2025's Best New Musical!

Summary

The Broadway Show: Uncut – Episode Summary Episode: 2025's Best New Musical!
Release Date: July 3, 2025
Host: Tamsen Fadal

---

Introduction

In this compelling episode of The Broadway Show: Uncut, host Tamsen Fadal delves into the triumph of the groundbreaking musical "maybe Happy Ending", which recently clinched the prestigious Tony Award for Best New Musical. The episode offers an in-depth exploration of the show's journey, featuring exclusive interviews with star Helen J. Shen and the Tony-winning creative team, including Michael Arden and Dane Laffrey.

---

Tony Awards Highlights

The episode opens with a heartfelt moment from Darren Criss, who accepted the Tony Award for Best Actor in a Musical. At 00:38, Criss shares his thoughts:

"I think there's a real focused commitment and dedication to this kind of work, and it's effective and it's affecting people in a positive way... I'm an artist. Be like, how would I do this if I got to do it again."
[00:38] Darren Criss

Criss reflects on the artistry and emotional intensity of the moment, highlighting the personal and professional challenges faced during the award acceptance.

---

Exclusive Interview with Helen J. Shen

Journey to Success

At 01:24, Tamsen introduces Helen J. Shen, star of "maybe Happy Ending," who shares her exhilarating journey:

"It's been sort of around a year since I auditioned and did my first callback and found out that I was going to be going on this journey. And needless to say, it's been quite the year."
[02:02] Helen J. Shen

Helen discusses the whirlwind experience of turning her dreams into reality, performing eight shows a week, and the continuous personal growth she has encountered.

Themes and Impact of the Show

Helen delves into the musical's profound themes:

"The piece itself has such beautiful musings about mortality and being grateful for the little things in life... our firefly moment is a great example of when we stop to smell the roses."
[04:13] Helen J. Shen

She emphasizes the show's exploration of human emotions, connection, and mindfulness, illustrating how it resonates deeply with audiences.

Personal Reflections and Influences

Helen reflects on her inspirations and the support system that propelled her success:

"I feel like I stand on the shoulders of so many who have come before me... Lea Salonga... Sara Bareilles... I'm really excited about it."
[07:36] Helen J. Shen

She highlights the influence of Broadway legends and her gratitude towards her family for their unwavering support.

Family Reactions and Emotional Moments

Helen shares touching anecdotes about her family's reactions to her success:

"My mom... was running down the stairs screaming at the top of her lungs, this is a dream come true."
[09:00] Helen J. Shen

She describes the emotional support from her parents and the joy they feel witnessing her achievements.

---

Insightful Conversation with the Creative Team

Overcoming Initial Challenges

At 14:34, Tamsen invites Michael Arden and Dane Laffrey to discuss the show's evolution:

"When you look at where you are right now, it feels like a dream come true."
[16:18] Michael Arden

They recount the early days of rehearsals, initial skepticism, and their unwavering belief in the show's potential.

Evolution and Audience Reception

The creative team reflects on the show's growing popularity and audience engagement:

"Audiences expect what the show gives Them... It's immense and moving and powerful."
[18:48] Unknown Creative Team Member

They highlight how word-of-mouth and critical acclaim have propelled "maybe Happy Ending" to the forefront of Broadway’s most beloved productions.

A Night of Recognition and Celebration

Discussing their Tony win, the team shares their exhilaration and the sense of accomplishment:

"It feels like a real beginning in a way... it is actually going to have a place in the market."
[17:21] Helen J. Shen

They express that the awards signify not an end, but a new chapter for the musical, promising continued success and influence.

Personal Connections and Long-Term Relationships

The team reminisces about their deep-rooted friendships and collaborative spirit:

"We keep, like, looking at each other. Like, who let us in?"
[19:02] Helen J. Shen

They fondly recall their shared history, creative brainstorming sessions, and the joy of seeing their collective efforts come to fruition.

---

Conclusion

Tamsen Fadal wraps up the episode by celebrating the monumental achievements of "maybe Happy Ending" and encouraging listeners to experience the magic firsthand:

"Pick up tickets to maybe Happy Ending now [e-mail]."
[19:55] Tamsen Fadal

This episode not only showcases the critical acclaim and heartfelt stories behind "maybe Happy Ending" but also celebrates the collaborative spirit and relentless passion that drive Broadway’s most successful productions.

