Darren Criss, the 37-year-old Broadway star, is carving his name even more prominently on the theatrical stage with his current role as Oliver, the obsolete robot, in the musical Maybe Happy Ending. Known for his earlier work on the hit TV series Glee and his award-winning portrayal of Andrew Cunanan in The Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story, Criss has had quite the career.
"Keep the music going, you know?" Criss said, embodying the spirit of his regular performances at piano bars, particularly at Tramp Stamp Granny's, which he co-owns with his wife, Mia. "It's kind of a beautiful little Hollywood tale," he elaborated, noting how their venue serves as both bar and stage. Criss emphasizes the piano bar atmosphere: "One rule is to play the hits!"
Criss's ascent to fame began at the University of Michigan, where he starred as Harry Potter in A Very Potter Musical, which he reflected on as significant, stating, "This was a very interesting moment in time." This unauthorized musical went viral on YouTube in 2009, effectively setting the course for his burgeoning career. He humorously acknowledged the impact of this production, saying, "That really did kind of change my life." He candidly shared his uncertainty about its status as the first viral musical, quipping, "I guess we'll let the YouTube historians sort of decide..."
After his early success, Criss took a detour from theater to television when he auditioned for Glee, stating, "I went out for it, like hundreds of thousands of other people... I happened to book it." His role as Blaine Anderson captured hearts and led to Criss becoming a fan favorite. He proudly attributed part of his success on Glee to the dedicated following he'd built through his earlier works, noting, "I owe my tenure on [Glee] to the sub-cultural fan base army we had gathered from the Potter stuff."
Now, Criss embarks on a new chapter with Maybe Happy Ending. Critics have lauded the show, with The New York Times branding it as "joyful," "heartbreaking," and "supersmart." The production grapples with deeply philosophical questions about love, loss, and the human experience from its opening song. Criss explains, "This show begins with... the question the show posits: Why love?" He elaborated on the inherent risk of loss tied to love, voicing the inquiry, "If we know...what do we do?"
Reflecting on his personal life, Criss pointed out how his own experiences shape his perception of the themes within the musical. This year has welcomed new joys, including the arrival of his son and watching his two-and-a-half-year-old daughter grow. When asked whether this is the best year of his life, Criss remarked with laughter, "Well, it certainly is a blessed one."
Yet, alongside the joy, Criss recalls significant hardships, including the passing of his father Bill, who died at 78, and the tragic loss of his brother Chuck, who died by suicide at 36. Criss shared, "I don't necessarily think of my own experience with those people...I think about the feeling of loss, the sadness...because we all feel it." He reflected on how Maybe Happy Ending resonates with the universal struggle for resilience against sadness, saying, "The things...move me...are not the darkness of the loss, but the Herculean grace it takes to be resilient..."
Criss, who counts his blessings, gave the ultimate shoutout to the fortunate experiences filling his life, exclaiming, "I count my lucky stars every day!" This year, along with performing, he is also stepping out to promote other releases, including his holiday album A Very Darren Crissmas, hinting at the joyful intersection of work and family.
For those intrigued, tickets are available for Maybe Happy Ending at the Belasco Theatre, showcasing Criss’s talent alongside themes of love and loss, sure to resonate with audiences.
