Gay Fantasticks and BJJ's Gloria Coming to Broadway With 2nd Stage

Second Stage Theater has announced its upcoming season, which starts on Broadway with a long-awaited revival.

Tom Jones and Harvey Schmidt’s The Fantasticks will make its Broadway debut at the Helen Hayes Theater. Previews begin October 22 ahead of an official opening on November 16. The story of young lovers brought together by scheming parents, The Fantasticks premiered off-Broadway in 1960 and claims the distinction of being the longest-running musical ever, with 17,162 performances. This updated version, with revised book and lyrics by Jones, reimagines the central couple as two men and was first presented at the Flint Repertory Theatre in 2022. Christopher Gattelli, currently Tony-nominated for Schmigadoon!, choreographs and directs.

Branden Jacobs-Jenkins, who won his first Tony Award with the Second Stage production of Appropriate, returns with the Broadway debut of his comedy-drama Gloria, about a group of young employees at a prestige magazine in Manhattan. It begins previews at the Hayes on March 17, 2027 ahead of an official opening April 4. Evan Cabnet, who helmed the play’s 2015 premiere at Vineyard Theatre and who now serves as artistic director of Second Stage, will direct the production. Jacobs-Jenkins is also the author of Purpose, which played the Hayes in 2025 and won him a second Tony Award.

At the Irene Diamond Stage at the Pershing Square Signature Center, Second Stage’s new home off-Broadway, the company will present the world premiere of Bryna Turner’s The Visitors, which begins previews on October 21 ahead of an official opening November 9. It’s about four adult siblings whose relationship to one another changes when one of them makes a shocking request. Turner reunites with director Jenna Worsham, who helmed her comedy At the Wedding in at LCT3 in 2022 (back when Cabnet was artistic director of that company).

Miranda Rose Hall’s Work of Devotion will make its world premiere at the Diamond next, with previews starting February 3, 2027 ahead of an official opening February 22. It’s about a group of nuns in 8th century Italy reevaluating their communal lifestyle following the death of their leader.

The off-Broadway portion of the season will conclude with the New York premiere of Naomi Lorrain’s how to roll a blunt, about two best friends attending the wedding of their college exes–to each other. Preview performances begin April 14, 2027 ahead of an official opening night April 28.

Second Stage Theater is currently represented on Broadway with the revival of Gina Gionfriddo’s Becky Shaw, which is nominated for two 2026 Tony Awards, including Best Revival of a Play.