---

Key Takeaways:

• "maybe Happy Ending" has emerged as the standout musical of 2025, securing multiple Tony Awards.
• Star Helen J. Shen shares her personal journey, the show's impactful themes, and the emotional support from her family.
• The creative team highlights the challenges overcome, the show's evolution, and its profound connection with audiences.
• The episode underscores the importance of storytelling, collaboration, and perseverance in achieving Broadway success.

For those who haven't yet experienced "maybe Happy Ending," this episode serves as both an introduction and an invitation to witness a transformative piece of theatre that is redefining modern musicals.

Transcript

[Tamsen Fadal]

Maybe Happy Ending won big at the Tony Awards, including the top prize, best new musical. And we're talking all about it on this latest episode of the Broadway show Uncut. I'm Tamsen Fadal. I'm so glad you're here. So you're gonna hear from the Tony winning creative team coming up in just a bit. Plus, I'll talk to one of the stars of maybe Happy Ending, Helen J. Shen. But first, here's what Darren Criss had to say on Tony night just minutes after winning the trophy for best actor in a musical.

[Darren Criss]

I think there's a real focused commitment and dedication to this kind of work, and it's effective and it's affecting people in a positive way, and it's catching on all by itself. This is all the humans have decided, not the robots. All I'm thinking about is if I said the right things, because you have things you want to say in your head, and then it doesn't necessarily get to come out the way you, you, you planned. So that's all I'm thinking of. As a son of somebody who really valued public speaking, that's kind of the. Like, I don't get to enjoy this because I'm thinking about this other facet of the calamity of the moment, which is like, how did it. Was it clear? And of course, I'm just thinking about all the things I didn't do, because of course, I'm an art. I'm an artist. Be like, how would I do this if I got to do it again?

[Helen J. Shen]

Like, maybe Happy Ending.

[Tamsen Fadal]

As promised, here's my chat with another one of the stars of maybe Happy Ending, Helen J. Shen.

[Paul Wontorek]

Well, it's nice to see you.

[Helen J. Shen]

Nice to see you too. Have a glorious day.

[Paul Wontorek]

A glorious day and a glorious Broadway season, that's for sure.

[Helen J. Shen]

No, it is just a thrilling season. As a theater goer, I try to catch as much as I can with the schedule, but I've been loving everything that I've been seeing lately. It's so exciting.

[Paul Wontorek]

Well, it's different. Everything's a little bit different, right. Than what you would normally think as Broadway theater. How are you feeling? I think, you know, maybe happy. Maybe have ending what it's like. Maybe happy beginning for you in so many ways.

[Helen J. Shen]

Oh, that is such a lovely way to put it. I think it's been sort of around a year since I auditioned and did my first callback and found out that I was going to be going on this journey. And needless to say, it's been quite the year. Of just dream coming true after dream coming true. So I'm just riding the wave and people have told me to keep staying present and just soaking it all up.

[Paul Wontorek]

Is it. I mean, 10 Tony nominations, so that's, you know, when you talk about dream come true, there's like one being there and then, you know, being where you've been now.

[Helen J. Shen]

Totally. The biggest dream was even getting to do it for an audience and doing bringing this incredible story and vision to audiences every night. And I get to do that eight shows a week. I'm going tonight to do another one. And it just keeps surprising me and continues to teach me lessons about life that I just feel very grateful for. And then to have accolades and outside external validation. On top is cherries on top of this gigantic cake that we all get to eat every day.

[Paul Wontorek]

Anyway, what are some of the lessons you think you walk away from just because of the story and because of how different the story is, too?

[Helen J. Shen]

Yeah, I think doing. Bringing a show, like maybe happy ending, a lesson that I'm learning is that people are hungry and excited to listen to different stories and be surprised and go into a theater not knowing what they're going to expect. And that's been really lovely to bring that gift to people. And then the piece itself has such beautiful musings about mortality and being grateful for the little things in life and the little moments, maybe that seem quiet on paper, but are the little gems of life that we can then point to. And really, I think, like, our firefly moment is a great example of when we stop to smell the roses and we stop to actually appreciate how beautiful life can be. That's the. That's how we can connect with other people.

[Paul Wontorek]

Do you think you see things differently? You're repeating the message not once as audience goers, you know, go to see it once or twice, but you're seeing it and repeating it and moving through that performance eight times a week. Do you feel like it's really changed you in a lot of ways?

