Darren Criss Makes a Triumphant Return to 'Maybe Happy Ending'

A well-timed curtain call arrives this fall as Tony winner and Glee actor Darren Criss is confirmed to return to his acclaimed starring role in the futuristic musical Maybe Happy Ending on Broadway.

Criss, who originated the role of Oliver, a wistful helper-bot navigating love and obsolescence, will step away temporarily before coming back to the Belasco Theatre stage this November. The musical announced that Andrew Barth Feldman will assume the role for a nine-week interlude from September 2 through November 2, with Criss resuming performances beginning around November 5.

Criss's absence is no mystery. Announced as a planned leave at the August 20 matinee, he will return refreshed and recharged, much to the delight of fans.

This casting shift followed controversy. Advocacy groups and artists, including BD Wong, criticized Feldman's casting, citing concerns that a non-AANHPI actor was portraying a role in a show set in Korea. The discussion was especially significant given Criss's historic Tony win as the first Asian American actor to claim Best Leading Actor in a Musical.

Criss's dual Tony triumph was not limited to acting. He also earned a Tony as a co-producer when Maybe Happy Ending took home Best Musical this June, along with awards for book, score, direction, and scenic design.

From its opening in November 2024, after delays from supply chain issues, to its under-the-radar revival in gross receipts during the holidays, thanks in part to Criss's star power and an expanded marketing push, the musical has defied early skepticism.