Darren Criss to return to MHE after casting debacle

[Ali Gator]

Broadway's Maybe Happy Ending is working through a tumultuous casting dilemma following the announcement that the show's original star, Darren Criss, would be leaving the show and replaced by Andrew Barth Feldman.

However, after significant backlash from the AAPI Broadway community, the show decided to redirect course and shared earlier today that Criss is actually not leaving, but rather taking a leave of absence.

Maybe Happy Ending — directed by out creative Michael Arden, who won a Tony Award earlier this year for Best Direction of a Musical — follows a journey of discovery and love between two helper robots, Oliver and Claire, after they are deemed obsolete in a futuristic version of Seoul, South Korea. The show is performed by a predominantly Asian cast.

Since Feldman's casting was announced, the show was lambasted for its decision to replace an Asian actor with a white actor. Criss's decision to come back to the show comes shortly after 2,400 people signed an open letter from BD Wong that asked Maybe Happy Ending's creators to reconsider their casting choice in light of what many considered to be an act of "erasure."

There's a lot of drama going on with this show, but let us break it down for you...

Darren Criss & Maybe Happy Ending's casting drama explained

TINYURL.COM

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Here's everything you need to know about the casting drama surrounding Maybe Happy Ending.

 

[pubic_assistance]

11 hours ago, Ali Gator said:

Criss's decision to come back to the show comes shortly after 2,400 people signed an open letter from BD Wong that asked Maybe Happy Ending's creators to reconsider their casting choice in light of what many considered to be an act of "erasure."

Some shows suffer seriously when a performer as talented as Darren Criss is replaced by an unknown (or lesser known) actor. The claims of "Erasure" in American entertainment culture are growing tedious in most situations, but this one seems valid. 

[Ali Gator]

The poor actor replacing Criss next week is getting more backlash than Ms. Billy Porter in 'Cabaret'. Now that's saying something...

[pubic_assistance]

2 hours ago, Ali Gator said:

The poor actor replacing Criss next week is getting more backlash than Ms. Billy Porter

At least Feldman is talented. (He was well received in Dear Evan Hansen.) I just think replacing someone as seasoned as Darren Criss was a mis-call and this little Jewish Boy certainly doesnt look Korean. Criss has some Filipino heritage so his multi-ethnic appearance makes more sense as a lead in this musical. 

Edited August 23 by pubic_assistance
grammar

[skynyc]

I think Andrew will be terrific, already have tickets to see him. And I love Darrin. Seeing his (originally) final show on Sunday. I do think the producers didn't realize the hubbub that they'd create. But I also think they wanted to show that the roles can be played by any performer. The show is an odd sell. Word of mouth and Best Musical are great. But describe it to a friend and you get a funny look. "Set in Korea in the future, two obsolete robots fall in love." Going to be a tough sell in DesMoines. By showing the roles can be universally played is, in my opinion, necessary. But I also understand the concern from the AAPI community. Truly a rock/hard place. But the backlash against ABF who is just glad to get a job is unfortunate. 

 

[Manhattan]

Robots, dammit, robots. Now we are going to argue about who is allowed to play non-humans. Broadway doesn't stand a chance against the diversity patrol. 
Why can't people mind their own business? The producers should cast THEIR show however they want. That's what we call freedom. 
if you don't like it, don't go. Don't let the privileged mob strip actors of jobs they earned. What an incredibly decadent and wealthy society we live in when people worry about which race will play the robot in a musical. No one owes anyone anything. Grow up and let the rest of us support good theater with talented casts. I know it won't be fair for everyone, but it just might be entertaining to see great performers. 

[+ purplekow]

Perhaps if they do a remake of the King and I, this actor can get try out for the role of the King.  It is the AAPI's role to promote Asian and Pacirfic Islander actors.  They used the bullets they had and it hit the mark.  Do not blame them for working to complete their mission.  

[+ nycman]

So much for "race blind" casting.

