🌟 Maybe Happy Ending – Original Korean Musical by Hue Park & Will Aronson

Maybe Happy Ending is a critically acclaimed Korean original musical, co-written by lyricist/playwright Hue Park (박천휴) and composer Will Aronson. Set in a quiet corner of future Seoul, the story follows two obsolete helper robots, left behind by their former owners, who meet in a small apartment. As they explore what it means to remember, connect, and feel, they begin to form a bond that is unexpectedly — and deeply — human. Together, they navigate love, memory, and the fragile hope of a "maybe happy ending."

The musical was originally produced in Korea by Daemyung Culture Factory and NEO Productions, later joined by The Wave and eventually CJ ENM, which now includes the title in its global musical portfolio. While CJ ENM was not among the credited producers of the Broadway transfer, it has played a major role in nurturing the show domestically and elevating its international reach.

In 2024, the musical premiered on Broadway with Allan Williams as executive producer, general management by Foresight Theatrical, and a producing team of over 40 credited names. Despite the international scale of the production, the show’s creative DNA remained unmistakably Korean, with Hue Park credited for both book and lyrics.

🎭 Broadway

In 2024, Maybe Happy Ending made its Broadway premiere with Allan Williams as executive producer, general management by Foresight Theatrical, and over 40 credited producers. Despite the global scale of the production, the musical retained its distinctly Korean creative core, with Hue Park credited for both book and lyrics.

🏆 Tony Award Wins (2025)

At the 2025 Tony Awards, Maybe Happy Ending earned 10 nominations and won six major categories, making history as one of the most internationally recognized Korean musicals to date:

– Best Musical
– Best Book of a Musical – Hue Park & Will Aronson
– Best Original Score – Will Aronson & Hue Park
– Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Musical – Darren Criss
– Best Scenic Design of a Musical – Dane Laffrey & George Reeve
– Best Direction of a Musical – Michael Arden

This sweeping success — including top honors for Best Musical, Book, and Score — represents a landmark moment for Korean authorship on Broadway and a powerful milestone in the globalization of musical theater.

🧑‍🤝‍🧑 About Hue Park & Will Aronson

Park and Aronson have built a distinctive partnership over the past decade, creating a trilogy of original Korean musicals that blend emotional storytelling, inventive structure, and cultural nuance:

- Maybe Happy Ending (2016)

- Il Tenore (2023) – inspired by the life of Korean tenor and doctor Lee In-seon, this musical fuses operatic passion with biographical drama.

- Ghost Bakery (2024) – their latest work, continuing their exploration of memory, longing, and the line between life and afterlife.

Hue Park is also known for adapting and translating The Bodyguard Musical into Korean (2016), further showcasing his versatility as a lyricist and dramatist.