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From the cast on stage and cruise behind the curtain, two community partners supporting efforts to bring professional Broadway performances to West Michigan.
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Plus, all things in between, this is BGR's Backstage Buzz.
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Hey friends, I'm Jennifer Pasqua, Vice President of Marketing and Community Engagement at Broadway Grand Rapids.
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And I'm Steve Stecketty, producer, Broadway fan, and proud BGR ambassador.
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Time to give it a shot.
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Hope the car fits a lot, because now I'm hitting the road with my books and you just heard a clip from the winner of six Tony Awards, including Best Musical.
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Maybe Happy Ending is a totally original new musical adventure that explores what it means to be human, even if they're not.
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And we got a chance to preview the show a couple weeks ago in Detroit, Jen, right?
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And that was actually really cool.
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Yeah.
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And you sat next to me, and there were so many moments when you looked over to me and you're shaking your head like, yeah, this is it.
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This is pretty cool.
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This show had so many gorgeous sets, and the way things floated between one moment and the next with the music and the lighting.
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Uh, yeah, it really, it really hit me.
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So we are so lucky right now to be able to grab some time with Steven and Claire from Maybe Happy Ending, the leads in this incredible, what some are saying is a play that has music.
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Is that a good way to describe it?
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I think it is.
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How are you guys doing today?
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We're doing great.
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Thank you for having us.
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Thanks for sitting with us.
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All right, well, let's let's jump into the show.
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First of all, we saw it last night.
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I was um blown away in the sense that this the setting is gorgeous, the stage production is gorgeous.
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I just thought it was such a nice, intimate way to tell a really beautiful story.
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And it really touched on one of my favorite things.
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So let's just throw it right back to you guys right off the bat.
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First, so maybe happy ending.
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When somebody asks you what the show is about, what do you tell them?
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Claire always gives me the the uh responsibility of giving the pitch, but uh so Maybe Happy Ending is a musical set in 2064 Soul Korea, and it focuses on two retired helper bots.
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Uh, we like to think of them as human um assistants, human-like uh artificial assistants, uh, who are made to make your life just a little bit easier.
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And so these two helper bots are older, they are retired, and in the same fashion that like we upgrade our iPhones, but we never throw away the old model.
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We kind of like lovingly put it in storage.
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In case we ever need them again, we put them in a retirement place called the Helperbot Yards.
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Um and so Oliver, who is a model three, is there and he is waiting for his owner, James, to come pick him up, and he loves his routine.
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He spends every single day reading magazines, listening to LPs, and spending his day with his number one sidekick companion, Hwabun.
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And Claire, who is a newer model, is also here and she knocks on Oliver's door because her charger is broken.
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And with the two of them meeting, they go on this fantastic journey of looking for Oliver's previous owner, looking for fireflies, and ultimately discovering what it means to be human.
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Okay, so I'm just gonna take that, wrap it up in a bow, and that's how we're gonna tell every single person what this show is about.
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Interview done.
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Thank you.
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Well, and I think what's so when we ask, you know, how do you explain it?
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Because there's so many different layers and meanings, and people get so much out of it.
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I I told I told some of the um media that we brought to see the show ahead of it arriving in Grand Rapids.
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Um, you know, just be prepared because I don't want to necessarily tell you 100% about what it what it is, because people get so many different interpretations out of it.
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If you're you're pitching, I mean we heard his, so how would you describe the show, Claire?
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Well, I think what's so beautiful about it is exactly like what you said, Jennifer, which is that it's so it's seemingly simple, but it's really complex.
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And like every single moment in the show has something that you can dig into and sink your teeth in and really think about, or you can just laugh and you can enjoy the pretty music in that moment.
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Um, I always say that we have absolutely stunning visual design that you have literally never seen before on stage, anywhere in live theater or any kind of experience in the same way.
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And absolutely beautiful, gorgeous, sweeping music that is also, it will make you feel things that you don't even know that you're feeling in the moment.
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And then your eyes will be welling up with tears or you'll be, you know, laughing hysterically.
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Um, and then I think our cast and and the connection that we show is really important because it's only a four-person cast, and mostly there are only two people on stage at a time.
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And yet it just packs a punch and an impact that you will feel and will be thinking about for days and days after you watch the show.
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It was a lot of fun for me to watch your characters kind of play with human emotions or like test theory, you know, them to see how they work and see what happens, what the other one does.
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But to that point, so as androids, uh, obviously you're on stage.
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We were talking afterwards, we kind of noticed you both had different motions.
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You definitely had different ways of moving, maybe intentional or not, but whether the different models move differently.
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What did you have to lose in yourselves to kind of find your movement and your rhythm and how to just get the humanity tamped down a bit so you can play these?
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Yeah.
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Um, so we worked with a wonderful movement coordinator.
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His name is Moni.
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Um, and he is well known for working on movement for a couple of other movies, such as like iRobot.
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Um, and so he is very, very skilled at building a language and a vocabulary for the acting company to figure out what it means for us individually to be be be help robots.
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And so for me, it felt more like gaining this ability of an access towards rigidity and having this kind of very like sharp angular movement because um Oliver is an older model, so he's very good at seeming human, but like there's something slightly off about it, and so it it feels like just you know, uh having a a sense of uh composure and also like uh introducing movements one at a time and really isolating that work is what kind of makes his movement distinctive.
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And then we talk about the difference between model threes and model fives, but the way that our team likes to kind of discuss it and visualize is that if Oliver is straight lines, Claire is curves and there's a little bit more grace, and it's a little bit more human, you know, there are certain movements that we do as humans that you don't really even think about.
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Um, and and I think that playing Claire, I like to add some of those things in, and I'm completely aware that I'm adding those things in.
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Um, but that for me, it's more about the economy of movement and the efficiency of it, the economy of energy.
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So, you know, I think a lot about how Claire starts off and her battery is low.
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And there are certain things that she probably as a robot is like saving energy in order to move and move in a way that is still more graceful than Oliver and is not as like conventionally robotic.
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But there are still things that she has to do that are limited because her hardware is not like us.
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It's not organic biological material.
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It's, you know, it's technological and maybe it's made out of silicone.
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We don't talk about like the specifics of it, but I think about these things a lot.
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And there's still limitation that a human body doesn't have.
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And so I think we also think about that in terms of the emotional aspect, as you were saying, that we watch these robots, these, you know, Oliver and Claire, these help robots, experience these emotions for the first time.
