The intimate romance began performances in May 1960 at the Sullivan Street Playhouse where it ran through Jan. 13, 2002. The revival began performances at the Snapple Theater Center's Jerry Orbach Theater Aug. 16, 2006, where it continues to run.

The two-day celebration begins with two performances of the musical at 3 PM and 7:15 PM on May 3, featuring an audience of friends, fans and veteran actors who have appeared in the Off-Broadway run.

In between performances, current and previous cast members will gather to perform "Try to Remember" and pose for a photograph on the red steps of the TKTS booth in Duffy Square at 5:45 PM.

On May 4, New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg will commemorate the day as "Fantasticks Day," and a 7 PM performance of the musical will feature an after party boasting performances by original Fantasticks star Rita Gardner, as well as Daphne Rubin-Vega (Rent), Orfeh (Legally Blonde), Aaron Lazar (The Light in the Piazza), GrooveLily and Jill Paice (Gone with the Wind, Curtains).

Featuring a score by Harvey Schmidt and book and lyrics by Tom Jones, the current cast of The Fantasticks includes Bradley Dean (El Gallo), Jonathan Schwartz (Matt) and Ramona Mallory (Luisa), as well as Douglas Ullman, Jr., Tom Flagg, Gene Jones, Michael Nostrand, Evy Ortiz, Steve Routman, John Thomas Waite and Scott Willis. The Fantasticks, according to press notes "is a captivating and simple love story about a boy, a girl, two fathers and a wall. The audience uses its imagination to follow El Gallo as he creates a world of moonlight and magic, and then pain and disillusionment, until the boy and girl find their way back to one other." Songs from the popular musical include "Try to Remember," "They Were You," "Much More," "Soon It's Gonna Rain" and "I Can See It."

Tickets can be purchased by visiting Ticketmaster.com or by calling (212) 307-4100. The Snapple Theater Center is located at 210 West 50th Street at Broadway.