Full Cast and Creative Team Set for I Love You Because, Starring D'Abruzzo
By: BWW News Desk Jan. 02, 2006
Rehearsals for the romantic musical, which is a modern adaptation of Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice, will begin on January 2nd. Daniel Kutner will direct the show, while Christopher Gattelli (Altar Boyz, tick, tick...BOOM!, Bat Boy) will choreograph. Joining Tony Award-nominee D'Abruzzo will be Courtney Balan, Jordan Leeds, and understudies Jaclyn Huberman and Barrett Hall. Farah Alvin, David A. Austin, and Colin Hanlon were previously announced to co-star. Alvin plays the character corresponding to Pride and Prejudice heroine Lizzy Bennet, while D'Abruzzo will play her best friend Diana Bingley.
"Set in New York City, I Love You Because follows Austin Bennet (Hanlon), a young greeting card writer whose life is turned upside down when he finds his long-term girlfriend in bed with another man. Forced back out into the treacherous New York dating scene, Austin meets Marcy Fitzwilliams (Alvin), a flighty photographer whose spontaneity is matched only by her ability to drive him insane. This new musical comedy explores the 'rules' and nuances of dating and learning how to love someone, not in spite of their differences, but because of them," according to press notes for the musical, which features book and lyrics by Ryan Cunningham and music by Joshua Salzman.
The show was recently seen in a private industry performance as one of eight selections in the 17th Annual Festival of New Musicals, which is presented by the National Alliance for Musical Theatre. Prior to that, I Love You Because was developed at the NYU-Tisch Musical Theatre Writing Program and presented in a staged reading at the East 13th Street Theatre.
The musical will be produced by Jennifer Maloney, Fred M. Caruso, Robert Cuillo, Gfour Productions. Its creative team features set designers Beowulf Borritt and Jo Winiarski, costume designer Millie Hiibel, lighting designer Jeff Croiter, and sound designers Tony Smolenski and Walter Trarbach, as well as musical director Jana Zielonka and orchestrator Larry Hochman.
For more information, visit www.iloveyoubecausethemusical.com.
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