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And it's in a way that we as humans see it articulated very clearly because they are not quote unquote human.
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But it's a feeling that we all understand, right?
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Like we've all experienced love for the first time.
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Or, you know, if you're younger, maybe you haven't, but you will, or, you know, experiencing like connecting with someone for the first time or being surprised by someone for the first time.
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And like being on stage as help robots, we're able to kind of be a bit more expressive about that, you know, exaggerate that a little bit more and make it all clearer.
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But I think for all of us in the audience, we all know what that feels like.
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So it's kind of a special experience to really see it articulated on stage and be like, oh, haha.
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Like I know what that feels like to be surprised by someone or be annoyed by someone.
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And then we feel more connected to the person next to us.
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I did not realize that doors were going to be such a pivotal portion of the future.
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Yeah.
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Yes.
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So obviously, live theater is live and it's one of the most exciting portions of it.
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And so there was a little bit of a door mishap, if you will.
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Because we're a touring company, we are moving from city to city, and um God bless our crew because they work their butts off to load the show in in every single city.
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But you know, when it's on a truck for about 10 hours, it some things kind of rattle a little bit, and so our handle kind of broke over the weekend, and um apparently it was fine on Tuesday, but then coming into yesterday, like if you turn it, it just wouldn't unlock.
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And um and so they were taking a look at it right before the show started, and we had a temporary fix.
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We got through the opening number, and um, when I bring in Claire and like the first time the door opened, it was great.
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The second time you kind of saw me struggle a little for a quick second.
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We noticed that just a little bit, yeah.
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Yeah, and then the third time it was just fine, but then once it closed as she came out, it never opened again.
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I thought maybe this is like a meta play, and maybe happy ending.
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They were like, Audience, that's how it could have gone.
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That's one happy maybe, and then you would start again into something else and a multiverse of possibilities.
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Exactly, because that's it.
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But uh your character loves jazz.
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What do you think your character loves jazz for?
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And how did how does your inner monologue, which is what I assume we cut away to from time to time, and you have the crooner, you know, kind of doing it.
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Why is your inner monologue a crooner?
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Yeah, so Oliver's love of jazz comes from his owner, James, who is an avid jazz enthusiast.
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Um, and so Oliver, the way that I interpret it is almost everything that he knows and loves is a reflection of his owner because that's all that like they would listen to, or he would teach him all of the great things about jazz and how like LP sound more real than all the technology that came after them.
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And so he's built this love and devotion towards all of the simple, more analog things in life because you know advancement has gone so far, hypothetically, in 2064, that sometimes you just need to fall back on old school things, like you know, how right now there's a resurgence of uh vinyls, it's it's it's incredible.
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And so uh then we come into um uh introducing our wonderful jazz coroner, Gil Brentley, played by Frankie.
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Uh and so he is a uh reflection and interpretation of uh Oliver's emotions that he's feeling for the first time in these moments where you see him in in a way that when Oliver doesn't know how to process what he's feeling or express what he's feeling, Gil Brentley is there to provide the exact lyrics that he needs to figure out what this moment is.
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And can I just add in this is one of my favorite things uh about the origin of the show that uh our two writers, Will Aronson and Hugh Park, were emailing back and forth about this idea.
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And it was inspired by Hugh listening to this song called Everyday Robots, and he was kind of like had an idea about this.
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And then I think it was Will, I think it was Will found this this image.
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Um, I can't remember if it was Will or Hugh, but one of them found this image of a a robot playing a trombone in a garage like late at night.
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And that was something that sparked like the beginning of this this idea for the show was just this this beautiful image.
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And also, I, you know, as you're as you're talking about the music and how the music comes into play, what I love about it is you take a look around the theater at some moments, and for some, this is the first time they've heard jazz, right?
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To in that spirit of of um, you know, getting into that music and understanding it.
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But um, I want to segue now to talk about something that is truly beautiful for me is seeing representation of Asians on the stage on Broadway.
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The first time that I saw it, I was like, how cool would this have been for a younger me to have full representation on stage of people who kind of look like me.
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So can we talk a little bit about that and what it means to the both of you?
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And you know, happy to if you could share your ethnicity too, that'd be great.
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Yeah.
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So I'm Korean American.
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Um, and the fact that the show is set in its whole South Korea is kind of crazy.
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Um I think that seeing the show for the first time for me as well, to see Shell and um Helen Du Shen and Darren Chris, who are the original um Olivers and Claire's, it was just a really kind of very momentous occasion.
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I think um it was, it felt like, oh, like that's something that I can do.
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And I think as like a young Asian American woman in musical theater, you know, we have those moments.
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Like I had that moment seeing like Leah Salanga growing up, or you know, like Eva Nobelzada and like Hades Town and and feeling like there was a sense of possibility and opportunity is just, I think it's a very important experience.
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And then the fact that I may get to be that for someone else is is really special.
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And then also that it's like, you know, we we talk about with the show, it's not necessarily they don't have to be cast as Asian or Asian American or whatever, but the fact that we get to do it and the fact like for me as a my family who like grew up in Seoul, being able to see the show and then being able to like bring people who are from my community who were growing up and seeing me in like Annie the musical or like sound of music or whatever, where you know it was still very beautiful.
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And then now to be able to like see me in a show that is a musical that is not about being Asian or Asian American at all, and it's not about history and it's not about trauma, you know, it's it's set in the future.
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It could really, it could be anyone, and that uh we get to be the faces of that, um, and the faces of that for a lot of people is just a really unique and special moment that I feel like also comes with a lot of responsibility, and I think uh we don't take that lightly.
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Yeah, uh me personally, I'm Vietnamese American, and I was first introduced to music theater through like a national tour that came through my city where I grew up in, and um to to be able to lead in maybe happy ending and to bring it across North America has been incredibly special and like a full circle moment for me.
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I, you know, w grew up watching Telly Lung and Conrad Wrigamora and Jose Lana and Adam Jacobs and and all of these wonderful Asian American artists and performers and to uh hopefully become one like them to bring this show across North America and inspire other children who looked like me growing up has been a a gift and something that I hope that I can continue to to do and give back to the community that gave me so much.
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Um and so, like Claire said, it is a responsibility that we do not take lightly, and um it it's really wonderful that even though it doesn't have to be us, it is us in the moment.
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I think we're ready.
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I'm feeling knotted, I'll scared.
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I've got the charger, I've got the playlist prepared, and I know now there's no turning back.
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How much to do pack before the ending?
