'West Side Story,' 'Funny Girl,' The Temptations' Story, And A Harry Chapin Musical Coming To Bellport

BELLPORT, NY — The Gateway Playhouse’s producers this week announced its 77th Season, including a lineup of Broadway favorites, like "West Side Story" and "Funny Girl," as well as more recent productions.

From May 2026 through April 2027, the season brings six extraordinary productions to the stage, each filled “with unforgettable music, compelling characters, and stories that resonate far beyond the final curtain,” the producers said.

“In a time when the world can feel uncertain, The Gateway continues its long tradition of gathering audiences together to share stories that inspire, challenge, and uplift,” according to the producers.

The theater’s artistic director, Paul Allan, said that there “are years when the ground seems to shift beneath our feet.”

“Jobs change, families evolve, and even the places we count on for escape feel more precious than ever,” he said. “At The Gateway, the answer has always been the same. We gather. We gather in the dark, shoulder to shoulder, listening to stories of people pushed to their limits and watching what they choose to do next.”

The 2026–2027 season centers on characters standing at the edge of change: finding love in difficult places, building music that shapes generations, and choosing compassion when the world demands courage, according to the producers.

West Side Story tells the fateful tale of Tony and Maria, who grew up on opposite sides, but somehow find love.

The lineup also includes, “Ain’t Too Proud: The Life and Times of The Temptations,” which is about the musical group’s rise to fame, and “Come From Away,” about a Canadian town where thousands of travelers were unexpectedly diverted after the 9/11 terrorist attacks.

The lineup also includes, “Million Dollar Quartet Christmas,” featuring the holiday renditions of Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash, Jerry Lee Lewis, and Carl Perkins.

“Funny Girl” telling the story of Fanny Brice, who rose from the Lower East Side to become one of the biggest stars of the Ziegfeld Follies, and “Harry Chapin: I Wanna Learn a Love Song: A New Musical.”

“They fall in love when it is dangerous,” says Allan. “They tell the truth when it is costly. They make music when silence would be easier. They open their doors when fear says to lock them.”