THE FANTASTICKS revival, reimagined as a gay love story, aiming for Broadway

[KevinKlawitter]

Posted: 1/7/26 at 9:59am

Christopher Gattelli as director & choreographer

[John Adams]

Posted: 1/7/26 at 10:22am

I like the idea of this, although I haven't seen any reviews of the performances done in CA, MI, or PA. Did the changes to the book get favorable review? Did critics feel that changing the premise worked well (artistically), or was it just offering a socially acceptable option for "the Gays"?

The one aspect I'm not completely crazy about is changing the characters of the fathers to mothers. For me, that's just a clichéd choice that reinforces a stereotype. 

The show has always been an enjoyable experience for me, as both an actor and audience. In this re-imagined form, I would feel more satisfied seeing supportive fathers instead of the "expected" choice of mothers.  

[ColorTheHours048]

Posted: 1/7/26 at 10:29am

Having the fathers changed to mothers balances out the gender disparity that would be created by only changing Luisa’s gender. It would otherwise be an all-male show. The Mute could, technically, be female or non-binary, but El Gallo has to offer some kind of attraction to at least Lewis (Luisa) and Henry and Mortimer are unlikely to be made feminine-presenting.

(Also, anecdotally speaking, I don’t know a single gay man that isn’t closer to his mother than his father. It may be a stereotype, but it’s at least one of the more accurate ones.)

I’m excited to see this on Broadway. It’s in my top 5, and I’ve always wanted to see it with a slightly expanded orchestra.

Updated On: 1/7/26 at 10:29 AM

[RUkiddingme]

Posted: 1/7/26 at 10:50am

No.

[Observation]

Posted: 1/7/26 at 10:54am

I'm very intrigued by this, and glad someone is taking a big swing with a brand new concept on a show that is a classic. I haven't thought about this show in a while, and will be listening to the music today as I work, I forget just how beautiful the music is. The article mentions it will be contemporary, I'm curious as to what that means, exactly. New orchestrations? Just please don't replace that harp part. 

If this proves to be successful, I wonder if they would be open to changing this to a story about two lesbian lovers as well in future recasting. 

In regards to the conversation above, I do agree that changing the father role's to two mother's makes more sense based on the common experience most gay men have. It may be a "trope" but it is also unfortunately very true that when it comes to gay men, they often seek comfort from their mother's over their father's who typically struggle with the thought of their kids being gay, but perhaps there's something to be explored there within the text and updating as needed. 

Another note I found interesting is this is planning to go to Broadway. I wonder if they are thinking of taking this out of town/Off-Broadway first? It seems like such a large leap to go straight to Bway. 

[Observation]

Posted: 1/7/26 at 10:55am

RUkiddingme said: "No."

Thank you for contributing your thoughtful analysis, it is a shame you are being dragged to see it against your own will. 

[ErmengardeStopSniveling]

Posted: 1/7/26 at 11:04am

This could be lovely if it actually happens. However, the lead producers are Broadway & Beyond, which are primarily tour bookers with a spotty Bway track record: Kite Runner, The Cottage, and the never-materialized Forbidden Broadway.  Daryl Roth is deep-pocketed and well-connected but has announced many a show that's never come to fruition.

Do modern sensibilities mean that El Gallo should be Latin American? Because if they want a major star for El Gallo, there's a minuscule list of bankable Latino men with musical theatre chops (and an even smaller subset of them are queer, if they also want to go that route). As with most revivals nowadays, I don't see this opening without a true star.

Jonathan Tunick's fleshed-out orchestrations are beautiful, though here Sam Davis is doing new orchestrations.

Updated On: 1/7/26 at 11:04 AM

[Alex Kulak2]

Posted: 1/7/26 at 11:41am

KevinKlawitter said: "Christopher Gattelli as director & choreographer "

I like the idea of doing the show as a gay love story, but something feels deeply wrong about doing The Fantasticks in a Broadway house. It's a show meant to be done with 2 musicians and a box of props in a playing space the size of a living room.

[TotallyEffed]

Posted: 1/7/26 at 11:45am

ErmengardeStopSniveling said: "Jonathan Tunick's fleshed-out orchestrations are beautiful, though here Sam Davis is doing new orchestrations."

 

Where can I hear Tunick's orchestrations?

 

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 1/7/26 at 12:11pm

With the true lack of new musicals coming in now, this excites me. Hopefully it happens and they find a house that it won’t feel swallowed up in. 

[blaxx]

Posted: 1/7/26 at 12:43pm

Alex Kulak2 said: "KevinKlawitter said: "Christopher Gattelli as director & choreographer "

I like the idea of doing the show as a gay love story, but something feels deeply wrong about doingThe Fantasticksin a Broadway house. It's a show meant to be done with 2 musicians and a box of props in a playing space the size of a living room."

Times have changed significantly. In the past few decades we've had transfers of Off Broadway or Fringe shows that started just as tiny as Fantasticks.

In order to survive, Broadway has found the flexibility to accommodate what the times call for, regardless of its conception or production size. 

[BJR]

Posted: 1/7/26 at 1:01pm

I just hope it has a way of not being too old fashioned. The gay twist isn’t enough with such a sentimental piece, for me. 

[TotallyEffed]

Posted: 1/7/26 at 1:14pm

I'd actually like to see this so I'm not being shady when I say that I will believe it when a theatre is announced and previews begin. This feels like a long shot.