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And we're back with Steven and Claire.
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So this game is called What's Worth Keeping with Claire and Steven here, where we're gonna ask them a question uh where they need to answer what they think the other person is going to say uh versus what they would actually say.
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Claire as herself or Claire as helperbot Claire.
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Oh, right.
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Claire.
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Okay, so here we go.
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I'll go for the first one.
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You answer for each other.
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What would you delete?
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Opening night or your first kiss?
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Three, two, one, first.
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Okay, you both went totally different.
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The applause or the after party?
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After party.
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Applause.
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Would you rather delete a five-star review you received or five of the greatest praise words from a critic you really wanted their opinion?
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The one critic.
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He's thinking he would remove that.
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Yeah, five words.
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Or would you rather keep a flawless vacation or a trip where everything went wrong, but you still had a great time about it?
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Count down three, two, one, perfect.
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Disaster.
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Yeah, both on the other end of the spectrum on every single one.
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Okay.
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Threes and fives.
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Fives and fives.
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Oliver and Claire.
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All right.
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Opposites attract.
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So would you rather delete or keep your favorite song or the memory of the person who introduced you to it?
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So you either lose the song itself, never hear it again, or you lose the person who introduced you to the song.
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Okay, one, two, three.
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Keep the person, keep the person.
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Oh, we're on the same one.
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Yeah, you'd rather keep the person, rather the song.
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That that seems more valuable in the human human way.
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All right.
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Would you rather keep a wonderful relationship, including its painful ending, or delete the whole experience so it never hurts?
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Is this a maybe happy ending?
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One, two, three.
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Keep the relationship.
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All right, let's do one more.
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Would you rather keep every memory of someone you love, knowing they'll forget you or let them remember you while you forget them?
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I like that one.
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Oh my god.
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Yeah, would you rather be remembered or would you rather remember somebody?
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Three, two, one.
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Be remember somebody.
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Those threes and fives really are almost on every single question.
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Don't take that as an interpretation of it.
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Wait a minute, wait a minute.
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No, no, no.
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It's just me personally.
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We're getting too meta here.
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This was fun.
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Thank you so much for taking the time with us.
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And we enjoyed this show so much.
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Grand Rapids is going to lose their mind.
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I think they are.
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We've never seen anything like this, and uh, you guys are really bringing it back.
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Thank you so much.
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Thank you guys so much for your time.
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All right.
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And now a word from one of our show sponsors, AHC Hospitality.
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If you have stayed or visited us before, you might be wondering why does this place give up such good energy?
00:19:42.319 --> 00:19:45.039
Or make everything more flavorful?
00:19:45.359 --> 00:19:49.200
It's because we believe one degree of difference makes all the difference.
00:19:49.359 --> 00:19:52.799
That the little details are what set your experience over the top.
00:19:52.960 --> 00:20:00.079
So we keep doing the small things that made you a stay, your dinner, your event, your everything.
00:20:03.039 --> 00:20:16.799
The Grand Rapids Asian Pacific Foundation is a nonprofit driven by a purposeful mission to weave cultural enrichment, economic empowerment, community unity, and proactive education into the fabric of West Michigan communities.
00:20:16.960 --> 00:20:24.000
And you'll be able to learn more about Grapf during the opening night of Maybe Happy Ending because they are our community sponsors.
00:20:24.160 --> 00:20:26.720
Here to share more is founder Ace Marcigan.
00:20:26.960 --> 00:20:32.559
So, Ace, tell me about the Grand Rapids Asian Pacific Festival that's coming up this summer.
00:20:32.640 --> 00:20:33.519
This is a big deal.
00:20:33.759 --> 00:20:35.279
Jen, you know, this is a big deal.
00:20:35.359 --> 00:20:43.119
The Grand Rapids Asian Pacific Festival is going to be celebrating the 10th year anniversary, the something that we started in 2017.
00:20:43.200 --> 00:20:46.319
So it's going to be big because we're going to have multiple performances.
00:20:46.480 --> 00:20:50.319
Uh, we're trying to get some big headliners for this this year.
00:20:50.559 --> 00:20:56.559
So this is going to be happening in June 11th, 12, and 13 in downtown at Calder Plaza.
00:20:56.799 --> 00:20:58.400
Well, and you know what I love about this?
00:20:58.559 --> 00:21:09.359
When we approached you to be our community partner for Maybe Happy Ending, the idea that you do throughout this entire decade, you've been bringing performing arts to the scene.
00:21:09.440 --> 00:21:18.319
And, you know, that we're like, oh, this is a perfect match to feature this uh Korean-inspired musical with the Grand Rapids Asian Pacific Festival.
00:21:18.480 --> 00:21:21.440
Tell me more about why you said yes to be our community partner.
00:21:21.759 --> 00:21:30.240
You know, the the the work that the Broadway GR does for the community, you know, bringing like such a diverse talent, you know, that is that something just rings to us.
00:21:30.319 --> 00:21:38.720
You know, we believe in a great partnership and a great uh, you know, giving up people opportunities to express themselves and to be who they are.
00:21:38.880 --> 00:21:40.880
So it's such a great fit.
00:21:40.960 --> 00:21:44.720
You know, when you approach me, Jen, I just thought, you know, this is this works really well.
00:21:44.880 --> 00:21:57.200
We're bringing a talented uh team to do the maybe happy ending and uh you know, having our volunteers interact with your guests and also like being able to see the show.
00:21:57.359 --> 00:22:00.319
I mean, it's just a it's just a win-win for all, you know.
00:22:00.400 --> 00:22:02.240
And again, thank you for approaching us.
00:22:02.480 --> 00:22:03.519
Yeah, absolutely.
00:22:03.680 --> 00:22:12.160
And you know, what's been fun is that we have had a lot of Asian restaurants say, hey, we want to make a special menu because of this show.
00:22:12.400 --> 00:22:18.160
And it's also been a great way to showcase these new entrepreneurs, especially when it comes to Asian cuisine.
00:22:18.400 --> 00:22:23.440
You know, you're just telling me exactly what we believe that the Broadway GR brings into the community.
00:22:23.519 --> 00:22:37.920
You know, like you we you you guys inspire, but you know, I believe the work that we all do together is to uplift and to showcase and highlight all the different entrepreneurs and all the people who are just trying to make a difference.
00:22:38.079 --> 00:22:40.960
And so I I'm just so excited for this partnership, Jen.
00:22:41.119 --> 00:22:42.880
I'm assuming you haven't seen the show, correct?
