Helen J. Shen

Helen J. Shen
Shen in 2025
Born	(2000-01-28) January 28, 2000 (age 25) Basking Ridge, New Jersey, U.S.
Education	University of Michigan (BFA)
Occupations	Actress singer
Years active	2023–present

Helen J. Shen (born January 28, 2000) ^[1] is an American musical theater actress known for originating the leading role of Claire in Maybe Happy Ending on Broadway.

Early life and education

Shen was born and raised in the Basking Ridge section of Bernards Township, New Jersey to Chinese immigrant parents from Shanghai. Shen graduated from Ridge High School in 2018. ^[2] She began taking piano lessons at age five and was competing internationally at age eight, a practice she continued through high school, but pivoted to musical theatre performance upon studying at University of Michigan, where she received the Earl V. Moore Award. ^{[1] [3] [4] [5]}

Career

In 2022, Shen made her professional stage debut as Kyung-Hwa in Williamstown Theatre Festival's production of Man of God. The next year, she originated the role of JJ in the world premiere of the musical The Lonely Few at Geffen Playhouse in Los Angeles, California. ^[6] She then appeared off-Broadway in Playwrights Horizons's world premiere of the musical Teeth as Promise Keeper Girl Keke; she left the role later that year reprise her role as JJ in MCC Theater's 2024 New York debut of The Lonely Few. ^[7]

In November 2024, Shen originated the leading female role of Claire in the Broadway production of the musical Maybe Happy Ending , which premiered in Korea in 2016. ^{[8] [9] [10]} For her performance in the role, she was nominated for the 2025 Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Lead Performance in a Musical. ^[11] She also received a Grammy Award nomination for Best Musical Theater Album at the 68th Annual Grammy Awards. ^[12]

Personal life

Shen has been dating fellow Broadway actor Andrew Barth Feldman since 2021. ^[13]

Filmography

Films

Year	Title	Role
2026	The Devil Wears Prada 2	TBA

Stage

Year	Title	Role	Venue
2019	Mamma Mia!	Lisa	Connecticut Repertory Theatre
2022	Man of God	Kyung-Hwa	Williamstown Theatre Festival
2023	The Lonely Few	JJ	Geffen Playhouse, Los Angeles
	Sunset Boulevard	Betty Schaefer	Schlumberger Theater
2024	Teeth	Promise Keeper Girl Keke	Playwrights Horizons, Off-Broadway
	The Lonely Few	JJ	MCC Theater, Off-Broadway
2024–present	Maybe Happy Ending	Claire	Belasco Theatre, Broadway

Awards and nominations

Year	Award	Category	Work	Result
2025	Drama Desk Award	Outstanding Lead Performance in a Musical	Maybe Happy Ending	Nominated
	Drama League Award	Distinguished Performance		Nominated
2026	Grammy Awards	Best Musical Theater Album		Pending

References

1. Barnard, Christopher (November 12, 2024). "Meet Helen J Shen, the 24-Year-Old Actor Making Her Broadway Debut". Vogue.
2. "Hometown Hero Helen J Shen of Basking Ridge leading Broadway Debut of Maybe Happy Ending", New York City, NY Patch, November 11, 2024. Accessed March 16, 2025. "On Monday, Nov 11 at 8:00PM, a brand-new Broadway musical, Maybe Happy Ending, officially opens at the historical Belasco theater on Broadway. Helen J Shen, a native of New Jersey, 2018 Ridge High School graduate, will lead the show opposite the Emmy and Golden Globe winner Darren Chriss.... Born and raised in Basking Ridge, Helen developed strong interest in music, art and theatric performance early on."
3. "Helen J Shen Biography". Maestra. Retrieved February 26, 2025.
4. "Helen J Shen Biography". Broadway Buzz. Retrieved February 26, 2025.
5. Carley, Brennan (February 25, 2025). "Where 'Maybe Happy Ending' Star Helen J Shen Gets Brunch In NYC". The Infatuation.
6. "The Lonely Few". Geffen Playhouse. April 19, 2023.
7. Sims, Joey (September 30, 2024). "Helen J Shen Is Having a Whirlwind Year, Then Broadway Came Calling With Maybe Happy Ending". Theatrely.
8. "Darren Criss and Helen J Shen Will Lead New Broadway Musical Maybe Happy Ending". Playbill. Archived from the original on January 17, 2025. Retrieved February 26, 2025.
9. Ramos, Dino-Ray (December 18, 2024). "Helen J. Shen Talks Breakout Role in Maybe Happy Ending and the New Chapter in Growing Legacy of Asian American Theater". Diaspora. Retrieved February 26, 2025.
10. Kaufman, Gil (November 15, 2024). "Darren Criss and Helen J. Shen Talk Finding Their Maybe Happy Ending on Broadway: 'It's a Really Charming, Kind Little World'". Billboard. Retrieved February 26, 2025.
11. Culwell-Block, Logan (April 30, 2025). "Boop! Leads 2025 Drama Desk Award Nominations With 11 Nods Including Outstanding Musical; Read the Full List Here" . Retrieved May 1, 2025.
12. Faulkner, Clara (November 7, 2025). "2026 GRAMMYS: See The Full Nominations List". Grammy.com .
13. "'Maybe Happy Ending' Casting Change Ignites Debate About Representation". The New York Times . July 31, 2025.