What Are Reviews For The Bengsons' My Joy Is Heavy at New York Theatre Workshop?

The work explores through song a young family navigating the loss of a pregnancy.

March 18, 2026 By Margaret Hall

Noga Cabo, Shaun Bengson, Abigail Bengson, Ashley Baier, and Matt Deitchman in *My Joy Is Heavy* (Marc J. Franklin)

My Joy is Heavy, directed by Tony winner Rachel Chavkin (Hadestown), opened Off-Broadway at New York Theatre Workshop March 17, and the reviews are rolling in!

Created by Obie Award-winning singer/songwriting duo The Bengsons, it will continue at the Off-Broadway venue through April 5. The production began performances February 25.

The work explores through song a young family's yearning for connection amidst the loss of a pregnancy in rural isolation. Performed live by Shaun and Abigail Bengson (All In: Comedy About Love), My Joy is Heavy features choreography by Steph Paul (How to Defend Yourself) and music supervision by Or Matias (Grey House).

Read the reviews below.

1 Minute Critic (Jerry Portwood)

New York Magazine/Vulture (Sara Holdren)*

New York Theatre Guide (Amelia Merrill)

The New York Times (Brittani Samuel)*

TimeOut (Adam Feldman)

TheaterMania (Zachary Stewart)

Playbill will continue to update this list as reviews come in.

The production features scenic design by Lee Jellinek (Marjorie Prime), costume design by Hahnji Jang (The Keep Going Songs), lighting design by Alan Edwards (Memnon), sound design by Nick Kourtides (Picnic at Hanging Rock), dramaturgy by Sarah Lunnie (The Seat of Our Pants), video design by David Bengali (Lights Out: Nat “King” Cole). Alison Kopit (Dark Disabled Stories) serves as the Access Dramaturg, and Katie Girardot (Becoming Eve) as the production stage manager.

For more information, visit NYTW.org.