00:22:43.119 --> 00:22:43.759
I have not.
00:22:43.920 --> 00:22:47.200
Um looking forward to the grand open uh opening night.
00:22:47.440 --> 00:22:51.200
Is there something that you are very excited about seeing in the show or that you've heard about it?
00:22:51.440 --> 00:22:57.599
No, I just heard it uh, you know, it's a fantastic show that uh, you know, it highlights uh unique cast.
00:22:57.759 --> 00:23:02.960
And so just for me, that alone, you know, it's it's something that I I want to watch.
00:23:03.119 --> 00:23:07.599
Plus, watching it live on Broadway GR, you know, the Voss, it's great.
00:23:07.680 --> 00:23:09.519
You know, it's such a different experience.
00:23:09.759 --> 00:23:15.920
And so with those things alone, I don't really need to know much about the show, but I just wanted to watch it.
00:23:16.160 --> 00:23:16.720
I love it.
00:23:16.799 --> 00:23:20.319
And I know your son Red, he is a theater kid.
00:23:20.640 --> 00:23:23.359
So I really hope he makes it to the show.
00:23:23.519 --> 00:23:29.839
But, you know, final thoughts, Ace, about being able to see the Asian culture represented on stage.
00:23:30.160 --> 00:23:43.200
You know, I just wanted to say this is a great time for diversity and also to highlight and to, you know, just basically to push forward uh that you know, the Asian community is strong.
00:23:43.359 --> 00:23:49.279
We have so much talent to showcase, and there's so much uh commonalities with everybody.
00:23:49.440 --> 00:24:05.680
And so to be able to see this in Broadway GR and alongside with our partnership with the Grand Rapids Asian Pacific Festival that's happening in June 11, 12, and 13, I think this is you know, just raising awareness for the community and such a great thing for Grand Rapids.
00:24:05.759 --> 00:24:06.960
So I was so excited, Jen.
00:24:07.039 --> 00:24:08.240
Thanks so much for the partnership.
00:24:08.480 --> 00:24:09.440
Thank you so much, Ace.
00:24:09.599 --> 00:24:10.799
We'll talk to you soon.
00:24:11.680 --> 00:24:14.559
The ending's not the most important part.
00:24:15.279 --> 00:24:19.119
But as endings go, ours is not so bad.
00:24:20.640 --> 00:24:28.079
No tears, no regret, no broken heart, and sure no memories of what we had.
00:24:28.480 --> 00:24:33.279
Maybe Happy Ending makes its way to DeVos Performance Hall on Tuesday, November 10th.
00:24:33.440 --> 00:24:41.920
We also want to give a huge shout out to our title sponsor, Fifth Third Bank, and our season sponsor, Meyer and Pine Rest, for making it all possible.
00:24:42.079 --> 00:24:54.559
And show sponsors AHD Hospitality, Barnes and Thornburg LLP, the Law Group at Morgan Stanley, Miller Knoll Foundation, and Michigan State University Financial Credit Union.
00:24:54.799 --> 00:24:55.839
Thanks for joining us.
00:24:55.920 --> 00:24:57.680
We'll see you at the show.
00:00:01.600 --> 00:00:10.240
From the cast on stage and cruise behind the curtain, two community partners supporting efforts to bring professional Broadway performances to West Michigan.
00:00:10.400 --> 00:00:14.800
Plus, all things in between, this is BGR's Backstage Buzz.
00:00:18.000 --> 00:00:23.359
Hey friends, I'm Jennifer Pasqua, Vice President of Marketing and Community Engagement at Broadway Grand Rapids.
00:00:23.519 --> 00:00:28.320
And I'm Steve Stecketty, producer, Broadway fan, and proud BGR ambassador.
00:00:37.280 --> 00:00:38.880
Time to give it a shot.
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Hope the car fits a lot, because now I'm hitting the road with my books and you just heard a clip from the winner of six Tony Awards, including Best Musical.
00:00:47.920 --> 00:00:55.439
Maybe Happy Ending is a totally original new musical adventure that explores what it means to be human, even if they're not.
00:00:55.679 --> 00:00:59.439
And we got a chance to preview the show a couple weeks ago in Detroit, Jen, right?
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And that was actually really cool.
00:01:01.119 --> 00:01:01.520
Yeah.
00:01:01.679 --> 00:01:06.959
And you sat next to me, and there were so many moments when you looked over to me and you're shaking your head like, yeah, this is it.
00:01:07.040 --> 00:01:07.760
This is pretty cool.
00:01:08.000 --> 00:01:16.000
This show had so many gorgeous sets, and the way things floated between one moment and the next with the music and the lighting.
00:01:16.079 --> 00:01:18.000
Uh, yeah, it really, it really hit me.
00:01:18.239 --> 00:01:29.280
So we are so lucky right now to be able to grab some time with Steven and Claire from Maybe Happy Ending, the leads in this incredible, what some are saying is a play that has music.
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Is that a good way to describe it?
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I think it is.
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How are you guys doing today?
00:01:33.439 --> 00:01:34.159
We're doing great.
00:01:34.319 --> 00:01:34.959
Thank you for having us.
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Thanks for sitting with us.
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All right, well, let's let's jump into the show.
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First of all, we saw it last night.
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I was um blown away in the sense that this the setting is gorgeous, the stage production is gorgeous.
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I just thought it was such a nice, intimate way to tell a really beautiful story.
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And it really touched on one of my favorite things.
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So let's just throw it right back to you guys right off the bat.
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First, so maybe happy ending.
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When somebody asks you what the show is about, what do you tell them?
00:01:59.599 --> 00:02:13.520
Claire always gives me the the uh responsibility of giving the pitch, but uh so Maybe Happy Ending is a musical set in 2064 Soul Korea, and it focuses on two retired helper bots.
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Uh, we like to think of them as human um assistants, human-like uh artificial assistants, uh, who are made to make your life just a little bit easier.
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And so these two helper bots are older, they are retired, and in the same fashion that like we upgrade our iPhones, but we never throw away the old model.
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We kind of like lovingly put it in storage.
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In case we ever need them again, we put them in a retirement place called the Helperbot Yards.
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Um and so Oliver, who is a model three, is there and he is waiting for his owner, James, to come pick him up, and he loves his routine.
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He spends every single day reading magazines, listening to LPs, and spending his day with his number one sidekick companion, Hwabun.
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And Claire, who is a newer model, is also here and she knocks on Oliver's door because her charger is broken.
