Hannah Kevitt has moved from standby to the center of the Tony-winning musical Maybe Happy Ending.
The 27-year-old performer from Hickory, North Carolina, began full-time performances as Claire on May 19, 2026, at the Belasco Theatre. She succeeds Claire Kwon in the role and joins Zachary Noah Piser, who took over as Oliver the same day after Darren Criss completed his run on May 17.
Kevitt already knew the part well. She originated the Claire standby position when the show opened on November 12, 2024, and stepped into the role from February 17 through April 2, 2026. Her Broadway debut came earlier in the original company of Back to the Future: The Musical.
The musical itself earned six Tony Awards, including Best Musical, before these casting changes took effect.
Kevitt traces her interest in performing to childhood viewings of Disney films. “I made up choreography to them,” Hannah Kevitt says. “I sang along with Snow White and Belle and Mulan and all the girlies,” Hannah Kevitt adds.
Her parents enrolled her in a local community theater summer camp in Hickory. During one early presentation, stage fright struck hard. “I experienced the worst stage fright ever. I completely froze in the middle of the presentation to the parents and I started crying,” Hannah Kevitt recalls. “I’m just stuck. I can’t move, I can’t go offstage, and I can’t say my line.”
She considered quitting after that kindergarten incident. Her father encouraged her to try again the following year, advising that facing fear could lead to growth. Kevitt followed the suggestion and continued performing through school and regional work.
That persistence led to her current position at the Belasco. Piser’s arrival as Oliver marks another shift in the principal cast while the production continues its run. The show continues to attract audiences with its unique blend of music and narrative.
