In November 1935, exactly four years after leaving, Hecht returned to New York City and took employment at the Summer Hotel. He was then hired by the Theatre Guild and positioned as assistant director and assistant stage manager for the Leonard Lawrence Atlas play "But for the Grace of God" in 1936. The play was produced by Sidney Harmon and directed by Benno Schneider. Hecht was not the original stage manager of the play and only came in through Schneider's insistence. "But for the Grace of God" opened on January 12, 1937 and ran for forty-two performances.