00:03:07.840 --> 00:03:20.479
And with the two of them meeting, they go on this fantastic journey of looking for Oliver's previous owner, looking for fireflies, and ultimately discovering what it means to be human.
00:03:20.960 --> 00:03:26.879
Okay, so I'm just gonna take that, wrap it up in a bow, and that's how we're gonna tell every single person what this show is about.
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Interview done.
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Thank you.
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Well, and I think what's so when we ask, you know, how do you explain it?
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Because there's so many different layers and meanings, and people get so much out of it.
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I I told I told some of the um media that we brought to see the show ahead of it arriving in Grand Rapids.
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Um, you know, just be prepared because I don't want to necessarily tell you 100% about what it what it is, because people get so many different interpretations out of it.
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If you're you're pitching, I mean we heard his, so how would you describe the show, Claire?
00:04:01.120 --> 00:04:10.080
Well, I think what's so beautiful about it is exactly like what you said, Jennifer, which is that it's so it's seemingly simple, but it's really complex.
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And like every single moment in the show has something that you can dig into and sink your teeth in and really think about, or you can just laugh and you can enjoy the pretty music in that moment.
00:04:21.839 --> 00:04:32.319
Um, I always say that we have absolutely stunning visual design that you have literally never seen before on stage, anywhere in live theater or any kind of experience in the same way.
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And absolutely beautiful, gorgeous, sweeping music that is also, it will make you feel things that you don't even know that you're feeling in the moment.
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And then your eyes will be welling up with tears or you'll be, you know, laughing hysterically.
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Um, and then I think our cast and and the connection that we show is really important because it's only a four-person cast, and mostly there are only two people on stage at a time.
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And yet it just packs a punch and an impact that you will feel and will be thinking about for days and days after you watch the show.
00:05:07.120 --> 00:05:16.879
It was a lot of fun for me to watch your characters kind of play with human emotions or like test theory, you know, them to see how they work and see what happens, what the other one does.
00:05:17.040 --> 00:05:20.639
But to that point, so as androids, uh, obviously you're on stage.
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We were talking afterwards, we kind of noticed you both had different motions.
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You definitely had different ways of moving, maybe intentional or not, but whether the different models move differently.
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What did you have to lose in yourselves to kind of find your movement and your rhythm and how to just get the humanity tamped down a bit so you can play these?
00:05:37.839 --> 00:05:38.160
Yeah.
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Um, so we worked with a wonderful movement coordinator.
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His name is Moni.
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Um, and he is well known for working on movement for a couple of other movies, such as like iRobot.
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Um, and so he is very, very skilled at building a language and a vocabulary for the acting company to figure out what it means for us individually to be be be help robots.
00:06:07.040 --> 00:06:46.800
And so for me, it felt more like gaining this ability of an access towards rigidity and having this kind of very like sharp angular movement because um Oliver is an older model, so he's very good at seeming human, but like there's something slightly off about it, and so it it feels like just you know, uh having a a sense of uh composure and also like uh introducing movements one at a time and really isolating that work is what kind of makes his movement distinctive.
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And then we talk about the difference between model threes and model fives, but the way that our team likes to kind of discuss it and visualize is that if Oliver is straight lines, Claire is curves and there's a little bit more grace, and it's a little bit more human, you know, there are certain movements that we do as humans that you don't really even think about.
00:07:07.120 --> 00:07:14.480
Um, and and I think that playing Claire, I like to add some of those things in, and I'm completely aware that I'm adding those things in.
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Um, but that for me, it's more about the economy of movement and the efficiency of it, the economy of energy.
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So, you know, I think a lot about how Claire starts off and her battery is low.
00:07:27.759 --> 00:07:41.680
And there are certain things that she probably as a robot is like saving energy in order to move and move in a way that is still more graceful than Oliver and is not as like conventionally robotic.
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But there are still things that she has to do that are limited because her hardware is not like us.
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It's not organic biological material.
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It's, you know, it's technological and maybe it's made out of silicone.
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We don't talk about like the specifics of it, but I think about these things a lot.
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And there's still limitation that a human body doesn't have.
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And so I think we also think about that in terms of the emotional aspect, as you were saying, that we watch these robots, these, you know, Oliver and Claire, these help robots, experience these emotions for the first time.
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And it's in a way that we as humans see it articulated very clearly because they are not quote unquote human.
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But it's a feeling that we all understand, right?
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Like we've all experienced love for the first time.
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Or, you know, if you're younger, maybe you haven't, but you will, or, you know, experiencing like connecting with someone for the first time or being surprised by someone for the first time.
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And like being on stage as help robots, we're able to kind of be a bit more expressive about that, you know, exaggerate that a little bit more and make it all clearer.
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But I think for all of us in the audience, we all know what that feels like.
00:08:52.799 --> 00:08:58.080
So it's kind of a special experience to really see it articulated on stage and be like, oh, haha.
00:08:58.159 --> 00:09:02.960
Like I know what that feels like to be surprised by someone or be annoyed by someone.
00:09:03.120 --> 00:09:05.759
And then we feel more connected to the person next to us.
00:09:06.080 --> 00:09:11.200
I did not realize that doors were going to be such a pivotal portion of the future.
00:09:11.440 --> 00:09:11.759
Yeah.
00:09:12.399 --> 00:09:13.039
Yes.
00:09:13.279 --> 00:09:16.960
So obviously, live theater is live and it's one of the most exciting portions of it.
00:09:17.039 --> 00:09:19.759
And so there was a little bit of a door mishap, if you will.
00:09:20.000 --> 00:09:30.399
Because we're a touring company, we are moving from city to city, and um God bless our crew because they work their butts off to load the show in in every single city.
00:09:30.480 --> 00:09:48.320
But you know, when it's on a truck for about 10 hours, it some things kind of rattle a little bit, and so our handle kind of broke over the weekend, and um apparently it was fine on Tuesday, but then coming into yesterday, like if you turn it, it just wouldn't unlock.
00:09:48.480 --> 00:09:54.639
And um and so they were taking a look at it right before the show started, and we had a temporary fix.
00:09:54.799 --> 00:10:00.480
We got through the opening number, and um, when I bring in Claire and like the first time the door opened, it was great.
00:10:00.639 --> 00:10:04.159
The second time you kind of saw me struggle a little for a quick second.
00:10:04.480 --> 00:10:06.000
We noticed that just a little bit, yeah.
