A workshop — directed by Christopher Ashley — will be held in September. Robert Ahrens is producing the musical, which was seen at the New York Musical Theatre Festival in September 2005.

Big Time features a score by Cohen and a book by Beane. The musical comedy, according to press notes, concerns "two down-on-their-luck lounge singers on a U.N. cruise ship that is held hostage by terrorist's intent on destroying the world."

No casting has been announced for the workshop. The NYMF production featured Bradley Dean, Debbie Gravitte, Sal Viviano, Jackie Hoffman, Michael McCormick, Patrick Quinn and David Beach.

Playwright Douglas Carter Beane is currently represented on Broadway with Xanadu. Last season, his Broadway entry was the Tony-nominated Best Play The Little Dog Laughed. His other plays include The Country Club, Advice From a Caterpillar, White Lies and Devil May Care as well as the screenplay for "To Wong Foo, Thanks For Everything, Julie Newmar." A founding member and artistic director of the Drama Dept., he wrote the book for the Off-Broadway musical The Big Time., and he also penned the live soap opera The Cartells.

Composer-lyricist Douglas J. Cohen's works include The Opposite of Sex, No Way to Treat a Lady, The Gig, Children's Letters to God, Barnstormer, Glimmerglass and Boozy. On Broadway Christopher Ashley has directed Xanadu, Voices in the Dark, The Rocky Horror Show (Tony nomination), The Smell of the Kill and All Shook Up. He was production consultant for the Broadway play Jackie, and Off-Broadway Ashley has helmed Regrets Only, As Thousands Cheers, The Country Club, Rude Entertainment, The Most Fabulous Story Ever Told, Jeffrey, Blown Sideways Through Life, Bunny Bunny and Das Barbecu. He is also artistic director of San Diego's La Jolla Playhouse.

Ahrens made his Broadway producing debut this past season with Xanadu, which is currently nominated for four 2008 Tony Awards, including Best Musical.