[John Adams]

Posted: 1/7/26 at 1:14pm

ColorTheHours048 said: "(Also, anecdotally speaking, I don’t know a single gay man that isn’t closer to his mother than his father. It may be a stereotype, but it’s at least one of the more accurate ones.)"

I see your points about gender disparity, etc., and they make good sense.

My only point is that I would find it more satisfying to see supportive fathers as characters. They do exist and can often be overlooked/overshadowed by the predominance of the singularly maternal support that you reference.

Updated On: 1/7/26 at 01:14 PM

[John Adams]

Posted: 1/7/26 at 1:48pm

blaxx said: "In order to survive, Broadway has found the flexibility to accommodate what the times call for, regardless of its conception or production size."

I don't disagree w/you, but I see what Alex is saying, too. For me a huge part of the appeal of The Fantasticks is its small, "community theater"-esque scale.

I've always thought of "She Loves Me" as being in a similar, small scale category. IMO, the most recent Broadway production of SLM kept that sense of intimacy with its set design (the jewel box shop that opened up like the Tardis).

For me, I'm curious to know if "The Fantasticks" can do something similar.

Updated On: 1/7/26 at 01:48 PM

[CukorLover]

Posted: 1/7/26 at 1:51pm

via Gattelli's insta: ... (And who knew the updated concept of setting it in a hockey rink would feel so relevant? 😉)

[John Adams]

Posted: 1/7/26 at 2:33pm

ErmengardeStopSniveling said: "Do modern sensibilities mean that El Gallo should be Latin American? "

IMO, no. It wouldn't be a stretch to think of El Gallo as being "well-traveled". I can imagine that regardless of ethnicity, any man might have the moniker of "the rooster" thrust upon them (forgive the phrasing) based on that man's behavior. 

In other words, the nickname may have more to do with his location at the time it was bestowed, more than his actual ethnic lineage.

(see HERE)

Updated On: 1/7/26 at 02:33 PM

[Observation]

Posted: 1/7/26 at 2:40pm

But if this is going to be a very queer production... Sara Ramirez as El Gallo would get me seated quickly. I want them back on Broadway so badly. 

 

John Adams said: "ErmengardeStopSniveling said: "Do modern sensibilities mean that El Gallo should be Latin American?"

IMO, no. It wouldn't be a stretch to think of El Gallo as being "well-traveled". I can imagine that regardless of ethnicity, any man might have the moniker of "the rooster" thrust upon them (forgive the phrasing) based on that man's behavior.

In other words, the nickname may have more to do with his location at the time it was bestowed, more than his actual ethnic lineage."

 

[John Adams]

Posted: 1/7/26 at 2:42pm

Observation said: "But if this is going to be a very queer production... Sara Ramirez as El Gallo would get me seated quickly. I want them back on Broadway so badly."

OMG!!! I love that!

[ErmengardeStopSniveling]

Posted: 1/7/26 at 4:45pm

Sara Ramirez would be awesome, but didn't they swear off theatre?

I don't have a concern about the size of the show. We've seen two-and-four character musicals play Broadway quite successfully in the past two seasons. Kenny Leon's OUR TOWN was quite lovely to look at . I don't think someplace like the Schoenfeld or Lyceum would feel too big for this show. This has 9 characters and at least two distinct locations.

[Jumpin_J]

Posted: 1/7/26 at 8:29pm

Jordan Catalano said: "With the true lack of new musicals coming in now, this excites me. Hopefully it happens and they find a house that it won’t feel swallowed up in."

Except this would be a revival. No way this would be considered a new Broadway musical.

[John Adams]

Posted: 1/7/26 at 8:54pm

Jumpin_J said: "Except this would be a revival. No way this would be considered a new Broadway musical."

"A show cannot be called a revival if it has never been on Broadway before; a revival is specifically a re-staging of a production that has previously appeared on Broadway. If a show is making its Broadway debut, it is considered a new production, not a revival." (AI generated response)

Although there have been 3 previous productions of this version (in CA, MI, and PA), this would be the first on Broadway.

https://broadwaydirect.com/tony-awards-guide-what-defines-a-new-broadway-show-vs-a-revival/

Updated On: 1/7/26 at 08:54 PM

[KevinKlawitter]

Posted: 1/7/26 at 9:38pm

.
"A show cannot be called a revival if it has never been on Broadway before; a revival is specifically a re-staging of a production that has previously appeared on Broadway. If a show is making its Broadway debut, it is considered a new production, not a revival." (AI generated response)



All you need to do is remember two years ago when Gutenberg! was deemed a revival despite not being on Broadway before due to the show being widely known/produced already.

[bwaylyric]

Posted: 1/7/26 at 10:38pm

And don't forget last year when Floyd Collins was deemed a revival.

[blaxx]

Posted: 1/7/26 at 10:47pm

John Adams said: "Jumpin_J said: "Except this would be a revival. No way this would be considered a new Broadway musical."

"A show cannot be called a revival if it has never been on Broadway before; a revival is specifically a re-staging of a production that has previously appeared on Broadway. If a show is making its Broadway debut, it is considered a new production, not a revival." (AI generated response)

Although there have been 3 previous productions of this version (in CA, MI, and PA), this would be the first on Broadway.

https://broadwaydirect.com/tony-awards-guide-what-defines-a-new-broadway-show-vs-a-revival/"

This WILL be a revival if produced. The Tony committee also decides in a per-case scenario.

Dozens of first-time on Broadway shows have been deemed revivals for nomination matters.