Helen J. Shen is a household name in the entertainment industry, having performed in several acclaimed plays. She has starred in multiple Off-Broadway productions, including Teeth and The Lonely Few. However, her big break came with her Broadway debut, where she played Claire in the musical Maybe Happy Ending. Later in 2025, she had the opportunity to perform as Claire opposite her boyfriend, Andrew Barth Feldman. 

And much like Shen, Feldman is a well-known name in both Broadway and Hollywood, having appeared in several iconic films. 

Born to David Feldman and Barbara Barth, Andrew Barth Feldman grew up in New York. At a very young age, he fell in love with musical theatre and began his career early, performing in local and school productions, including Annie. He even started his own production company, Zneefrock Productions, in middle school to raise funds for autism awareness. 

He also boasts a Jimmy Award for his high school production of Catch Me If You Can. Later, he appeared in the Broadway musical Dear Evan Hansen. Eventually, he transitioned into films, playing the role of Alex in the Netflix film A Tourist’s Guide to Love. Many might also remember him for playing the lead role of Percy Becker opposite Jennifer Lawrence in No Hard Feelings in 2023. 

In 2024, he took on the role of Oliver in the Broadway show Maybe Happy Ending, starring opposite his real-life girlfriend, Helen J. Shen.

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  This casting decision to cast Andrew Barth Feldman with Darren Criss for the role of Oliver drew major backlash, leading Shen to comment on the controversy.

The controversy around Maybe Happy Ending started when Andrew Barth Feldman was cast to replace Darren Criss, who originated the role on Broadway and even won a Tony award for his performance. Some fans were upset because Criss, who is of Filipino descent, brought rare AAPI (Asian American and Pacific Islander community) representation to a Broadway lead. Helen J. Shen, who played Claire in the musical, also addressed the backlash, saying she understands why the community feels hurt.

“A part of me is mourning that along with the community,” Shen said.

“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,” she further added while speaking of Feldman playing Oliver in the play. 

While the creators, Hue Park and Will Aronson, said the characters were always meant to be universal but acknowledged that the original casting became a meaningful representation for many viewers. However, the debate around Maybe Happy Ending shows a larger issue in the entertainment industry. However, as Shen, who also appeared in The Devil Wears Prada 2, mentioned in her comment, it brought a unique opportunity for her to star alongside yet another talented actor. 

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Did you know about Andrew Barth Feldman? Let us know in the comments.