A baseball star befriends a young fan and their lives are changed forever in a new musical showing at the George Street Playhouse in New Brunswick.

Set in Brooklyn in the 1940s, "Last Days of Summer" follows the unlikely bond that forms between Charlie Banks, a tough guy slugger for the New York Giants and 12-year-old Joey Margolis who is looking for a father figure and will do anything to get the attention of his hero.

“He lies a lot. And he's kind of a trickster,” says 11-year-old Julian Emile Lerner who plays Joey. "And he writes all these letters like, ‘I have consumption. I have a broken pelvis.’ He's lying like he has all these bad things going on with him."

The story follows how the two begin to form an unlikely family.

“Love can be found anywhere. It doesn't cost anything to be kind, to be selfless. And I think that's a good message to put out in the world,” says Bobby Conte Thornton, who plays Charlie.

"Last Days of Summer" is also a love story between Banks and glamorous nightclub singer Hazel MacKay.

“I love the 1940s. This is my chance to be a 1940s siren a la Rita Hayworth or Barbra Stanwyck or Katherine Hepburn,” says Teal Wicks, who plays Hazel.

The story of "Last Days of Summer" is told as a memory by adult Joey some 25 years later, reliving emotions, especially those of Banks going off to serve in World War II.

"Last Days of Summer" is based on the bestselling novel of the same name. it will be at the George Street Playhouse through Nov. 10. Ticket information can be found on the theater’s website.