The Broadway controversy over Andrew Barth Feldman‘s casting in “Maybe Happy Ending” has continued, and actor Constance Wu has called him out for accepting the role. Feldman has taken over the lead role from Tony winner and original actor Darren Criss, who is of Filipino descent, while Wu and others have said the role should have gone to a member of the Asian American and Pacific Islander community.
“Recently, @andrewbfeldman_ reached out to me to talk and we had an in-depth phone call about Asian American representation and erasure in theater,” Wu wrote on Instagram. “It was a peaceful call and we spoke at length, followed up by several emails/texts. It made me hopeful. But after a recent voice memo he sent me, all I can say is that I am so disappointed in him. And feeling pretty discouraged. It’s hard to keep speaking up when it feels like no one is listening anymore in this new era. It’s exhausting and increasingly lonely. Once again, Asian Americans are left unheard, unacknowledged, invisible. Sadly, we’re used to this.”
In August, actor B.D. Wong started a petition calling for Feldman’s lead role of Tony to remain with an Asian actor. More than 2,400 people signed the petition, including Broadway stars like Conrad Ricamora, Anthony Rapp, Joaquina Kalukango and more. Wu referenced the petition, alleging that members of the “Maybe Happy Ending” team are intentionally ignoring the petition.
“A dozen or so folks bts at @maybehappyending have remained silent perhaps in the hopes that this will all fade away and you know what? It has. Your plan is working, guys — I heard your box office doing great. I’m sorry to the thousands of people on @wongbd’s petition whose signatures he and the producers have yet to publicly acknowledge,” Wu wrote.”
She added, “And honestly, I’m sorry ABF that you’ve been (perhaps unfairly) saddled with this responsibility by your producers. But sometimes we don’t choose responsibilities, they choose us. So the question that remains is: what are you choosing to do with it?”
Helen J. Shen, who starred opposite Criss and is dating Feldman in real life, shared her thoughts on the controversy in July: “I’ve been struggling to hold multiple truths within me that seem to contradict. I have and continue to be extremely proud to look the way I do and to co-lead this Broadway show. I know the hurt that people feel because growing up, I would have found a beacon of hope in seeing our show on TV on the Tony Awards. A part of me is mourning that along with the community. This has been an immensely challenging moment within my home with Andrew, and in this building filled with A/PI folks to say the least. I don’t know what’s forward, but to have this opportunity to play opposite my favorite actor in the world for 9 weeks, who happens to be PERFECT for the role is a huge moment of joy for me.”
