Maybe Happy Ending at Ohio Theatre

“Astonishing. Joyful, heartbreaking, cutting edge. Brilliantly executed.” – The New York Times

Are we human, or are we robots? When should a robot – and a human – charge their batteries? Can a robot be a surrogate son to a human father or a potential girlfriend, like humans can? Can they enjoy an adventure – a human adventure? Can robots fall in love with each other? Are humans as different from robots as we think? 

Columbus, the theatrical experience of a lifetime that is both a celebration of the power of connection, love, and companionship, and a poignant look into the human condition is on the road – and its robotic eyes are set on you! Hue Park and Will Aronson’s wildly imaginative smash-hit musical that has punched Broadway into another era has captivated, enchanted, and mesmerized the world, and now it’s your turn! 

It’s time to come out and learn what it means to experience love, loneliness, and mortality in a world where feelings are a little too mechanical; it’s time to indulge in a lush jazz-tinged score with mechanical-yet-romantic undertones; it’s time to experience the most innovative staging and artistry on stages today for yourself; it’s time to witness the most stunning technical aspects you’ve ever seen; and most importantly – it’s time to sit back and go on an adventure unlike any other with Helperbots Oliver and Claire! 

That’s right Columbus – Broadway’s latest smash-hit Maybe Happy Ending is coming to the Ohio Theatre this season! 

Maybe Happy Ending Tickets

Tickets are available now from the Ohio Theatre’s box office, and due to this production’s popularity, the empty seats are bound to fill up faster than lightning! So don’t put your alarm on snooze – head on down there now to get your tickets in hand! Alternatively, if you prefer to skip the traffic and the cues and go for the safer, more reliable option that will guarantee that you get in before tickets are all sold out, simply click on the Buy Tickets link now to be redirected to TicketSqueeze.com. Here you’ll be able to cherry-pick your preferred seats at all-time record low prices, process your purchase, and download your buyer-guaranteed tickets straight to your phone in no time! 

“The most original and enchanting new musical to arrive on Broadway in years! It’s nothing short of breathtaking!” – The New York Sun

SYNOPSIS

Just like humans, robots grow obsolete when they get older. 

After being replaced by newer, more efficient robots, Helperbots Oliver and Claire are sent to a retirement colony in Seoul, where they spend their days on repeat – tending to their potted plants, listening to jazz records, believing their owners will return for them. Living as neighbors, they are completely unaware of each other, until Claire’s battery starts failing and she approaches Oliver to ask for a charger. 

This sets an entirely unexpected adventure in motion: a connection is sparked between the two Helperbots, and they decide to set out on a human experience before their batteries finally fail. Faced with very human situations – mortality, companionship, and the possibility of love in a world where things are rather mechanical and cold, Oliver and Claire return to Seoul with the realization that the impossible has happened – they have fallen in love with each other. 

The questions at the core are, how will two robots deal with the things humans face, and ultimately – are humans that different from robots?

Maybe Happy Ending is futuristic, innovative theatre at its very best, delivering an emotional punch straight to the solar plexus. The philosophical questions the production poses are fresh, poignant, and powerful, and incredibly moving. Maybe Happy Ending is without a doubt the biggest must-see on the stage today. 

“Utterly enchanting!” – Time Out New York

CREATIVE TEAM

The marvellous, creative, and well-formulated tale of Maybe Happy Ending was inspired by Damon Albarn’s song Everyday Robots, conceptualized by Hue Park and Will Aronson as a South Korean musical, with lyrics by Hue Park and music by Will Aronson. 

For this year’s North American tour, the award-winning director Michael Arden (Spring Awakening, Once on This Island, Parade, The Queen of Versailles, The Lost Boys, My Fair Lady, Annie) will be breathing a rather human life into the two Helperbots. The world-renowned and visionary creative team includes the talents of scenic and video designer Dane Laffrey, costume designer Clint Ramos, lighting designer Ben Stanton, sound designer Peter Hylenski, video and projection designer George Reeve, hair designer Craig Franklin Miller, makeup designer Suki Tsujimoto, music supervisor Deborah K. Abramson, music director John Yun, and production stage manager Justin Scribner. 

