Maybe Happy Ending Review: Intimate Broadway Show Perfect for Families
Helen J. Shen and Darren Criss in Maybe Happy Ending
This tender, imaginative, and quietly beautiful musical explores love, loneliness, and connection through a futuristic lens—blending humor, heart, and stunning storytelling. Maybe Happy Ending follows two helper-bots in a future where obsolete robots live out their days, discovering what it means to truly connect.
What Makes Maybe Happy Ending Special:
Helen J. Shen's breakout performance as a leading lady
Inventive technical design and staging
Tender exploration of humanity, AI, and what it means to be alive
Charming, heartwarming story with surprising depth
Compact 100-minute runtime keeps audiences fully engaged
Our reviewers were enchanted by this production. "It is my favorite show on Broadway this season. It is inventive. It is fun. It's tender. It's innocent. It's charming. It's heartwarming. It's transportive."
The highlight? Helen J. Shen delivers a performance that critics are calling refreshing and captivating. "Helen J. Shen is such a breakout star and she's so refreshing as a leading lady."
The show uses the framework of robots and AI to tell a deeply human story. "The talk of robots and AI and these humanoids is really such a vehicle for such a human story and I just was—I left the theater feeling so delighted."
Your Family Guide to Maybe Happy Ending
Theatre for Family Audiences (TFA) Rating: Family Friendly
Recommended Age: 9-10+
Conversation Starter: After
Marvelous Family Pick: ⭐ Yes
What Parents Need to Know
This is one of the few shows our reviewers gave without major caveats. "This is the one that I freely refer to all my friends with kids or without kids. Go see this show because it's a lovely night at the theater."
Content to be aware of:
One scene references a motel with the word "sex" visible (handled with humor, nothing explicit)
Some discussion of mortality and what it means to have a finite lifespan
Themes about obsolescence and purpose
What Makes This Special for Families
The 100-minute runtime is perfect for younger audiences or those new to theater. "It's engaging. It's inspiring. Like we should all have maybe happy in my life. I hope it tours forever and becomes part of everybody's like fabric of their being. I feel that strongly about it."
Great for kids who:
Are interested in technology, AI, and robots
Enjoy thoughtful stories with heart
Are ready for bigger conversations about humanity and connection
Have shorter attention spans (no intermission means sustained engagement)
Conversations to Have After the Show
"If there's a child or someone in your family who's really interested in these big conversations about technology and humanity and how we interact with each other in that way, Maybe Happy Ending could be really interesting and spur some cool conversations."
Topics to explore:
What makes us human?
How do we define connection and companionship?
What gives life meaning and purpose?
How do we navigate change and uncertainty?
The Bottom Line
"Though the show skims over some more adult themes, it really is a beautiful look at a romantic relationship that is incredibly wholesome."
Maybe Happy Ending is a great show for families looking for something contemporary, emotionally resonant, and accessible. "This show is the epitome of what I hope all shows on Broadway could be."
