it together.' Bringing the show to Broadway involved more than translation; it required a full-scale reimagining. The production was expanded to include dynamic set changes, a larger orchestra and new scenes that were previously left implied in the Korean staging. Some dialogues and songs were also trimmed to streamline the narrative. These changes weren't made for spectacle, Park noted, but as part of a careful process to elevate the story's emotional precision and accessibility. Still, the essence of the original "Maybe Happy Ending" remained intact — and its emotional resonance transcended language. One audience member's story stayed with Park. During a solo trip to New York, the man had purchased tickets to 10 different shows. "Maybe Happy Ending" was the fifth. Moved beyond expectation, he sold the remaining tickets, changed his flight, and returned home early to be with his wife. Later, as a Valentine's Day gift, he brought her back to New York so they could see the show together. 'He didn't even send that story to me directly,' Park said. 'But I took it as one of the greatest compliments I've ever received.' As Park reflects on what lies ahead, his goal remains simple yet resolute: to keep creating, with sincerity and purpose. 'As long as I continue to feel the impulse and desire to tell stories and share music, I want to remain a steady and sincere creator,' he said. 'I've now spent nearly half my life between Seoul and New York, and as someone who works between two cultures and languages, I hope to tell stories that offer a slightly different perspective -- stories that resonate with many people and carry meaning.'
Korea Herald
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Korea Herald
Park Chun-hue writes across borders -- and touches hearts
Tony-award winner on 'Maybe Happy Ending' 'I wanted to present a world that feels familiar yet strangely unfamiliar to Korean audiences, and one that feels foreign yet oddly relatable to international audiences,' said Park Chun-hue, also known as Hue Park, reflecting on the origins of "Maybe Happy Ending," the 2025 Tony Award-winning musical he co-created with Will Aronson. That creative vision has defined Park's approach as a writer and it has resonated widely. Developed with longtime collaborator Aronson, "Maybe Happy Ending" has become one of Korea's most beloved original musicals, recently making history on Broadway with six Tony Awards, including best musical. For Park, "Maybe Happy Ending" represents more than accolades: It marks a deeply personal artistic milestone. 'It was the first time Will and I built a story entirely from scratch. Creating a world and characters without a pre-existing source was both exhilarating and terrifying," he said in a recent email interview. "I don't particularly know why it is loved. From when we first began writing in 2014 to the Broadway opening last fall, we kept refining it, trying to improve its quality even a little. I'd like to believe that's the reason," Park said. Set in a near-future Seoul, 'Maybe Happy Ending' follows the story of Oliver and Claire — two outdated HelperBot androids discarded by their human owners — who find each other and form a bond neither expected. On June 8, "Maybe Happy Ending," the Broadway hit adapted from a Korean musical released 10 years ago, won six Tony Awards, including best musical, best book of a musical and best original score. Park became the first Korean citizen to win a Tony. Central to that process is Park's extraordinary creative partnership with Aronson. Though often introduced in Korea as the composer, Aronson has co-authored every narrative layer of the show. 'In the US, we're simply called writers -- whether working with notes or words,' Park explained. Their collaboration of 17 years has grown from professional partnership to a kind of artistic kinship, sustained by daily conversations, shared sensibilities and deep mutual respect. 'We've never divided the work between us. Every challenge, every joy, every step forward — we've gone through it together.' Bringing the show to Broadway involved more than translation; it required a full-scale reimagining. The production was expanded to include dynamic set changes, a larger orchestra and new scenes that were previously left implied in the Korean staging. Some dialogues and songs were also trimmed to streamline the narrative. These changes weren't made for spectacle, Park noted, but as part of a careful process to elevate the story's emotional precision and accessibility. Still, the essence of the original "Maybe Happy Ending" remained intact — and its emotional resonance transcended language. One audience member's story stayed with Park. During a solo trip to New York, the man had purchased tickets to 10 different shows. "Maybe Happy Ending" was the fifth. Moved beyond expectation, he sold the remaining tickets, changed his flight, and returned home early to be with his wife. Later, as a Valentine's Day gift, he brought her back to New York so they could see the show together. 'He didn't even send that story to me directly,' Park said. 'But I took it as one of the greatest compliments I've ever received.' As Park reflects on what lies ahead, his goal remains simple yet resolute: to keep creating, with sincerity and purpose. 'As long as I continue to feel the impulse and desire to tell stories and share music, I want to remain a steady and sincere creator,' he said. 'I've now spent nearly half my life between Seoul and New York, and as someone who works between two cultures and languages, I hope to tell stories that offer a slightly different perspective -- stories that resonate with many people and carry meaning.' gypark@
