The Bengsons — singer-songwriter duo Shaun and Abigail Bengson — are the kind of artists that make you wonder where they’ve been your whole life. My Joy is Heavy brought their singular folk-rock-theatrical voice to New York Theatre Workshop under the direction of Tony winner Rachel Chavkin (Hadestown, Natasha, Pierre & The Great Comet of 1812), and the result was one of the most emotionally precise and unexpectedly joyful shows of the Off-Broadway season.

The piece is a deeply personal portrait of a young couple coping with pregnancy loss in rural isolation — a subject that sounds devastating and somehow, in the Bengsons’ hands, becomes a testament to the unexpected humor and connection that emerge in grief. Previews began February 25 and the show opened March 17, 2026, extended beyond its original run, and closed April 12, 2026 at NYTW’s 199-seat main stage at 79 East 4th Street.

What Are Reviews For The Bengsons’ My Joy Is Heavy? According to critics: extremely good. If you went to NYTW in the spring of 2026 and came out with dry eyes, that’s between you and your emotional unavailability.