It would be comical, if it wasn’t so hypocritical.

[BSR]

I had no idea Darren Criss was my pinoy (half)brother, ‘cuz he looks totally white to me.  Maybe his mother is tisay (Tagalog for “mestiza”) because I don’t see much Filipino in him.

[pubic_assistance]

4 hours ago, BSR said:

cuz he looks totally white to me

Seriously ? the minute I saw him on "Glee" for the first time, I thought: "very cute kid" and then ...hmm. definitely mixed race.

Admittedly Filipino didnt come to mind, when I was trying to guess but I did see the Asian influence in his face. Of course I have a "thing" for people with interesting racial mixes. It is not unusual for me to spot someone whom I find to be particularly attractive and later discover their parents are something like Swedish and Senagalese. 

[BSR]

16 minutes ago, pubic_assistance said:

Seriously ? the minute I saw him on "Glee" for the first time, I thought: "very cute kid" and then ...hmm. definitely mixed race.

Admittedly Filipino didnt come to mind, when I was trying to guess but I did see the Asian influence in his face. Of course I have a "thing" for people with interesting racial mixes. It is not unusual for me to spot someone whom I find to be particularly attractive and later discover their parents are something like Swedish and Senagalese. 

I googled photos of Darren Criss with his mom, definitely mestiza.  She’s the same mix as I am, as well as a few million other Filipinos:  Chinese, Spanish, and indigenous Filipino.  I must be blind as a bat because I don’t see the mixed race thing at all in Darren.  But he is very cute, which is all I care about.

[pubic_assistance]

1 minute ago, BSR said:

She’s the same mix as I am, as well as a few million other Filipinos:  Chinese, Spanish, and indigenous Filipino

Your mom must be beautiful. Did she pass that down to you ? 😉

[MaybeMaybeNot]

Reminded me of the debacle of casting Mandy Patinkin as a Russian in The Great Comet. Couldn't let that happen. A light-skinned Russian? Is that even a thing? Let's close the show and put everyone out of a job instead.

I haven't seen MHE. I assume the race of the robots doesn't matter (am I wrong?), or do they only have Asian or mixed robots? It seems the time to be upset would be casting a white actor in Flower Drum Song or Allegience, not a show about robots.  

I want there to be really exciting, diverse casting, and I wonder if these incidents will deter that.

[pubic_assistance]

23 minutes ago, MaybeMaybeNot said:

light-skinned Russian? Is that even a thing?

Every Russian I know is whiter than me ! What are you referring to ? ...."Is that even a thing" .....

[MaybeMaybeNot]

1 hour ago, pubic_assistance said:

Every Russian I know is whiter than me ! What are you referring to ? ...."Is that even a thing" .....

I was intending for it to sound like satirical commentary, but the context might have failed me. The background may/may not be helpful. When Josh Groban left The Great Comet, he was replaced by an African-American actor who was not a name. The show struggled to find an audience without a name. When they announced replacing him with Mandy Patinkin, Cynthia Erivo and others rose up in outrage on social media, Patinkin backed out, and the producers closed the show. Everyone was out of a job, the show never toured, and the show has been totally forgotten. Good work, Cynthia!

Edited 13 hours ago by MaybeMaybeNot

[pubic_assistance]

2 hours ago, MaybeMaybeNot said:

When Josh Groban left The Great Comet, he was replaced by an African-American actor who was not a name. The show struggled to find an audience without a name. When they announced replacing him with Mandy Patinkin, Cynthia Erivo and others rose up in outrage on social media,

Thanks @MaybeMaybeNot for the context.

[d.anders]

On 8/31/2025 at 2:43 AM, Manhattan said:

Why can't people mind their own business?

Where would gay men be today if we all held this opinion?

[d.anders]

On 8/31/2025 at 10:12 AM, BSR said:

I must be blind as a bat because I don’t see the mixed race thing at all in Darren.

I never saw it either.