The 1970s/1980s rock band Foreigner made a huge announcement on Thursday, May 8 — their iconic discography is coming to the stage in a brand-new musical that will be directed by a Broadway legend, and as part of the run-up to the premiere, they are reuniting with their original lead singer, Lou Gramm.
The world premiere of Feels Like The First Time — The Foreigner Musical will take place April 17-26, 2026, at Long Island University, directed by Adam Pascal, the inaugural artist-in-residence at LIU. Pascal has previously directed such Broadway hits as Aida, Cabaret, Chicago and Rent.
The creative team includes book writer Stephen Garvey and orchestrator and arranger David Abbinanti. The musical will feature 14 of Foreigner’s greatest hits.
To support the production, the band will give an exclusive benefit concert hosted by the band’s original lead singer, Lou Gramm, on September 5, 2025. All proceeds will directly benefit Feels Like the First Time and the LIU and Tilles Center’s New Works Initiative.
“We are thrilled to partner with the next generation of theatrical talent at LIU to bring this story to life in a bold new way,” said Foreigner manager Phil Carson in a press release. “Feels Like The First Time – The Foreigner Musical is a celebration of the music that has connected generations—and this collaboration gives it a vibrant new home on the stage.”
Foreigner founder and songwriter Mick Jones added, “When I wrote ‘Feels Like The First Time,’ I had no idea how far that song would take Foreigner. It is a personal thrill for me to know that the amazing Adam Pascal has elected to use it as the title of our new musical. I am very confident that he and the whole team will create something very special, and I look forward to seeing the completed work in 2026, the 50th Anniversary year of the founding of Foreigner.”
“As a Long Island native, it’s an honor to direct this new Foreigner musical and to serve as LIU’s first Artist-in-Residence. I grew up on these hits and am excited to collaborate on bringing this production to life,” said director Pascal.
Tickets for the benefit concert Foreigner: The Hits Unpluggedcan be purchased here.
Foreigner’s biggest hits include “Juke Box Hero,” “Cold As Ice,” “Hot Blooded,” “Waiting For A Girl Like You,” “Feels Like The First Time,” “Urgent,” “Head Games” and the worldwide No. 1 hit and member of Spotify’s exclusive Billions Club, “I Want To Know What Love Is.”
