Darren Criss sees performance as a way to bring people closer. In a September 2026 GQ Philippines interview, he describes an “insatiable appetite for communication” and says, “I want people to understand each other more than I need them to understand me.” That idea connects a career spanning television, film, music, theater, and concerts—and helps explain why Maybe Happy Ending is a defining recent chapter, not the whole story.
What Darren Criss says about performance
In GQ Philippines’s September 2026 profile, conducted at his New York City home, Criss describes communication as a central impulse in his work: “I have an insatiable appetite for communication and everything that that means.” He frames the goal less as being understood himself than helping other people understand one another: “I want people to understand each other more than I need them to understand me.”
That perspective offers a useful lens on a career that moves between screen roles, songs, stage performances, and live concerts. Rather than treating those as unrelated lanes, Criss’s comments suggest a shared interest in the exchange between performer and audience.
Why theater matters to him
In a September 15, 2026 Rolling Stone Philippines interview, Criss calls theater “inescapably real and inescapably communal.” His point is about the live event: performers and audience share the same room and moment, making theater a distinctly collective experience.
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He also reflects on changing roles within theater communities. During American Buffalo, he says, he was the youngest person in the room; by Maybe Happy Ending, he had moved into a leadership position. His description of himself as “a forever student whether I’m the oldest guy in the room or the youngest guy in the room” captures the balance between experience and continued learning.
Maybe Happy Ending and his Broadway career
Criss made his Broadway debut in the 2012 revival of How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying. More recently, he starred in and co-produced Maybe Happy Ending, a musical that GQ Philippines reported earned him two Tony Awards in 2025: Best Actor in a Musical and Best Musical.
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GQ also reported that, as of July 2026, Maybe Happy Ending had become the longest-running show in the history of the Belasco Theater. That is a milestone dated to July 2026, rather than a claim about the show’s standing at any later date.
Criss’s broader career includes Blaine Anderson on Glee and Andrew Cunanan in The Assassination of Gianni Versace. His official project catalog also lists work across music and theater, including Starkid and Computer Games. The range helps put the Broadway success in context: theater is central to his story, but not its only medium.
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Where to find the interviews
- GQ Philippines’s September 2026 profile focuses on performance, identity, success, and Criss’s recent work.
- Rolling Stone Philippines’s September 15, 2026 interview explores theater’s communal quality and Criss’s career progression.
- CBS Sunday Morning’s six-minute interview segment, with correspondent Kelefa Sanneh, originally aired December 22, 2024. Its description says Criss discussed his road to Broadway, blessings and losses, and his credo, “Life is a cabaret.” Paramount+ also lists the segment, but access may vary by region.
For listeners looking beyond interviews, Criss’s official music catalog lists a Maybe Happy Ending album. The listing establishes the album’s presence in his catalog, not a particular physical format or retailer.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What comes next
GQ Philippines listed a Darren Criss concert at Royal Albert Hall for October 18, 2026. The date is a listing reported ahead of the event; check the venue or event organizer for current status and ticket information.
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