US EditionA Broadway Show Asks a White Actor to Replace an Asian One. The Backlash Was Swift
Casting Andrew Barth Feldman, a white actor, as lead in "Maybe Happy Ending" sparked backlash over Asian representation, with over 2,400 signing an open letter opposing the decision.
- On July 24, the production announced Andrew Barth Feldman will take over Oliver starting in early September, replacing Darren Criss after his August 31 performance.
- Originally staged in Seoul, South Korea in 2016, the musical Maybe Happy Ending premiered there and featured Asian-led Broadway casts, while co-creators Will Aronson and Hue Park designed robot characters Oliver and Claire to be universally playable yet acknowledged their show's AAPI significance.
- BD Wong's August 10 open letter gained more than 2,400 signatories including celebrities, highlighting Asian Americans' 3.7% Broadway representation and 2.8% lead musical roles.
- After backlash, producers announced Darren Criss would take a nine-week leave after Aug. 31 and return November 4, 2025, though critics said the damage was done.
- Critics argue replacing a barrier-breaking Asian lead with a white successor reflects a broader pattern of Asian performers being passed over and compare the uproar to Miss Saigon, risking Maybe Happy Ending's post-Tony momentum.
29 Articles
29 Articles
Associated Press News
A Broadway show asks a white actor to replace an Asian one. The backlash was swift
Broadway's “Maybe Happy Ending” faces backlash for casting a white actor to replace an Asian lead. The decision has sparked criticism from the Asian American Performers Action Coalition and other prominent artists.
'Maybe Happy Ending' to bring back Darren Criss? The Broadway controversy, explained
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 b…
Helen J Shen Reacts to Boyfriend Andrew Barth Feldman’s Casting Controversy in Broadway’s ‘Maybe Happy Ending’ | Just Jared: Celebrity News and Gossip
Helen J. Shen is speaking out in response to the controversy over her real-life boyfriend Andrew Barth Feldman being cast as the new lead alongside her in Maybe Happy Ending on Broadway. Fans of the show have criticized the casting of a white actor in a show that takes place in Seoul, South Korea. Many feel that the role of Oliver, originated by Darren Criss, should be played by a member of the Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) communit…
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