My Joy is Heavy

My Joy is Heavy

by The Bengsons
Originally produced at New York Theatre Workshop

January 27, 2026 – April 5, 2026

Photo Credit: Joan Marcus and Emilio Madrid-Kuser

Synopsis: My Joy is Heavy follows the true sequence of events that befell Abigail and Shaun through the incredibly challenging year of 2020, when the couple was restricted to Abigail’s childhood home in Vermont with her mother and their young son Louie. In the heart of the COVID-19 lockdown, Abigail becomes pregnant. This is the couple’s third pregnancy – the first ending in a miscarriage and second (with their son Louie) resulting in several complications and residual trauma. What should be a joyous time is fraught with existential fear and worry for what may come, aggravated further by depression, chronic pain, and the incessant din of external world events. Despite the seemingly insurmountable tragedy of another miscarriage, My Joy is Heavy chronicles the Bengsons’ decision to embrace grief and fear while trying to find joy through song and acceptance.


Artistic Statement:
Created by the inimitable generative duo, The Bengsons, My Joy is Heavy is a deeply intimate and epic exploration of mental health, caregiving, pregnancy, and loss. The title speaks to the duality at its core: the overwhelming weight of grief, juxtaposed with the tenacious yet often elusive pursuit of joy. This duality is particularly striking in its exploration of motherhood and the unspeakable pain of losing a child. The Bengsons give voice to the silent experience of grief that many families endure in isolation. By bringing these difficult conversations into the open, the play challenges societal taboos and offers a platform for healing through creation. 

As we embark on this journey with The Bengsons, we are thrilled to support the work of Rachel Chavkin, a visionary director who has been involved with the project since its first performance at Arena Stage in Washington DC. Rachel’s direction is integral to the play’s power: creating a visceral, 3D experience that invites audiences into the emotional world of the characters. One of her most striking ideas is the concept of a snow globe-like stage, a metaphor for the isolating and claustrophobic nature of the cabin the characters inhabit. What begins as a nostalgic, idyllic setting slowly transforms into a space of emotional confinement, mirroring the characters’ internal struggles. This tension between the idyllic and the terrifyingly claustrophobic captures the complex emotional landscape of the play and its characters. 

My Joy is Heavy resonates with the words of Audre Lorde: “The idea of joy is a revolutionary act.” Through this piece, The Bengsons show that joy, even in the darkest moments, is an act of defiance and resilience. They are not simply creating art for art’s sake; they are using their grief to fuel a larger cultural conversation and inviting others to find a sense of solidarity in shared vulnerability. 

My Joy is Heavy also speaks to larger cultural issues. In a time when social isolation and mental health challenges are more visible than ever, this work presents an urgent and necessary narrative. As former Surgeon General Vivek Murthy has highlighted, we must fight against social isolation, and this play is part of that fight. The piece centers the female experience—particularly the unspoken burdens placed on women—and serves as a powerful counter-narrative to the sanitized, positive portrayals of family life in contemporary media. It provides an honest and unflinching look at a family behind closed doors, not meant to entertain or comfort, but to reflect the true complexity of human relationships. 

NYTW is proud to offer our full-throated support to My Joy is Heavy. It is a timely and vital work that reflects the struggles of our moment, yet its artistry gives it a timeless quality that will resonate long after. Through this play, we hope to contribute to the healing power of art and offer audiences a roadmap through the storm of grief and isolation. 

With rigor and love, 

Patricia McGregor, Artistic Director 

New York Theatre Workshop is incredibly honored to receive the support of the Edgerton Foundation for our upcoming production of My Joy is Heavy by the Bengsons. In naming this production as a New Play Award recipient, The Edgerton Foundation is a partner in an emerging classic, providing support to the production by lengthening our rehearsal schedule and ensuring our ability to finance our tremendously talented creative and production teams. 

The $50,000 of this award will be essential to the extension of our rehearsal schedule, solidifying an extra week of polishing, playing, and perfecting that will ensure My Joy is Heavy is equipped for success upon first previews. The grant will also allow for some additional rehearsal time this fall in preparation for the coming-together of the full cast. 

My Joy is Heavy will have its world premiere as part of NYTW’s 25/26 season, running at our largest stage, our 199-seat East 4th Street theatre in Manhattan’s East Village. Preview performances will begin February 25, 2026, with an official opening on March 16, 2026, and an anticipated closing on April 5, 2026.  Rehearsals are currently scheduled to begin on February 3, 2026, however with the support of the Edgerton Foundation, we will now be able to commence rehearsals on January 27, 2026. 

The support of the Edgerton Foundation will be used by New York Theatre Workshop to create cutting-edge, thought-provoking work, and we are honored to build upon this relationship through the funding of this emerging, essential piece of theatre.   

Best, 

Maya Choldin, Managing Director 

Rachel Chavkin – Director 

Steph Paul – Choreographer 

Or Matias – Music Supervisor