Hundreds of students experience Maybe Happy Ending national tour launch at the Hippodrome Theatre

The cast and company of Maybe Happy Ending held their final dress rehearsal at the historic Hippodrome Theatre on Saturday, September 12, and hundreds of Maryland students were in the audience. The dress rehearsal was the last of many steps leading to the multi Tony Award-winning show’s national tour launch here in Baltimore. 

The student audience included middle and high schoolers, many of whom had never seen a Broadway show before. Classes and groups from schools in Baltimore City, Baltimore County, Cecil County, Anne Arundel County, and Montgomery County made the trip downtown on a weekend day, chaperoned by teachers who prioritize access to the arts. 

While the show stopped a few minutes short due to technical issues, it presented a valuable learning experience. Witnessing how the Director calmly handled the situation, appreciating the potential risks involved with a highly technical production, and seeing the stars gracefully pivot to provide a final number in lieu of the full ending taught many lessons. And, an opportunity arose for students to wonder about and brainstorm potential endings! 

After the rehearsal, a teacher shared these reflections with us, “The show was mesmerizing, the performers were captivating, and each and every student was thrilled to have had this experience. From gushing over the fireflies, debating how effects were achieved, and positing various potential endings to the show, all the students were understandably euphoric. While we were sorry that a technical note meant the run could not be completed, even having the chance to see that these risks appear in the highest echelons of live theatre, and how to responsibly and positively handle them, was an amazing lesson.”

Student audiences are frequently a favorite of casts, and this one was no exception! Their excitement and wonder shone through their enthusiastic reactions and robust applause. Their attention was rapt while in the theater, and they left with more than memories of a great performance. The show’s themes of connection, sensitivity to differences, and adventure were wonderful takeaways. Awe of the talent onstage, and appreciation for the show’s incredible technology will inspire sparks of interest. And perhaps most importantly, hundreds of young Marylanders left with the feeling that they belong here, too.

That’s the power of arts education, which the Hippodrome Foundation presents and celebrates year-round, and during this National Arts in Education Week. Every week of the year, we witness the transformative impact of the arts in K–12 education when students participate in our free programming. We are committed to making high-quality arts experiences accessible to Maryland students year-round, at no cost to families or schools.

Through the Hippodrome Foundation’s free arts education programs, students build skills, confidence, and curiosity while discovering new possibilities—including careers in the arts, onstage and behind the scenes. A first theater experience can change what a student imagines is possible – we hope many new dreams will arise as a result of this viewing of Maybe Happy Ending!

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