Perth Now
14-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Perth Now
Chris Colfer reveals which of the 'living legends' from Glee he is still in touch with
Chris Colfer is still in touch with some of the "living legends" he worked with on Glee. The 35-year-old actor shot to fame when he was cast in the role of Kurt Hummell on the Fox musical drama series in 2009 and felt "so blessed" that the show made use so many names from the theatrical world. He told PEOPLE: "[I'll never forget] meeting all the amazing guest stars. "I'm still friends with a lot of them. And that was by far the greatest part of the experience, meeting living legends. "Carol Burnett, Shirley MacLaine. June Squibb is one of my best friends in the whole world; I just saw her a few nights ago. "Kristin Chenoweth, adore, We were so blessed to have all that talent on the show." During his time on Glee, Chris' alter-ego struck up a relationship with Blaine Anderson (Darren Criss) and after he won a Tony Award for his leading role in the new Broadway musical Maybe Happy Ending, The Land of Stories author admitted that he is just "very proud" of his former co-star. He said: "[I'm] very proud. Very, very proud. He's incredible in the show. The show's so good, and I'm so glad he won because the party was that much more fun afterwards." During his initial acceptance speech, Darren - who is married to Mia Swier and has Bluesy, three, as well as two-year-old son Brother with her - thened his wife who took a "massive swing" when she agreed to him taking the part in the first plac.e He said: "The real hero about this for this remarkable journey is my wife, Mia, who took a massive swing on allowing me to do this. "To allow this crazy upheaval in our life, to make this logistically possible, and for bearing the brunt of raising two tiny friends under three, so that I could raise a singing robot at the Belasco Theatre eight times a week. "You're the very pedestal that upholds the shiny spinny bit in our lives, and your love and your support for me and our beautiful children, combined with the miracle of working on something as magical as Maybe Happy Ending, has been and will always be award enough."
Chicago Tribune
12-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Chicago Tribune
Review: ‘Kimberly Akimbo' arrives in Chicago, a moving musical about a teenager facing mortality
At the Tony Awards this year, a delightfully quirky little musical called 'Maybe Happy Ending' beat out big competitors and walked off with the big prize. Although it's about family dynamics rather than robotic romance, 'Kimberly Akimbo,' a similarly small and unusual show that won best musical in 2023, paved its way. Nearly three years after its Broadway bow, the touring version of director Jessica Stone's original production of that Jeanine Tesori tuner has finally reached downtown Chicago. Carolee Carmello, who has graced this city's stage several times with outstanding success in Stephen Sondheim musicals and elsewhere, is on the road in the title role originally played by Victoria Clark. And the rest of the nine-person cast includes at least two long-standing romantic couples, which might explain why much of the cast seems to be so close up there. 'Kimberly Akimbo,' the musical, is based on a play of the same name by David Lindsay-Abaire, which I first reviewed at A Red Orchid Theatre back in 2005, with Roslyn Alexander playing the lead. As Broadway fans will know, the show is about a teenager with progeria, a rare medical condition that causes the human body to age at over four times its normal rate. When she is 16, as she is in this show, Kimberly's appearance suggests a woman in her 60s. And, as logic would suggest, life also blossoms and expires for Kimberly at a far accelerated rate. Most of us, of course, don't know our likelihood of dying early so the play, and thus the musical, with book and lyrics by its original author, allows us to see life through the eyes of someone who knows more than most of its unavoidable brevity and the importance of living in the present, rather than the past or the future. In the musical, Kimberly's schoolmates (played by Grace Capeless, Skye Alyssa Friedman, Darron Hayes and Pierce Wheeler) become a little Greek chorus of show-choir