‘The Apple Boys’: the new musical about Johnny Appleseed’s grandson debuts Off-Broadway in February 2027

A new musical, inspired by the legendary figure of American pioneer Johnny Appleseed, will debut Off-Broadway in early 2027, as Playbill reports. “The Apple Boys”, with a book by Jonothon Lyons and music and lyrics by Ben Bonnema, will be staged at The Duke on 42nd Street.

Performances will begin on February 16, 2027, with the official opening set for February 25, while the limited engagement is scheduled to run until June 18. The cast and other members of the creative team will be announced at a later date, according to Broadway News, which describes the production as a musical aiming for a Broadway stage.

The musical comedy is set in Gilded Age Coney Island and follows Jack Chapman III, Johnny Appleseed’s grandson, and his working-class friends, who discover that an unscrupulous landowner has set his sights on the family orchard. It is directed by David Alpert (known for “If/Then”), while the choreography is by Marc Kimelman of “Masquerade”.

“‘The Apple Boys’ has all the elements that make a musical comedy deeply satisfying, from its lovable characters to its wonderful score. I am thrilled to join the producing team alongside Johnnie Hawkins. These songs will leave you wanting to sing for joy!” — said producer LaChanze, winner of four Tony Awards, in the press statement, as Playbill quotes. Besides Hawkins and LaChanze, the producers include Larry Bomback and AJ Epstein.

The creative team also includes set design by Adam Koch, costume design by Johanna Pan, lighting by Rui Rita, sound by Alex Neumann, music supervision by Rona Siddiqui, vocal arrangements by Matt Gallagher and casting by Jason Styres; general management is by Evan Bernardin Productions. The musical was previously performed at Bucks County Playhouse in May 2025, following its Off-Off-Broadway premiere in 2018.

Tickets are already on sale on the musical’s official website, TheAppleBoysMusical.com.