[Helen J. Shen]

Yeah. There's a really lovely lesson in mindfulness and craft that I think doing eight shows a week and continuing to try to excavate more out of this text and more out of this piece that I think is so brilliant. And I've heard, though I haven't seen the show, besides some put in rehearsals, I've heard that other people's experiences of seeing the show twice or three times, bringing someone that they thought of when they first saw it is a very special experience of sitting there and being like, I wonder what they're gonna think about this moment that's coming up, and I think it's a lovely show to see multiple times, which is so exciting.

[Paul Wontorek]

Where it started on Broadway to where it is right now. Could you have imagined that when it came out of the gate?

[Helen J. Shen]

100%, no. No, not at all. I think when we were in rehearsals and doing table reads, which is just around a script, just a piano reversal rehearsal piano, everyone in rehearsal clothes. If you've seen the show, which I hope people have at this point, our tech is so glorious and so expansive and takes us all on such a transporting journey. But the. The story itself already does that without all of the bells and whistles. It's a wonderful addition to have those things. But, yeah, when we sat around a table, we knew that the story was really special. We knew that Will Aronson and Hugh Park's work was just something that we all really wanted to do right by.

[Paul Wontorek]

When you look at where you are right now, what did you want? I mean, did you always know you wanted this? He. You look at it, and I know there's a lot of young girls that come into New York every single day and are like, okay, that's what I want to do one day. And you've done that. You've captured that brass ring. What does that feel like? Because there's responsibility that comes with that.

[Helen J. Shen]

Totally. I feel like I stand on the shoulders of so many who have come before me. I have since been able to speak to a lot of the titans that I looked up to growing up, and their work told me that it was possible for me to pursue something like this. And so I feel that when I go out to stage door every night and I see little kids at the stage door who have their minds opened in this way for the first time, that feels really exciting. And, yeah, to be able to pursue my dreams and do something like this and sing for a living, tell stories for a living, is such a privilege. I feel the weight of, like, my family sacrifices. I feel the weight of the fact that there's people championing art and continuing to make that possible for people and to add to that canon is really humbling. I'm really excited about it.

[Paul Wontorek]

Yeah, it's so exciting and so deserving, too. Who are some of the people that you've looked up to through the years that you, you know, that might even be on Broadway now?

[Michael Arden]

I don't know.

[Helen J. Shen]

I just saw Lea Salonga this. This afternoon, and she's one. A person who I have since been able to tell her how significant she was growing up. I mean, I wore that 10th anniversary VHS tape of Les Mis to its strings. And I her. Her Eponine was really a turning point, I think, for me and my family, too. My family to say, oh, there is a path. There is. It might be few and far between right now, but it's possible. It's not something that they have to imagine completely out of thin air. And her voice was always a beacon for me growing up. And Sara Bareilles, too, who's. I don't know. I just. I love that she doesn't let any boxes or labels limit what she can do. She just lets the work and her passion fuel her and guide her. And so I've loved and since been able to tell her that, too, who's come to the show. So, yeah, this maybe happy ending has brought all of these titans to me in this, in my lifetime. And I can't really believe that I'm sharing air with them, let alone able to tell them the impact that they had on me.

[Paul Wontorek]

How's your family feel? What's been their reaction?

[Helen J. Shen]

They are so thrilled. They're so thrilled. My mom, on first preview, which was my Broadway debut day, she was in the mat. She was in the mezzanine, and she, right after I took my bow, apparently, according to my friend, was running down the stairs screaming at the top of her lungs, this is a dream come true. Everyone being like, who's this crazy lady running down the stairs? It's my mom.

[Paul Wontorek]

Everyone.

[Helen J. Shen]

Don't worry. They've been so excited. This was beyond their wildest dreams. They were always supportive, driving me to lessons and supporting me, but they also wanted to manage my expectations and didn't want me to be too heartbroken because it's a difficult industry and there's many more nos than there are yeses. So I really appreciate their concern for it, but I think my passion and, you know, they saw how hard I worked for it, and I think once they knew that I would be okay, they were 150% behind me.

[Paul Wontorek]

I love. I wish somebody got video of your mom running down the aisle. I know.

[Helen J. Shen]

I wish.

