‘Maybe Happy Ending’ star Helen J Shen brings humanity to an android in her Broadway debut: ‘There’s a freedom to her realism’

Helen J Shen is having a whirlwind year on stage. The 25-year-old actress made her Broadway debut — and earned rave reviews — for the hit new musical Maybe Happy Ending, which opened in November. She portrays Claire, a "HelperBot" with obsolete parts, living out her remaining days in a robot retirement facility before she powers down for good. Claire meets another bot named Oliver, played by Darren Criss, and the two flee the facility for one last great adventure. Shen joined Gold Derby to discuss...