| Birth date | Jan 28, 2000 |
|---|---|
| Birth place | Basking Ridge, New Jersey, U.S. |
| Education | University of Michigan (BFA) |
| Occupation | Actress · singer |
| Years active | 2023–present |
Helen J. Shen (born January 28, 2000)[1] is an American musical theater actress best known for originating the leading role of Claire in Maybe Happy Ending on Broadway, for which she was nominated for a Drama Desk Award, a Drama League Award and a Grammy Award. She has since had a supporting role in The Devil Wears Prada 2 (2026).
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 by age eight, a practice she continued through high school. However, she 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 following 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 to 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 had premiered in Korea in 2016.[8][9][10] For this 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
Film
| Year | Title | Role |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | The Devil Wears Prada 2 | Jin Chao |
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 | |
| 2024–2026 | 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 | |
| Drama League Award | Distinguished Performance | |||
| 2026 | Grammy Awards | Best Musical Theater Album |
References
- ^ Barnard, Christopher (November 12, 2024). "Meet Helen J Shen, the 24-Year-Old Actor Making Her Broadway Debut". Vogue
- ^ "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."
- ^ "Helen J Shen Biography". Maestra. Retrieved February 26, 2025.
- ^ "Helen J Shen Biography". Broadway Buzz. Retrieved February 26, 2025.
- ^ Carley, Brennan (February 25, 2025). "Where 'Maybe Happy Ending' Star Helen J Shen Gets Brunch In NYC". The Infatuation
- ^ "The Lonely Few". Geffen Playhouse. April 19, 2023.
- ^ Sims, Joey (September 30, 2024). "Helen J Shen Is Having a Whirlwind Year, Then Broadway Came Calling With Maybe Happy Ending". Theatrely
- ^ "Darren Criss and Helen J Shen Will Lead New Broadway Musical Maybe Happy Ending". Playbill. Archived January 17, 2025 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved February 26, 2025.
- ^ 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.
- ^ 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.
- ^ Culwell-Block, Logan (30 April 2025). "Boop! Leads 2025 Drama Desk Award Nominations With 11 Nods Including Outstanding Musical; Read the Full List Here". Retrieved 1 May 2025.
- ^ Faulkner, Clara (7 November 2025). "2026 GRAMMYS: See The Full Nominations List". Grammy.com
- ^ "'Maybe Happy Ending' Casting Change Ignites Debate About Representation". The New York Times. July 31, 2025.