[Paul Wontorek]

Did anyone get video?

[Helen J. Shen]

No video. No video. But there is a video of my dad that same night, who was also really excited, but he was more excited to see Des Duran in our cast than he was to see me, which I'm upset. I love. Me, too. Me too. I would also want to see Des before me. Yeah. They're just. They're both so excited for me, and they are. The show's Biggest champions. And yeah, what was it like for.

[Paul Wontorek]

Everybody to Hear about the 10 nominations, Tony Nominations? What was that like the next day or that day?

[Helen J. Shen]

I guess that day. That day we had a show and we were live on the Today show when we heard about the nominations. And it was just unbelievable how the. That they kept coming. We knew that the impact with the audience was happening and we knew that the critical acclaim was really lovely after opening. But I think what we. What we always came back to was doing the show every night. We came back to just, you know, our tight knit family at the Belasco and getting through the darker winter months and seeing how difficult it really is to get people to come to live theater still and to really, like, invest in art. It continues to be an uphill battle, I think, sometimes. So the fact that we had gotten to all of these checkpoints, it felt like a weight lifted. And we then got to do it for a raucous audience that night. So. And we continue to do that for raucous. We have more standing room seats these days and the line keeps getting longer around the block. So it's just. It continues to be a gift that keeps giving.

[Paul Wontorek]

I think there's like such an appreciation there when you come from one place, then start to see the growth and the growth and the lines, you know, as you keep moving forward. So what's it like with the cast and the crew and Darren and I mean, you have a very close knit, close knit cast members.

[Helen J. Shen]

Totally with the cast. Specifically. It's four of us on stage every night and we joke about how we're such a band of a little band and we each have such huge roles to play because we need to build this world that feels built, that feels believable and populated. So Marcus Choi plays dozens of characters and imbues each one with such complexity and humor and it's. We get to play every night. And that is just so wonderful. This is, I think, both Darren and my longest run that we've ever done, certainly for me. And so to get to do now, I think definitely 250 performances plus is certainly not how we started. We just were like, let's take every day and, you know, until they drag me out of the theater, I will be here and I will be putting on the wig every night. And just so now to look back, it's really crazy.

[Paul Wontorek]

And if there's somebody who has not seen the show or is not familiar with it, can you sum it up? Because I think during this time in life, especially as quickly as everything's moving. It has more. More and more significance.

[Helen J. Shen]

Yeah. It was written way before the pandemic, but there's something about the fact that there's forced isolation and solitude in their show that seems to be resonating with people and. Yeah, well, anyway, it's. It's about two robot helper bots who are discarded by their owners. They are left in this retirement yard and my character Claire. Sorry. And my character Claire asks to borrow a charger from Darren Criss's character Oliver. And then they kind of go on this little journey to find. To see if they can reignite a spark within their. With their owners. And along the way they find friendship and perhaps love. Maybe. Who knows? To be continued. To be continued. Exactly.

[Paul Wontorek]

Thank you so much.

[Tamsen Fadal]

And Paul Wontorek sat down with the musical's Tony winning creative team, Michael Arden and Dane Laffrey.

[Dane Laffrey]

Hey, guys. How you doing?

[Unknown Creative Team Member]

Good, Paul. How are you?

[Dane Laffrey]

This is one of my favorite spots on Broadway and in New York City.

[Michael Arden]

Mine too.

[Helen J. Shen]

Sure it is.

[Dane Laffrey]

I'm sure it is. You know, I actually stood in this spot the first week of September with Mr. Darren Criss. And at that point in time, the first week of September, it was a hard. Maybe it was like, it really kind of was. It was like, what is this show?

[Unknown Creative Team Member]

What are we doing here? Right.

[Dane Laffrey]

Did you. Do you feel like. Have you felt the growth of the season? How does it feel now versus then?

[Michael Arden]

It's been amazing. I mean, I think we had the sort of like peril and joy of opening in the fall and especially with the show that no one knew anything about, with a strange title and a kind of odd premise. But it's been incredible to watch audiences just become more and more enthralled with it and to see people like our.

[Helen J. Shen]

Fans and the word of mouth has.

[Michael Arden]

Been what has made this thing come alive. And so it's just the most exciting.

[Helen J. Shen]

Thing I've been a part of.

