Entitled Shadows of Pompeii, the workshop production will play the Eureka Theatre April 16-26.

The cast comprises Sara Aili, Russ Lorenson, Andrew Willis-Woodward, Carrie Madsen, Carmichael Blankenship, Sean Patrick Murtagh, Samantha Bartholomew, Steve Vaught and Steve Budd. Dianna Shuster directs.

Shadows features music and lyrics by Herrmann and a book by R.C. Staab. The musical, according to press notes, "tells the story of a young female painter who seeks to express her artistry despite restrictions of the Rome Empire, while disaster looms from Mt. Vesuvius."

In a statement librettist Staab said, "It's a compelling story of passion that echoes modern times. The Bay Area audience will find parallels with people in Pompeii, who lived in a seaside, moderate Mediterrean but knew their ideal life could change at any minute from earthen catastrophes such as earthquakes."

With sponsorship of 42nd Street Moon, Shadows of Pompeii will be submitted in 2010 to the National Alliance for Musical Theatre's Festival for New Musicals and the New York Musical Theatre Festival. For tickets call (415) 255-8207 or visit www.42ndstmoon.org. All performances are presented at San Francisco's intimate Eureka Theatre, 215 Jackson Street.