Korean Musical Triumphs with Six Wins on Broadway
NHN Link announced on June 10 that the Broadway performance of the Korean musical “Maybe Happy Ending,” in which the company participated in production investment, won a total of 6 categories at the 78th Tony Awards ceremony held at Radio City Music Hall in New York on June 8 (local time). The Tony Awards are the most prestigious awards in the American theater and musical world, often referred to as the “Academy Awards of theater.” This is the first time a completed work that premiered in Korea has entered Broadway in the United States and won Tony Awards.
According to NHN Link, “Maybe Happy Ending” swept major categories including Best Musical, Best Book of a Musical, Best Original Score, Best Direction of a Musical, Best Scenic Design of a Musical , and Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Musical. It has become the most awarded work at this year’s Tony Awards. It was also nominated in the categories of Orchestrations, Costume Design, Lighting Design, and Sound Design.
The Tony Awards are considered one of the four major arts awards in the United States, along with the Oscars (film), Grammy Awards (music), and Emmy Awards (broadcasting).
“Maybe Happy Ending” is an original musical set in the future, depicting the story of robots Oliver and Claire, created to help humans, who fall in love. It was created through the collaboration of writer Park Chun-hyu and composer Will Aronson. Park and Aronson also jointly won the awards for Best Original Score and Best Book of a Musical. Park emphasized, “Many people put their hearts and souls into it, giving their best. That’s one thing I can say with confidence.”
“Maybe Happy Ending” had its trial performance in 2015 and premiered at a small theater in Daehangno in Seoul at the end of 2016. Since last November, it has been performing in an open run format (performing indefinitely without setting a closing date) at the Belasco Theatre in New York.
“Maybe Happy Ending” has won consecutive awards from the New York Drama Critics’ Circle, Drama League Awards, Outer Critics Circle Awards, and Drama Desk Awards. On June 2 (local time), it won 6 categories including Best Musical, Best Direction of a Musical, Best Music, Best Lyrics, Best Book of a Musical, and Best Scenic Design of a Musical at the “69th Drama Desk Awards” held in New York. This is the most awards for a single work at this year’s Drama Desk Awards.
NHN Link, which holds the domestic copyright for “Maybe Happy Ending,” is producing a 10th anniversary performance to be showcased in Korea. This 10th anniversary performance is scheduled to be staged at the Yeongang Hall of Doosan Art Center in Jongno-gu, Seoul, from Oct. 30 this year to Jan. 25 next year.
NHN Link is responsible for content business among NHN Group companies. NHN Group, led by its founder and Chairman of the Board Lee Jun-ho, acquired Ticket Link (now NHN Link) in June 2014. NHN Link has secured performance venues such as Link Art Center and D-Cube Link Art Center, continuing to support the revitalization of cultural content businesses including performances and exhibitions, and global expansion. It also operates the ticket reservation website “Ticket Link.”
An NHN Link official said, “The Broadway performance of the musical ‘Maybe Happy Ending,’ in which our company participated in production investment, has been recognized for its artistry and commercial success in the United States, setting a new milestone for the Korean musical industry.”