00:10:06.080 --> 00:10:11.360
Yeah, and then the third time it was just fine, but then once it closed as she came out, it never opened again.
00:10:11.600 --> 00:10:14.559
I thought maybe this is like a meta play, and maybe happy ending.
00:10:14.720 --> 00:10:17.039
They were like, Audience, that's how it could have gone.
00:10:17.200 --> 00:10:22.159
That's one happy maybe, and then you would start again into something else and a multiverse of possibilities.
00:10:22.559 --> 00:10:23.440
Exactly, because that's it.
00:10:23.679 --> 00:10:26.720
But uh your character loves jazz.
00:10:27.039 --> 00:10:29.360
What do you think your character loves jazz for?
00:10:29.519 --> 00:10:37.519
And how did how does your inner monologue, which is what I assume we cut away to from time to time, and you have the crooner, you know, kind of doing it.
00:10:37.679 --> 00:10:39.440
Why is your inner monologue a crooner?
00:10:39.679 --> 00:10:48.799
Yeah, so Oliver's love of jazz comes from his owner, James, who is an avid jazz enthusiast.
00:10:48.960 --> 00:11:06.559
Um, and so Oliver, the way that I interpret it is almost everything that he knows and loves is a reflection of his owner because that's all that like they would listen to, or he would teach him all of the great things about jazz and how like LP sound more real than all the technology that came after them.
00:11:06.639 --> 00:11:27.840
And so he's built this love and devotion towards all of the simple, more analog things in life because you know advancement has gone so far, hypothetically, in 2064, that sometimes you just need to fall back on old school things, like you know, how right now there's a resurgence of uh vinyls, it's it's it's incredible.
00:11:28.159 --> 00:11:37.360
And so uh then we come into um uh introducing our wonderful jazz coroner, Gil Brentley, played by Frankie.
00:11:37.759 --> 00:12:07.200
Uh and so he is a uh reflection and interpretation of uh Oliver's emotions that he's feeling for the first time in these moments where you see him in in a way that when Oliver doesn't know how to process what he's feeling or express what he's feeling, Gil Brentley is there to provide the exact lyrics that he needs to figure out what this moment is.
00:12:07.519 --> 00:12:20.000
And can I just add in this is one of my favorite things uh about the origin of the show that uh our two writers, Will Aronson and Hugh Park, were emailing back and forth about this idea.
00:12:20.320 --> 00:12:26.320
And it was inspired by Hugh listening to this song called Everyday Robots, and he was kind of like had an idea about this.
00:12:26.559 --> 00:12:30.799
And then I think it was Will, I think it was Will found this this image.
00:12:30.960 --> 00:12:40.960
Um, I can't remember if it was Will or Hugh, but one of them found this image of a a robot playing a trombone in a garage like late at night.
00:12:41.279 --> 00:12:47.919
And that was something that sparked like the beginning of this this idea for the show was just this this beautiful image.
00:12:48.240 --> 00:13:01.759
And also, I, you know, as you're as you're talking about the music and how the music comes into play, what I love about it is you take a look around the theater at some moments, and for some, this is the first time they've heard jazz, right?
00:13:01.840 --> 00:13:07.919
To in that spirit of of um, you know, getting into that music and understanding it.
00:13:08.159 --> 00:13:16.799
But um, I want to segue now to talk about something that is truly beautiful for me is seeing representation of Asians on the stage on Broadway.
00:13:16.879 --> 00:13:28.879
The first time that I saw it, I was like, how cool would this have been for a younger me to have full representation on stage of people who kind of look like me.
00:13:29.120 --> 00:13:32.159
So can we talk a little bit about that and what it means to the both of you?
00:13:32.320 --> 00:13:35.679
And you know, happy to if you could share your ethnicity too, that'd be great.
00:13:35.919 --> 00:13:36.159
Yeah.
00:13:36.320 --> 00:13:37.919
So I'm Korean American.
00:13:38.000 --> 00:13:42.879
Um, and the fact that the show is set in its whole South Korea is kind of crazy.
00:13:43.120 --> 00:14:01.440
Um I think that seeing the show for the first time for me as well, to see Shell and um Helen Du Shen and Darren Chris, who are the original um Olivers and Claire's, it was just a really kind of very momentous occasion.
00:14:01.600 --> 00:14:06.159
I think um it was, it felt like, oh, like that's something that I can do.
00:14:06.240 --> 00:14:11.440
And I think as like a young Asian American woman in musical theater, you know, we have those moments.
00:14:11.519 --> 00:14:24.879
Like I had that moment seeing like Leah Salanga growing up, or you know, like Eva Nobelzada and like Hades Town and and feeling like there was a sense of possibility and opportunity is just, I think it's a very important experience.
00:14:25.039 --> 00:14:31.519
And then the fact that I may get to be that for someone else is is really special.
00:14:31.679 --> 00:14:59.200
And then also that it's like, you know, we we talk about with the show, it's not necessarily they don't have to be cast as Asian or Asian American or whatever, but the fact that we get to do it and the fact like for me as a my family who like grew up in Seoul, being able to see the show and then being able to like bring people who are from my community who were growing up and seeing me in like Annie the musical or like sound of music or whatever, where you know it was still very beautiful.
00:14:59.440 --> 00:15:12.480
And then now to be able to like see me in a show that is a musical that is not about being Asian or Asian American at all, and it's not about history and it's not about trauma, you know, it's it's set in the future.
00:15:12.639 --> 00:15:31.279
It could really, it could be anyone, and that uh we get to be the faces of that, um, and the faces of that for a lot of people is just a really unique and special moment that I feel like also comes with a lot of responsibility, and I think uh we don't take that lightly.
00:15:32.000 --> 00:15:58.480
Yeah, uh me personally, I'm Vietnamese American, and I was first introduced to music theater through like a national tour that came through my city where I grew up in, and um to to be able to lead in maybe happy ending and to bring it across North America has been incredibly special and like a full circle moment for me.
00:15:58.799 --> 00:16:36.799
I, you know, w grew up watching Telly Lung and Conrad Wrigamora and Jose Lana and Adam Jacobs and and all of these wonderful Asian American artists and performers and to uh hopefully become one like them to bring this show across North America and inspire other children who looked like me growing up has been a a gift and something that I hope that I can continue to to do and give back to the community that gave me so much.
00:16:36.960 --> 00:16:50.080
Um and so, like Claire said, it is a responsibility that we do not take lightly, and um it it's really wonderful that even though it doesn't have to be us, it is us in the moment.
