The musical features a book and lyrics by Marc Acito with music and lyrics by Amy Engelhardt.

Marc Acito explained, "If you put Spring Awakening and Noises Off in a blender — with vodka — you'd get Bastard Jones."

Directed by Daniel Goldstein (Godspell), the cast featured John Charles McLaughlin as Tom Jones, Sarah Beth Odle as Sophia, Jacob Thompson as Mr. Blifil, Douglas Sills as Partridge, Fred Inkley as Allworthy, Ben Crawford as Fitzpatrick, Bill Buell as Reverend Sheperd, Emily McNamara as Molly, Synthia Link as Lady Bellaston and Ellen Harvey as Bridget Blifil.

Fielding's classic is best known for its film version, which starred a young Albert Finney and won the Best Picture Oscar in 1963.

The reading was produced by Matthew Kwatinetz of QBL Partners. The team plans to crowd-source an Off Off-Broadway production in 2015.

"On its surface Bastard Jones is a sex comedy," said Kwatinetz in a statement, "but at its core it's about the joy in being your natural self and about democratic ideals. In crafting the opening number, 'The Pursuit of Happiness,' Marc and Amy have channeled Fielding's novel via the inspiration which founded our very country."