nerds, trying to reconcile their adolescent angst with the problems faced by the young woman aging before their eyes. Kimberly has yet more to deal with, too. Her family is composed of narcissists: a mostly clueless mom, Pattie (Laura Woyasz), an alcoholic dad, Buddy (Jim Hogan) and a whack-a-doodle aunt, Debra (Emily Koch), who interjects a criminal caper plot into the days around Kimberly's Sweet 16 birthday. I greatly enjoyed 'Kimberly Akimbo' on Broadway and this first national tour is in excellent shape. It's never especially helpful to most people to compare performances, but if you were to twist my arm, I'd say that whereas Clark focused intently on achieving the inner life and spirit of a teenager in her portrayal, Carmello leans more into the character's sense of her own mortality. Both takes strike me as legitimate, although they are quite different. Carmello's Kimberly is a little sadder and more careworn, although she certainly also makes the final carpe diem number work quite beautifully and, as her perhaps boyfriend, Seth, Miguel Gil is a true, thoroughly guileless delight. I'm a big Tesori fan. Lyric Opera audiences heard her extraordinarily potent music quite recently in the opera 'Blue,' with the stirring Tazewell Thompson libretto. Although she clearly remembers what it is like to be young and have fun, Tesori's 'Kimberly Akimbo' score makes no easy choices; it focus intently on the show's complex emotional landscape as Kimberly strives to teach those far older than herself, and wishes for that one great adventure we'd all like to have before we go. Review: 'Kimberly Akimbo' (3.5 stars) When: Through June 22 Where: CIBC Theatre, 18 W. Monroe St. Running time: 2 hours, 30 minutes Tickets: $35-$125 at
Time Out
12-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Time Out
Diego Kolankowsky: "I achieved dreams I never knew I had."
Diego Kolankowsky, the Argentine producer who always knew that dreams renew themselves, made history again in the world's theater capital. At the recent Tony Awards ceremony — the Oscars of theater — he took home the two most important awards: Best Musical for Maybe Happy Ending and Best Revival of a Musical for Sunset Blvd. An epic milestone for this multifaceted creative, born in the Buenos Aires suburbs, who conquered Broadway with his passion and instinct for stories that leave a mark. But the most exciting part is that Maybe Happy Ending — a show born seven years ago amidst uncertainty and doubt — was crowned the queen of the night. 'It's a Cinderella who today became a queen,' said Kolankowsky, still overwhelmed with emotion. In total, his name was associated with nine statuettes: Maybe Happy Ending also won Best Director, Best Leading Actor, Best Book, Best Scenic Design, and Best Original Score. Sunset Blvd. took home awards for Best Leading Actress and Best Lighting Design, in addition to the grand prize for Best Revival. These awards are not only a recognition of his talent and vision but also of the strength of his convictions and faith in stories worth telling. In this interview, Kolankowsky opens up to his world to share how passion took him from Buenos Aires to the marquees of Broadway, his lessons learned, and the challenges he faced turning dreams into reality. From Buenos Aires to the world's most important theater stage... What was that journey like? Was there a key moment when you said, 'I'm going for Broadway'? Yes, there was a moment. I had created a TV show about the luxury industry, about watches and travel, called Hours Minutes and Seconds. I love watches. I come from a very, very poor family, and when I started making money, I became a watch fanatic. I created this show basically to indulge my passion for this accessory. A TV show — a rarity. And it was a worldwide success. It aired in 12 or 14 countries, with translations into English, Spanish, and French. That brought me to New York a lot. Also, since I was little I wanted to work in fiction, but I did very well in audiovisual/journalistic production. I was News Manager at América TV, created La Cornisa, and also worked on Jorge Lanata's shows and many other programs and media in Argentina. But I wanted to dedicate myself to fiction, and spending so much time here in New York, I reconnected with musical theater. I fell in love with a show called Rock of Ages. I saw it 20 times from the same seat. I brought my family and friends, celebrated birthdays there. I met the lead actor at a party here in New York, Constantine Maroulis, and his friends. We started a journey to make things happen. I would say Rock of Ages was the trigger that made me say, 'This is what I want to do.' 