The Broadway production of Maybe Happy Ending has sparked controversy following the announcement that Andrew Barth Feldman, a white actor, will join the cast as Oliver—a role originally portrayed by an Asian American actor in a show set in South Korea.
The musical, which premiered with a cast made up predominantly of AAPI (Asian American and Pacific Islander) performers, was seen by many as a milestone for representation on Broadway. The decision to cast Feldman has prompted criticism from AAPI artists and advocacy groups who argue that the move undermines the cultural significance and progress the production initially represented.