Helen J. Shen (born January 28, 2000) 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."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." 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.
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. 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.
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. For this role she was nominated for the 2025 Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Lead Performance in a Musical. She also received a Grammy Award nomination for Best Musical Theater Album at the 68th Annual Grammy Awards.
Personal life Shen has been dating fellow Broadway actor Andrew Barth Feldman since 2021.
Filmography Film YearTitleRole 2026 The Devil Wears Prada 2 Jin Chao
Stage YearTitleRoleVenue2019Mamma Mia!LisaConnecticut Repertory Theatre 2022 Man of God Kyung-Hwa Williamstown Theatre Festival2023 The Lonely Few JJ Geffen Playhouse, Los Angeles Sunset Boulevard Betty Schaefer Schlumberger Theater2024 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 YearAwardCategoryWorkResult2025Drama Desk AwardOutstanding Lead Performance in a MusicalMaybe Happy EndingDrama League AwardDistinguished Performance2026Grammy AwardsBest Musical Theater Album
References