00:16:50.639 --> 00:16:52.000
I think we're ready.
00:16:52.240 --> 00:16:54.080
I'm feeling knotted, I'll scared.
00:16:54.240 --> 00:17:00.799
I've got the charger, I've got the playlist prepared, and I know now there's no turning back.
00:17:01.039 --> 00:17:03.679
How much to do pack before the ending?
00:17:04.400 --> 00:17:06.319
And we're back with Steven and Claire.
00:17:06.480 --> 00:17:17.680
So this game is called What's Worth Keeping with Claire and Steven here, where we're gonna ask them a question uh where they need to answer what they think the other person is going to say uh versus what they would actually say.
00:17:18.160 --> 00:17:20.960
Claire as herself or Claire as helperbot Claire.
00:17:21.279 --> 00:17:21.599
Oh, right.
00:17:21.759 --> 00:17:22.000
Claire.
00:17:23.279 --> 00:17:24.000
Okay, so here we go.
00:17:24.079 --> 00:17:24.880
I'll go for the first one.
00:17:24.960 --> 00:17:26.079
You answer for each other.
00:17:26.319 --> 00:17:27.680
What would you delete?
00:17:28.000 --> 00:17:30.400
Opening night or your first kiss?
00:17:30.720 --> 00:17:31.440
Three, two, one, first.
00:17:32.640 --> 00:17:33.839
Okay, you both went totally different.
00:17:34.079 --> 00:17:35.839
The applause or the after party?
00:17:36.000 --> 00:17:36.720
After party.
00:17:36.880 --> 00:17:37.519
Applause.
00:17:37.759 --> 00:17:45.359
Would you rather delete a five-star review you received or five of the greatest praise words from a critic you really wanted their opinion?
00:17:45.599 --> 00:17:46.240
The one critic.
00:17:46.640 --> 00:17:47.759
He's thinking he would remove that.
00:17:48.319 --> 00:17:49.119
Yeah, five words.
00:17:49.279 --> 00:17:55.200
Or would you rather keep a flawless vacation or a trip where everything went wrong, but you still had a great time about it?
00:17:55.359 --> 00:17:58.319
Count down three, two, one, perfect.
00:17:58.880 --> 00:17:59.359
Disaster.
00:17:59.680 --> 00:18:02.799
Yeah, both on the other end of the spectrum on every single one.
00:18:03.279 --> 00:18:03.519
Okay.
00:18:03.759 --> 00:18:04.480
Threes and fives.
00:18:04.640 --> 00:18:05.359
Fives and fives.
00:18:05.759 --> 00:18:06.799
Oliver and Claire.
00:18:06.960 --> 00:18:07.119
All right.
00:18:07.359 --> 00:18:08.319
Opposites attract.
00:18:08.559 --> 00:18:14.720
So would you rather delete or keep your favorite song or the memory of the person who introduced you to it?
00:18:14.960 --> 00:18:20.559
So you either lose the song itself, never hear it again, or you lose the person who introduced you to the song.
00:18:20.880 --> 00:18:22.720
Okay, one, two, three.
00:18:22.880 --> 00:18:24.400
Keep the person, keep the person.
00:18:24.640 --> 00:18:25.680
Oh, we're on the same one.
00:18:25.759 --> 00:18:27.440
Yeah, you'd rather keep the person, rather the song.
00:18:27.519 --> 00:18:29.680
That that seems more valuable in the human human way.
00:18:29.839 --> 00:18:30.319
All right.
00:18:30.559 --> 00:18:37.759
Would you rather keep a wonderful relationship, including its painful ending, or delete the whole experience so it never hurts?
00:18:38.079 --> 00:18:40.720
Is this a maybe happy ending?
00:18:42.160 --> 00:18:43.839
One, two, three.
00:18:44.480 --> 00:18:45.359
Keep the relationship.
00:18:45.759 --> 00:18:46.960
All right, let's do one more.
00:18:47.279 --> 00:18:57.119
Would you rather keep every memory of someone you love, knowing they'll forget you or let them remember you while you forget them?
00:18:57.359 --> 00:18:57.920
I like that one.
00:18:58.160 --> 00:18:58.559
Oh my god.
00:18:58.720 --> 00:19:01.839
Yeah, would you rather be remembered or would you rather remember somebody?
00:19:02.160 --> 00:19:04.000
Three, two, one.
00:19:04.559 --> 00:19:05.680
Be remember somebody.
00:19:06.240 --> 00:19:09.279
Those threes and fives really are almost on every single question.
00:19:09.599 --> 00:19:11.680
Don't take that as an interpretation of it.
00:19:11.759 --> 00:19:12.559
Wait a minute, wait a minute.
00:19:12.799 --> 00:19:13.279
No, no, no.
00:19:13.599 --> 00:19:14.240
It's just me personally.
00:19:14.720 --> 00:19:15.680
We're getting too meta here.
00:19:16.319 --> 00:19:16.799
This was fun.
00:19:16.880 --> 00:19:18.720
Thank you so much for taking the time with us.
00:19:19.119 --> 00:19:20.799
And we enjoyed this show so much.
00:19:21.039 --> 00:19:23.279
Grand Rapids is going to lose their mind.
00:19:23.519 --> 00:19:24.079
I think they are.
00:19:24.160 --> 00:19:26.799
We've never seen anything like this, and uh, you guys are really bringing it back.
00:19:27.119 --> 00:19:27.759
Thank you so much.
00:19:27.920 --> 00:19:29.119
Thank you guys so much for your time.
00:19:29.359 --> 00:19:29.680
All right.
00:19:29.839 --> 00:19:33.839
And now a word from one of our show sponsors, AHC Hospitality.
00:19:34.319 --> 00:19:42.079
If you have stayed or visited us before, you might be wondering why does this place give up such good energy?
00:19:42.319 --> 00:19:45.039
Or make everything more flavorful?
00:19:45.359 --> 00:19:49.200
It's because we believe one degree of difference makes all the difference.
00:19:49.359 --> 00:19:52.799
That the little details are what set your experience over the top.
00:19:52.960 --> 00:20:00.079
So we keep doing the small things that made you a stay, your dinner, your event, your everything.
00:20:03.039 --> 00:20:16.799
The Grand Rapids Asian Pacific Foundation is a nonprofit driven by a purposeful mission to weave cultural enrichment, economic empowerment, community unity, and proactive education into the fabric of West Michigan communities.
