The original Korean musical “Maybe Happy Ending,” which debuted on Broadway in New York, made headlines after sweeping six categories at the presti...
The original Korean musical “Maybe Happy Ending,” which debuted on Broadway in New York, made headlines after sweeping six categories at the prestigious Tony Awards on June 8 , including Best Musical. The show’s creative duo, writer Park Chun-hue and composer Will Aronson, wins for Best Book of a Musical and Best Original Score, respectively, demonstrating that their “creative challenge” has been recognized even in the birthplace of musicals.
In a written interview with Korean media on June 13, Park said, “I’m not sure why the show was loved by audiences both in Korea and abroad.” Yet he added, “I’m proud and happy to have completed this 10-year long marathon-like journey with ‘Maybe Happy Ending’ in both Seoul and New York.” The following is a slightly condensed version of the questions and answers, compiled by the musical's production investor, NHN Link.“It holds great meaning as the first original story that Will Aronson and I created together. It was both exciting and daunting to build an entirely new world and characters from scratch. I’m not sure exactly why it was so loved. Since we began writing in 2014, all the way to the Broadway opening last fall, we kept refining it to improve the work’s completeness. I’d like to believe that effort made the difference.”“I didn’t realize until now that theater, like film, has its own ‘awards season.’ Over three months, we attended countless events and ceremonies to promote the show. I heard that visibility is everything, so despite being naturally introverted, I made an effort to shake hands and show up. As the Tonys drew near, it felt like approaching the finish line of a marathon. I felt everything at once, including fatigue, excitement, anxiety, and anticipation. The awards ceremony itself took about seven hours, from the red carpet to the final Best Musical announcement. I don’t think my life as a creator will change drastically after winning. I’m just happy to wrap up this long journey with a sense of pride.”“There were major changes in direction and staging due to the scale differences. In Korea, there were almost no set changes, while the Broadway production used numerous transitions and effects. The cast and orchestra were also expanded, and some scenes that were only implied in Korea were shown more directly on Broadway. Conversely, some lines and musical numbers were shortened or cut.”“There was an American audience member who lived far from New York and bought tickets to ten shows while vacationing in the city. ‘Maybe Happy Ending’ was the fifth show he saw, and during the performance, he felt such a longing for his wife back home that he sold the rest of his tickets and changed his flight just to return early. He then planned to return to New York with his wife to see the show again as a Valentine’s Day gift. That story was the highest compliment I could ever receive.”“In Korea, Will is often referred to as ‘the composer,’ but he has always co-written the scripts with me. Whether it is notes or words, we are both writers. Even if I come up with the original idea, we build the story together, decide the tone and emotion of the music, and talk more with each other than anyone else every day. We've been close friends for 17 years, and we share similar values and sensibilities. We’ve gone through the pain, joy, and growth of each project together.”“As a writer, I naturally want to tell stories rooted in the world and emotions most familiar to me. Living in New York made me think more deeply about my identity as a Korean. Through shows like ‘Il Tenore’ set in the 1930s and ‘Ghost Bakery’ in the 1970s, I wanted to present Korean audiences with worlds that feel familiar yet strangely distant. For international audiences, I wanted to offer a setting that feels unfamiliar but curiously relatable.”“We plan to revise the scripts and lyrics into English, and we still need to find the right producers and directors in New York, which is a complex process. I also wrote a short film a few years ago about a Korean couple living in New York. I kept putting it off while focusing on theater, but I now feel strongly that I must bring that film to life before it is too late.”“I just want to be someone who continues working consistently and earnestly as long as I feel a strong impulse to tell stories and share music. I’ve now spent nearly half my life in both Seoul and New York. As a creator navigating between two cultures and languages, I want to make stories that resonate with many people and carry meaning.”“Creating theater often takes more than five years, which is longer than making films or TV series. Yet creators are generally treated with far less regard in this field. It is not a job you enter for quick success. Since the Korean musical industry hasn’t been around long enough, there aren’t many ‘textbooks’ to follow. Instead of chasing trends, creators need to write stories and music with sincerity, and producers must approach their work with a sense of mission for the process to endure.” “Maybe Happy Ending” will return to Korean audiences for its 10th-anniversary production at Doosan Art Center in Seoul starting October 30. Park also plans to prepare new stagings of his works “Il Tenore “and “Ghost Bakery,” which premiered in Korea last year.“As we move to a slightly larger venue, there will naturally be some visual changes. We’ll refine the production to fit the new space while reflecting on our 10-year journey. I also hope some of the actors from past productions will be able to return to the stage. We’ll do our best to create a performance that brings joy not only to Will and me, but also to everyone who has accompanied this journey and to the audiences who have connected with the show over the past decade." ※This article has undergone review by a professional translator after being translated by an AI translation tool. 한글기사 원본
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Actress Go Youn-jung says her ‘Resident Playbook’ character reflects her own all-or-nothing attitudeAt the obstetrics ward (OB), mothers and babies stand at the threshold between life and death. In the gynecology ward (GYN), patients arrive carryi...
Read more »
Chungbuk Aquarium draws visitors equal to 10 times Goesan’s population in just 1 yearChungbuk Aquarium is rapidly gaining recognition as a key tourist destination in the region. On May 25, North Chungcheong Province (Chungbuk) said ...
Read more »
대학로서 시작된 로봇의 사랑…브로드웨이도 “감정이 북받쳐”상기된 표정으로 극장을 나서는 뉴요커 레인 앤더슨(65)은 한국 창작 뮤지컬 ‘어쩌면 해피엔딩’(이하 ‘어쩌면~’, 미국 작품명 ‘Maybe Happy Ending’)을 관람한 뒤 '환타스틱(Fantastic)!'을 연발하며 이렇게 말했다. 뮤지컬계의 아카데미상이라 불리는 토니상에서 작품상 트로피를 받는다면 한국 창작 뮤지컬 최초의 수상이라는 쾌거를 기록하게 된다. 지난해 10월부터 1000석 규모의 뉴욕 벨라스코 극장에서 프리뷰 공연을 시작한 영어 버전 ‘Maybe Happy Ending’은 한국 버전과 큰 틀에서 비슷하나 구성과 무대연출에서 약간의 변주를 줬다.
Read more »
‘어쩌면 해피엔딩’ 토니상 작품상 등 6관왕···K뮤지컬 역사 새로 썼다미국 뉴욕 브로드웨이에 진출한 한국의 창작 뮤지컬 (Maybe Happy Ending)이 미국의 연극·뮤지컬계 아카데미상...
Read more »
!['어쩌면 해피엔딩' 토니상 6관왕, 한국 뮤지컬 역사 새로 썼다 [휙]](https://i.headtopics.com/images/2025/6/10/hankookilbo/3950612517884771199990-3950612517884771199990-C95B8E13C282C638920997FD7FD186B7.webp?w=640)
'어쩌면 해피엔딩' 토니상 6관왕, 한국 뮤지컬 역사 새로 썼다 [휙]한국 창작뮤지컬 '어쩌면 해피엔딩'의 브로드웨이 버전 '메이비 해피엔딩(Maybe Happy Ending)'이 8일 오후(현지시간) 열린 제78
Read more »
Korean original musical ‘Maybe Happy Ending’ wins 6 Tony Awards, including Best MusicalThe Korean original musical “Maybe Happy Ending,” which was born in Seoul’s Daehangno district, won six awards, including Best Musical, at the Tony...
Read more »