“One of the best musicals in years! Wildly inventive and profoundly moving, thanks to a lush score and awe-inspiring direction by Tony Award-winner Michael Arden.” – USA Today

CAST

They’re robots, yet so deeply human. They’re robots, yet they’re offering an emotional recharge to their human audience with their great emotional depth, gentle humor, incredible characterization, and captivating artistry. They’re robots, yet they boast vocal prowess that can’t be described with words. Yes, they’re robots, and they’ll make you so very aware of the human condition. 

The remarkable cast of this year’s touring production of Maybe Happy Ending features the astounding talents of Zachary Noah Piser (Dear Evan Hansen, Redwood, KPOP, Wicked, Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street, See What I Wanna See) as Oliver and Hannah Kevitt (Back to the Future: The Musical, Miss Saigon, A Chorus Line, The King and I, The Wolves, Annie) as Claire, together with Dez Duron as Gil Brentley, and Marcus Choi as James & Others. 

“Maybe Happy Ending has rapturous music and lyrics, innovative staging and a superb cast. In short, an extraordinary work of theatre artistry.” – Observer

HISTORY & LEGACY

While Hue Park was enjoying a coffee in a coffee shop in Brooklyn, the song Everyday Robots by Damon Albarn was playing, and the lyrics “We are everyday robots in the process of getting home” caught his attention. This led to Hue Park teaming up with his longtime friend and collaborator Will Aronson, and Maybe Happy Ending, written in both English and Korean, saw the light. 

The very ambitious, innovative, and groundbreaking Maybe Happy Ending premiered in 2016 in Seoul at the Lifeway Hall in DCF Daemyung Cultural Factory to massive critical acclaim, followed by its North American English-language debut at the Coca-Cola Stage at the Alliance Theatre in Atlanta in 2020 where it ran for 33 performances. The musical had its Broadway premiere at the Belasco Theatre in November 2024, and even though the production struggled financially, it was a raging success and landed rave reviews. 

To date, Maybe Happy Ending has racked up six Korea Musical Awards, six Drama Desk Awards, two Drama League Awards, a New York Drama Critics’ Circle Award, four Outer Critics Circle Awards, and six Tony Awards, including Best Musical. 

“A ravishing addition to the catalog of Broadway nerdicals.” – The New York Times

THE OHIO THEATRE

Nestled right at the centre of the motherboard of Columbus, on Capitol Square, 39 E. State Street, you’ll find the “Official Theatre of the State of Ohio”, the iconic Ohio Theatre. This National Historic Landmark has been entertaining Columbus for nearly a century, and things aren’t bound to change soon. Here you’ll find the best of the best in entertainment all year round – from touring Broadway productions to music concerts, from comedy shows to dance extravaganzas, from straight plays to variety shows. 

Architect Thomas W. Lamb’s Ohio Theatre opened in 1928 as an opulent movie palace. After saving the building from demolition, the Ohio Theatre became the go-to for catching some of the world’s most legendary musicians and bands live in concert, and the iconic Columbus Symphony Orchestra became residents of the venue, boosting the theatre’s income significantly. 

The Ohio Theatre, regardless of restorations, refurbishments, and upgrades, retained much of its original Thomas W. Lamb designs. The Spanish-Baroque architecture features a stunning terra cotta exterior with a prominent marquee, while the lavish, opulent interior dazzles with a grand staircase, velvet draping, intricate gold leaf detailing, massive murals, intricate plasterwork, a massive crystal chandelier, and an auditorium resembling an outdoor Spanish courtyard with faux-balconies, ornate wrought-iron railings, and towers, under the night sky, complete with a twinkling effect. 

The gorgeous Ohio Theatre boasts some of the best sound and light systems in Columbus, making it the ideal venue for touring Broadway productions, together with fantastic acoustics and perfect views of the stage from all its luxurious seats. The venue can host up to 2,791 patrons across an orchestra floor, loge, mezzanine, and balcony. The Ohio Theatre’s fantastic amenities include bars and concession stands, a pavilion that expands the lobby space, wheelchair-accessible spaces, safe covered parking, and easily accessible washrooms.  

“An unusual and visually stunning show!” – The Guardian