'The musical Rock of Ages was the trigger to say: 'This is what I want to do'' You won the two biggest Tony Awards and went on stage to receive Best Musical. What goes through your mind now when you look at all you've achieved? Does it feel real? Yes, it's incredible what has been accomplished. This is my third Tony Award. I understand this time it has a different impact because it was two awards together, the most important of the season: Best Revival of a Musical for Sunset Blvd and Best Musical for Maybe Happy Ending, an original creation. And that has worldwide significance. My name will be associated with this show every time it's performed anywhere in the world. And it's something that identifies me, that I love, that I chose, and that is amazing. And I realize that's true. It hits me, of course, because what keeps me present is the overwhelming emotion. It's an incredible feeling, and I go back and forth from tears to laughter, wearing the two theater masks all the time. But what I can also tell you is that I come from a very humble family in La Matanza, and I fulfilled dreams I had never dreamed. That is a big lesson for me because I know I'll keep surprising myself, as I'll surely fulfill a dream I haven't even had yet. And that's the great thing about dreams renewing themselves, right? Otherwise, my life would have ended years ago, considering I was a News Manager at 24 — another dream I never had. And I had my own content company at 30 and TV shows I'm still producing. My dream was to see how I would survive. So it's total happiness, and I want to share this lesson that it's good to know that dreams renew. 'I come from a very humble family in La Matanza and fulfilled dreams I had never dreamed' Maybe Happy Ending took seven years to arrive, endured lack of funds, and ended up the queen of the night. What did you learn throughout that process? What made you fall so in love with that story that you never let go? Yes, it was a very tough struggle, with many complications, but always upward. It's a story that starts at the bottom and ends at the top, but my partner Hunter Arnold and I would say, 'It wasn't a rollercoaster; it was a climb to the summit.' But it was without oxygen, very difficult. I don't know if I learned something particular because it's really a reaffirmation. I believed in this, Michael Arden believed in it, Jeffrey Richards and Hue Park too. We were the ones who believed. Now many people see us up there. I tell you because it happened to me with friends, investors, and co-producers who told me no, they didn't invest, and now they say, 'You were right, we didn't see it. I can't believe how you saw it.' To me, it's more a lesson for us that when you try to create something at first, you can't have the full picture of the end, and that it's a gamble worth taking. So, for me, it's a reaffirmation to follow my dreams, instincts, and desires. After sweeping the Tonys… What's next? Is there anything on the horizon that excites you as much as this? And are there chances that any of your shows will come to Argentina? I decided some time ago that life wouldn't surprise me — I would surprise life. And the crazy thing is that life surprised me again. Beetlejuice returns to Broadway for the third time on October 8 for 13 weeks, a show I produce. Maybe Happy Ending continues its run, and Sunset Boulevard closes on July 20. Also, a film is in postproduction, a project my friend Axel Kuschevatzky invited me to join, taking on parts of production he likes less. It's called & Hijos, directed by Pablo Trapero, starring Bill Nighy, Imelda Staunton, George McKay, written by Sarah Polley, the Oscar winner for Women Talking. It will premiere soon at a festival I can't yet disclose, but it's one of the three biggest in the world for European cinema. 'I decided some time ago that life wouldn't surprise me — I would surprise life' Quick Buenos Aires-style Ping Pong: Favorite things Favorite play (or musical) you've seen in the city? I've done very little theater in Argentina. I like to create shows, not promote them. Since Maybe Happy Ending is our show, I don't feel that way, but I feel that I could present one of our shows in my country. It's possible it might be done in Argentina; I have the rights, of course. Reliable restaurant? I have two that feel like home, where the waiters embrace you: Gardiner and Corte Charcuterie. Perfect plan for a free night? I live in a beautiful warehouse with guitars, drums, instruments. Gathering with my friends to play music. It's something we do regularly. People sometimes organize casual soccer games; we organize jam sessions. A neighborhood that always inspires you? I'm from the outskirts of Buenos Aires, so my hometown Ramos Mejía still inspires me. Now I live in the city, and my neighborhood inspires me a lot: Belgrano Chico and also Palermo. They're two neighborhoods I love walking around and love the culture they emanate. 'My hometown Ramos Mejía still inspires me' A place in BA where you'd like to produce something? I'm a fan of iconic places. Luckily, I've had the privilege of doing things. But I love the Planetarium, the Obelisk, and the Colón Theater. Luckily, I've done things in all three. Oh, you know what I'm missing and would like? To do something at the Floralis Genérica.
