Andrew Barth Feldman, a Broadway veteran, is set to take over the role of jazz-loving Helperbot Oliver in the acclaimed musical Maybe Happy Ending for a limited nine-week engagement at the Belasco Theatre, running from September 2 to November 1. He succeeds Darren Criss, the show’s Tony-winning star, who will perform his final show on August 31.
Feldman made a splash with his Broadway debut in Dear Evan Hansen in 2019. He is also known for his performances in the off-Broadway productions of Little Shop of Horrors in 2024 and We Had a World in 2025. Additionally, he appeared alongside Jennifer Lawrence in the film No Hard Feelings in 2023. In Maybe Happy Ending, Feldman will share the stage with his real-life partner, Helen J Shen, alongside original cast members Dez Duron and Marcus Choi. The ensemble will also include understudies Steven Huynh, Hannah Kevitt, Daniel May, Christopher James Tamayo, and Claire Kwon.
The musical, crafted by the talented duo Will Aronson and Hue Park, features music and lyrics by Aronson and orchestrations as well. It debuted on Broadway at the Belasco Theatre on November 12, 2024. Directed by Michael Arden, Maybe Happy Ending originally premiered as a Korean-language show in Seoul in 2016.
The creators expressed their excitement about Feldman joining the cast, stating, “We fell in love with Andrew’s take on the role of Oliver when he appeared as the reader in Helen J Shen’s initial audition tape. To have him join her onstage at the Belasco is indeed a special treat.” Feldman himself shared his enthusiasm, saying, “I am so in love with this show and with Helen J Shen. I’ve been a plus one on this Broadway journey from the beginning, and this brilliant team and beautiful company have already become such a big part of my life.”
The musical tells a charming story set in a one-room apartment in Seoul, where Oliver, a retired Helperbot 3, lives a quiet life filled with jazz and caring for his favorite plant. His encounter with neighbor Claire leads to an unlikely friendship and adventures filled with warmth and potential romance.
Maybe Happy Ending has garnered six Tony Awards in 2025, including Best Musical and Best Original Score, and will soon embark on a multi-year North American tour starting in the fall of 2026. The production’s success and the exciting casting announcement of Feldman are sure to draw positive attention and hope for continued creative achievements in the theater world.