A new Harry Chapin musical, 'Funny Girl' coming to Gateway

The true stories of several iconic performers will make up the next season at The Gateway in Bellport, including the premiere of a musical about Harry Chapin, one of Long Island's most beloved singer-songwriters.

The theater on Tuesday announced the lineup for its 77th season, which will kick off with the classic "West Side Story," followed by "Ain’t Too Proud: The Life and Times of The Temptations," "Come From Away," "Million Dollar Quartet Christmas," "Funny Girl" and, finally, "Harry Chapin: I Wanna Learn a Love Song: A New Musical."

"It wasn’t entirely intentional, but as the shows were taking shape and the season was taking shape, it felt like we were telling a story ourselves," The Gateway's executive artistic director, Paul Allan, said in a phone interview. "It's nice to have a season that flows and moves from one story to the next in a really comfortable way." Tickets for all the shows can be purchased at thegateway.org.

Crowd-pleaser "West Side Story," inspired by "Romeo and Juliet" and the only show on the schedule not involving real-life people, will run from May 8 to 31.

Then get ready for "Ain't Too Proud" (June 19-July 19), the turbulent story of Motown hitmakers The Temptations that features all of their chart toppers including "My Girl," "Can't Get Next to You" and "Papa Was a Rolling Stone."

Tony Award winner "Come From Away," the inspiring true story of a town in Newfoundland that welcomed stranded airline passengers on Sept. 11, 2001, when their flight was diverted, follows from Aug. 7 to Sept. 6.

The holiday offering will be "Million Dollar Quartet Christmas" (Nov. 27-Jan 3, 2027) about a Sun Records studio session featuring Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash, Jerry Lee Lewis and Carl Perkins. Don't expect the same plot as "Million Dollar Quartet," but do expect more songs of the holiday season.

"Funny Girl," about legendary vaudeville performer Fanny Brice — who also had a home in Halesite — follows from Jan. 22 to Feb. 21.

Allan is most excited about the season's final offering, the brand-new "Harry Chapin: I Wanna Learn a Love Song" (March 12-April 4, 2027), which showcases the Huntington Bay troubadour's songs like "Cat's in the Cradle" and his activism. Chapin was 38 when he died in an auto accident in 1981. "He had so much passion for people and the world," Allan said, "and it's really nice to honor him."