00:20:16.960 --> 00:20:24.000
And you'll be able to learn more about Grapf during the opening night of Maybe Happy Ending because they are our community sponsors.
00:20:24.160 --> 00:20:26.720
Here to share more is founder Ace Marcigan.
00:20:26.960 --> 00:20:32.559
So, Ace, tell me about the Grand Rapids Asian Pacific Festival that's coming up this summer.
00:20:32.640 --> 00:20:33.519
This is a big deal.
00:20:33.759 --> 00:20:35.279
Jen, you know, this is a big deal.
00:20:35.359 --> 00:20:43.119
The Grand Rapids Asian Pacific Festival is going to be celebrating the 10th year anniversary, the something that we started in 2017.
00:20:43.200 --> 00:20:46.319
So it's going to be big because we're going to have multiple performances.
00:20:46.480 --> 00:20:50.319
Uh, we're trying to get some big headliners for this this year.
00:20:50.559 --> 00:20:56.559
So this is going to be happening in June 11th, 12, and 13 in downtown at Calder Plaza.
00:20:56.799 --> 00:20:58.400
Well, and you know what I love about this?
00:20:58.559 --> 00:21:09.359
When we approached you to be our community partner for Maybe Happy Ending, the idea that you do throughout this entire decade, you've been bringing performing arts to the scene.
00:21:09.440 --> 00:21:18.319
And, you know, that we're like, oh, this is a perfect match to feature this uh Korean-inspired musical with the Grand Rapids Asian Pacific Festival.
00:21:18.480 --> 00:21:21.440
Tell me more about why you said yes to be our community partner.
00:21:21.759 --> 00:21:30.240
You know, the the the work that the Broadway GR does for the community, you know, bringing like such a diverse talent, you know, that is that something just rings to us.
00:21:30.319 --> 00:21:38.720
You know, we believe in a great partnership and a great uh, you know, giving up people opportunities to express themselves and to be who they are.
00:21:38.880 --> 00:21:40.880
So it's such a great fit.
00:21:40.960 --> 00:21:44.720
You know, when you approach me, Jen, I just thought, you know, this is this works really well.
00:21:44.880 --> 00:21:57.200
We're bringing a talented uh team to do the maybe happy ending and uh you know, having our volunteers interact with your guests and also like being able to see the show.
00:21:57.359 --> 00:22:00.319
I mean, it's just a it's just a win-win for all, you know.
00:22:00.400 --> 00:22:02.240
And again, thank you for approaching us.
00:22:02.480 --> 00:22:03.519
Yeah, absolutely.
00:22:03.680 --> 00:22:12.160
And you know, what's been fun is that we have had a lot of Asian restaurants say, hey, we want to make a special menu because of this show.
00:22:12.400 --> 00:22:18.160
And it's also been a great way to showcase these new entrepreneurs, especially when it comes to Asian cuisine.
00:22:18.400 --> 00:22:23.440
You know, you're just telling me exactly what we believe that the Broadway GR brings into the community.
00:22:23.519 --> 00:22:37.920
You know, like you we you you guys inspire, but you know, I believe the work that we all do together is to uplift and to showcase and highlight all the different entrepreneurs and all the people who are just trying to make a difference.
00:22:38.079 --> 00:22:40.960
And so I I'm just so excited for this partnership, Jen.
00:22:41.119 --> 00:22:42.880
I'm assuming you haven't seen the show, correct?
00:22:43.119 --> 00:22:43.759
I have not.
00:22:43.920 --> 00:22:47.200
Um looking forward to the grand open uh opening night.
00:22:47.440 --> 00:22:51.200
Is there something that you are very excited about seeing in the show or that you've heard about it?
00:22:51.440 --> 00:22:57.599
No, I just heard it uh, you know, it's a fantastic show that uh, you know, it highlights uh unique cast.
00:22:57.759 --> 00:23:02.960
And so just for me, that alone, you know, it's it's something that I I want to watch.
00:23:03.119 --> 00:23:07.599
Plus, watching it live on Broadway GR, you know, the Voss, it's great.
00:23:07.680 --> 00:23:09.519
You know, it's such a different experience.
00:23:09.759 --> 00:23:15.920
And so with those things alone, I don't really need to know much about the show, but I just wanted to watch it.
00:23:16.160 --> 00:23:16.720
I love it.
00:23:16.799 --> 00:23:20.319
And I know your son Red, he is a theater kid.
00:23:20.640 --> 00:23:23.359
So I really hope he makes it to the show.
00:23:23.519 --> 00:23:29.839
But, you know, final thoughts, Ace, about being able to see the Asian culture represented on stage.
00:23:30.160 --> 00:23:43.200
You know, I just wanted to say this is a great time for diversity and also to highlight and to, you know, just basically to push forward uh that you know, the Asian community is strong.
00:23:43.359 --> 00:23:49.279
We have so much talent to showcase, and there's so much uh commonalities with everybody.
00:23:49.440 --> 00:24:05.680
And so to be able to see this in Broadway GR and alongside with our partnership with the Grand Rapids Asian Pacific Festival that's happening in June 11, 12, and 13, I think this is you know, just raising awareness for the community and such a great thing for Grand Rapids.
00:24:05.759 --> 00:24:06.960
So I was so excited, Jen.
00:24:07.039 --> 00:24:08.240
Thanks so much for the partnership.
00:24:08.480 --> 00:24:09.440
Thank you so much, Ace.
00:24:09.599 --> 00:24:10.799
We'll talk to you soon.
00:24:11.680 --> 00:24:14.559
The ending's not the most important part.
00:24:15.279 --> 00:24:19.119
But as endings go, ours is not so bad.
00:24:20.640 --> 00:24:28.079
No tears, no regret, no broken heart, and sure no memories of what we had.
00:24:28.480 --> 00:24:33.279
Maybe Happy Ending makes its way to DeVos Performance Hall on Tuesday, November 10th.
00:24:33.440 --> 00:24:41.920
We also want to give a huge shout out to our title sponsor, Fifth Third Bank, and our season sponsor, Meyer and Pine Rest, for making it all possible.
00:24:42.079 --> 00:24:54.559
And show sponsors AHD Hospitality, Barnes and Thornburg LLP, the Law Group at Morgan Stanley, Miller Knoll Foundation, and Michigan State University Financial Credit Union.
00:24:54.799 --> 00:24:55.839
Thanks for joining us.
00:24:55.920 --> 00:24:57.680
We'll see you at the show.