[Unknown Creative Team Member]

Yeah, I mean, you said it all, really, but it is, it's just been. It feels like I said to a bunch of people before this started that, like, if this show can't work, our industry has a problem. We've got a big problem. Because it's so good. I'm biased, but like, let's just even talk about the script and the score and the story. It's beautiful, it's original, it's smart.

[Helen J. Shen]

It makes life affecting.

[Unknown Creative Team Member]

It's life affirming. If we can't make this thing work, we've got this business, you know, so.

[Helen J. Shen]

There is hope for.

[Michael Arden]

There Is hope.

[Dane Laffrey]

There is hope. We found out. Well, you know, and I'm sure it does feel that when you're working on something like, you know, it's awesome. Whether or not people actually embrace it is not going to take that away.

[Unknown Creative Team Member]

Right.

[Dane Laffrey]

But it's really nice when people embrace it.

[Michael Arden]

Yeah. It's just. It's comforting to know that, you know, we believed in it so much and have been working on this for seven, eight years. And so to be here at this moment and be recognized in this beautiful season is like a dream come true.

[Helen J. Shen]

Yeah.

[Tamsen Fadal]

Here's what they had to say just hours after taking home their trophies on Tony Knight.

[Unknown Creative Team Member]

Okay, let's start with the big news. Maybe happy ending, the little show that could. But look at that. Six Tony Awards. It's the top show of the year. You, of course, both knew this could happen. You know, this is a brilliant show from Jump, but, like, how does it feel to be at this point, to be actually. Does it feel like some finality now to. To the journey? The journey keeps going.

[Helen J. Shen]

I mean, it feels like a. Like a real beginning in a way. I think so, too. Oh, it can enter the world and the zeitgeist, and people can say, oh, this is a show. I have to see that show. You know, I. And then they can come and they can have the experience that we've always known and hoped that people could have. But it feels like now it is actually going to have a place. A place in the market.

[Paul Wontorek]

Yeah.

[Helen J. Shen]

Just so cool.

[Unknown Creative Team Member]

Do you feel people's hearts being broken open in the way that I do when I'm in the audience? And what is it like to be behind something like that?

I think so. It's very strange, actually. I mean, you know, it's interesting to watch an audience evolve from, like, curiosity or skepticism maybe at the very beginning, towards, like, great generosity and excitement and a willingness to expose themselves and open themselves to something that's pretty unique and different and can kind of shift the paradigm. And that's, like, thrilling for us to witness, I think.

[Helen J. Shen]

And it's really exciting that people are coming back, bringing people they love. You know, I think theater is a shared experience, but when you make an active decision to share it with someone in particular that you know or love, it's really beautiful. And to watch audiences from the side of the house or the back of the house, when I see the show, I see them, you know, grab each other's hands, and it's beautiful. It's like, why we tell stories rarely.

[Unknown Creative Team Member]

Audiences expect what the show gives Them. They come in thinking a variety of things, and I think what comes out is immensely universal and moving and powerful. And that's. It's rare that we get to make work like that. And it's exciting.

You two have been friends since you were kids, literally making theater together. What is it like to, like, have a night like this at the Tonys together? I mean, is it ever just. You're so. So used to it now, or sometimes you just look at each other?

Oh, no, you can't get used to this.

[Helen J. Shen]

We keep, like, looking at each other. Like, who let us in?

[Unknown Creative Team Member]

Totally. It's cool.

[Helen J. Shen]

I mean, we. In our dorm room in high school, we had two, like. I believe they're called Captain's Beds. Captain's beds with the drawers underneath. And, you know, we'd stay up till the wee hours like, talking about ideas of shows. And our alarm clock was Audra McDonald's way back to paradise.

[Unknown Creative Team Member]

It was a CD changer.

[Helen J. Shen]

It was a three CD changer.

[Unknown Creative Team Member]

So first you'd hear the CD go into the changer, and then you'd hear Audra.

[Helen J. Shen]

Yeah.

Singing Ricky Ian Gordon.

Yep.

You know, and so to be here and like, that Audra is like, singing on a telecast. That we are standing on the same stage is like, I'm not over it, and I hope I never am. No, I agree. Because then it's like, if you lose the wonder, I think you've lost the plot.

[Tamsen Fadal]

Pick up tickets to maybe Happy Ending now [e-mail]. until next time, I'm Tamsen Fadal and. And this is the Broadway show Uncut.