Often found at theaters and museums, Kwon Mee-yoo has covered a wide range of cultural fields from K-pop and dramas to theater and fine art for over a decade. Now as K-Culture Desk editor, she tries to connect Korean culture with global readers through fresh perspectives.
INTERVIEW Claire meets Claire: Korean American actor finds her moment on Broadway with ‘Maybe Happy Ending’
Claire Kwon as Claire in the Broadway musical "Maybe Happy Ending" / Captured from Claire Kwon's Instagram
By Kwon Mee-yoo
For Korean American actor Claire Kwon, her journey to her Broadway principal debut as Claire in "Maybe Happy Ending" felt nothing short of destined. The musical, developed concurrently in Korea and the U.S. and set in a near-future Seoul, tells a story of two Helperbots discovering love, life and mortality. And for Kwon, being part of a production that deeply reflects elements of her cultural identity was both a joyful and proud experience.
Kwon joined the Broadway cast in January as an understudy for Claire, a cynical Helperbot 5 living in a yard for outdated models, and officially stepped into the role for the first time on March 19.
Her first performance as the lead was a night she’ll never forget.
“Wow, my debut was everything I could have dreamed of and more. When I first appeared onstage, I was so overwhelmed by how many people I could hear cheering me on from the audience,” Kwon said in a recent email interview with The Korea Times.
“From there, I really tried to focus on telling the story and sharing a beautiful experience with everyone in the theatre. The focus on the storytelling, as well as the amazing energy and present nature of my main scene partner Darren Criss (playing Oliver), really helped calm my nerves. This also helped me feel very present onstage and really drop into the journey of Claire (the robot).”
Claire Kwon as Claire in the Broadway musical "Maybe Happy Ending" / Captured from Claire Kwon's Instagram
A role of destiny
Written by Will Aronson and Hue Park, the musical has been a beloved hit in Korea since its 2016 premiere and earned glowing reviews and enthusiastic responses since its Broadway opening in November 2024.
Kwon’s introduction to "Maybe Happy Ending" came serendipitously.
“I was in the airport about to board a flight to California when this beautiful script about two robots falling in love moved me to tears. I fell in love with everything about it — its charming and witty voice, the deep themes of mortality and uncertainty — not to mention the fact that the story was originally Korean (American) and the character’s name was Claire,” she said.
The coincidence of sharing a name with the character only deepened her sense of destiny.
“I did feel a special connection with this role. The character of Claire just felt so relatable to me,” Kwon said. “Despite her being a robot, she did not feel contrived or stereotypical. If anything, her character felt more human and more representative of myself than many other roles I was exposed to.”
Claire Kwon, left, as Claire and Steven Huynh as Oliver pose backstage at the Belasco Theatre in New York, where "Maybe Happy Ending" is staged. Courtesy of Maybe Happy Ending
The actor described Claire as a richly layered character — rational yet quietly yearning, robotic yet unmistakably human.
“I resonated with her strength and wit, as well as her dry, and at times cynical, sense of humor,” she said. “I loved the fact that despite her character’s circumstance (basically her battery life is dying) and despite her own attempts to be an ultra-realist who sees life as a cold rationalist (like in her first song ‘The Way That It Has to Be’), she cannot help but have a quiet zest and love for life. She ultimately rediscovers a sense of hope and curiosity through her relationship with Oliver, the other robot.”
What moved Kwon most was Claire’s emotional evolution, a character who masks her vulnerability with logic but slowly learns to embrace connection.
“All of these qualities really resonated with me, especially her bold disposition and her inclination towards rationality mixed with her restless yearning for joy and love,” she said.
Claire Kwon, third from right, poses with her family after her put-in rehearsal as Claire in the Broadway musical "Maybe Happy Ending." Captured from Claire Kwon's Instagram
Celebrating heritage on Broadway
Born to Korean immigrant parents, Kwon shared that performing in a show that carries such strong cultural roots feels like a full-circle moment.
“It is truly my dream come true. My journey oftentimes felt bounded by the limited mindset of the industry and norms of casting I grew up expecting," she said.
“I am so grateful that this show is not exclusively Korean American, but it definitely showcases some features that feel like home to me (such as the Korean text in the visuals or some of the melodic phrases). I love the fact that it shares this story in a way that brings people together, regardless of background or prior experience.”
That sense of home extended beyond the stage, as Kwon’s family attended her full-costume put-in rehearsal in February, before her official debut.
“From the very beginning of this process, I told my mom and dad that, ‘No matter what, as long as harabeoji (grandfather) and halmeoni (grandmother) get to see me perform in this show, I will be happy.’ My grandpa is 95 and I really wanted him to be able to see me in a big Broadway show.”
Kwon noted how rewarding it was to share this dream with her family, who immigrated from Korea and supported her unconditionally, despite initially having little knowledge about the arts industry.
“My family is truly my rock and the reason I do anything. Suffice to say everyone was in tears and it meant the world to share this wonderful gem of a show that incorporates Korean and Korean American culture as well as American musical theater elements.”
Claire Kwon as Claire in the Broadway musical "Maybe Happy Ending" / Captured from Claire Kwon's Instagram
Exploring identity
“Maybe Happy Ending” also influenced how Kwon sees her own place in the arts.
“It’s made me very proud to be a part of this show and company that embraces all the complexity and shares it in a way that invites people of all different backgrounds into its world,” she said. “It’s also emboldened me to not feel limited as an artist, to see myself as someone who can lead a show and fold myself and all my multitudes into an amazing character like Claire.”
Even before “Maybe Happy Ending,” she has already involved in projects rooted in Korean American identity, including Julia Riew’s “Dive,” based on Korean folktale “Simcheong,” and “Endless.”
“It gives me so much joy to collaborate and be in community with Korean American creators … I definitely hope Korean stories find light in this future and I also hope this environment fosters stories that represent the complexity of our changing world.”
In 2023, Kwon took on the role of Byeon Tong-rim (1916-2004), later known as Kim Hyang-an, in a concert version of “L’art Reste” — a Korean musical about a pioneering woman who helped shape Korea’s modern cultural landscape — in New York. It was her first time portraying a historical Korean figure.
“I was so moved by how bold her character was and how her bravery led her to live a very inspiring artistic life,” she said. “The music was beautifully sweeping and I appreciated the huge range of emotions that I got to present through those songs.”
While musical theater remains her first professional love, she is eager to expand into other genres and platforms.
“Long-term, I always say that my ultimate goal is to make good art with good people … I really hope to take on more roles in straight plays, new works and also music. I also feel very excited to venture into TV and explore screen acting a bit more.”
As Korean culture gains global attention, Kwon hopes that Korean and Korean American stories will continue to find space on Broadway — and that artists like herself can play a role in shaping that future.
“At the end of the day, I will always be Korean American and I will carry that with me no matter what I do. However, I always want that to be an expansive aspect of me as an artist, rather than a limitation or a specification.”