I Love You Because Offers 'He Said...She Said' Talkback, March 30

I Love You Because, the hit Off-Broadway musical, will offer "He Said...She Said," a special one-night-only post-show talkback and meet-and-greet with acclaimed relationship experts Ian Kerner, Ph.D., best-selling author of Be Honest – You're Just Not That Into Him Either, and Jillian Straus, best-selling author of Unhooked Generation: The Truth About Why We're Still Single.

"He Said...She Said" will take place at the Village Theatre (158 Bleecker St.) on Thursday, March 30, 2006. Doors open at 7 p.m. for complimentary pre-show drinks, hors d'ouevres and a special book-signing opportunity with Kerner and Straus. Tickets are now available by calling Ticketmaster.com at (212) 307-4100.
 
"Following the 8 p.m. performance of I Love You Because, Kerner and Straus will host a candid, up-close and personal audience talkback session, offering their expert relationship advice on the opposite sex, navigating the New York dating scene, finding your soul mate and more. The evening also features a post-show meet-and-greet with Kerner, Straus and the cast of I Love You Because. A limited number of Kerner and Straus's best-selling books will be given away, and complimentary gift bags will be distributed to all theatergoers following the talkback," state press notes.  The event is the first in a series of relationship expert events hosted by I Love You Because. Future "He Said...She Said" events will be announced soon.

I Love You Because opened on February 14th. The show features book and lyrics by Ryan Cunningham, music by Joshua Salzman, choreography by Christopher Gattelli (Altar Boyz, tick, tick...BOOM!) and direction by Daniel Kutner. The production also stars Farah Alvin, David A. Austin, Tony Award-nominee Stephanie D'Abruzzo (Avenue Q), and features Courtney Balan and Jordan Leeds.
 
"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 Catherine 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. The musical also stars D'Abruzzo as Marcy's best friend Diana Bingley and Austin as Austin's brother, Jeff Bennet. Balan and Leeds round out the ensemble.
 
A gender-reversed modern day musical retelling of Jane Austen's classic novel Pride and Prejudice, I Love You Because features orchestrations by Larry Hochman and songs such as "Another Saturday Night in New York," "Maybe We Just Made Love," "But I Don't Want to Talk About Her," and the title song. Jana Zielonka serves as musical director.
 
The musical features scenic design by Beowulf Boritt and Jo Winiarski, costume design by Millie Hiibel, lighting design by Jeff Croiter and sound design by Tony Smolenski and Walter Trarbach. It is produced by Jennifer Maloney, Fred M. Caruso, Robert Cuillo and GFour Productions.
 
The Village Theatre is located in the NYC's West Village (158 Bleecker Street), between Thompson and Sullivan Streets. Tickets for I Love You Because are $20-$65; they are available by calling Ticketmaster.com at 212-307-4100, or in-person at the Village Theatre box office.