‘Maybe Happy Ending’ Wins 6 Tony Awards

A miracle that began nine years ago in a small theater in Daehak-ro

A South Korean musical that started in a modest theater in Seoul’s Daehak-ro district has achieved a stunning feat on Broadway — the epicenter of global stage performance. The K-musical Maybe Happy Ending took home six awards at the 78th Annual Tony Awards, held on June 8 (local time), the most wins of any show this year. During the three-hour ceremony at Radio City Music Hall in Manhattan, the production won top honors including Best Musical, Best Direction, Best Book, Best Score, Best Scenic Design, and Best Leading Actor for Darren Criss. With this achievement, South Korea has now earned recognition at all four major U.S. entertainment awards: the Oscars (Parasite), the Emmys (Squid Game), the American Music Awards (BTS), and now the Tonys. Following author Han Kang’s Nobel Prize in Literature last year, this marks yet another milestone that highlights the global impact of Korean culture. Although Korean involvement in Broadway has been growing — last year, Shin Chun-soo’s production of The Great Gatsby won Best Costume Design, and CJ ENM was a co-producer of the Tony-winning Moulin Rouge! — Maybe Happy Ending is the first show both created and developed in Korea to win a Tony Award.

A Tony Night Full of “Happy Endings”

“The Tony goes to... Maybe Happy Ending!” announced Lin-Manuel Miranda, the star and creator of Broadway’s legendary Hamilton. The moment the title was called, the 6,000-strong audience inside Radio City Music Hall erupted into a standing ovation. Darren Criss, who played the role of the robot Oliver and also co-hosted the pre-show, won Best Leading Actor in a Musical — a moment that made the night feel like one long, perfect happy ending. Producer Jeffrey Richards took the stage with the entire cast and team, saying, “It’s an indescribable honor that such a magical, beautiful, heartfelt, and human musical has received this recognition.” He paid tribute to the creative duo Will Aronson and Hue Park (Park Cheon-hyeu), and director Michael Arden. Aronson and Park, affectionately known as the “Will-Hue duo,” were also honored last year with Korea’s prestigious Cha Beom-seok Playwriting Award for their work on Il Tenore. Park said, “We tried to blend Korean pop, American jazz, and more into an accessible melting pot. We’re grateful Broadway welcomed us.” Composer Will Aronson added, “I want to thank my mom, who used to sing Irving Berlin songs to me when I was a kid.” Musical critic Choi Seung-yeon noted, “The strength this musical showed in Korea laid the foundation for its success on Broadway. This win will empower not just Korean creatives but Asian performers and writers across the board.”

In a Competitive Year, the Spotlight Shines on K-Musical

Maybe Happy Ending was a strong contender in what was considered a crowded field, alongside Buena Vista Social Club — a musical about a Cuban jazz band (which won four awards) — and the horror-comedy She Dies at the End (winner of Best Costume Design). Despite stiff competition, it was the Korean musical that ultimately claimed center stage. International media responded enthusiastically. The BBC reported, “Starting with soprano Sumi Jo’s Grammy in 1993, followed by Parasite’s four Oscar wins in 2020 and Squid Game’s Emmy victories in 2022, Korea has now claimed top honors across the full spectrum of U.S. pop culture, solidifying its place as a global cultural powerhouse.” This year’s Tony Awards also marked Broadway’s full resurgence after the COVID-19 pandemic. For the 2024–2025 season, Broadway has returned to pre-pandemic levels with $1.9 billion in ticket sales. Hollywood stars like George Clooney — nominated for Best Actor in a Play for Good Night and Good Luck — and Mia Farrow were also in attendance, underscoring the night’s high-profile significance.

(Chosun Ilbo, June 9, 2025)