The show will have played 30 previews and 111 regular performances. Previews for the new musical comedy began Jan. 19. Opening was Feb. 14.

The show will have a regional life, however. It will play at the Miracle Theater in Coral Gables, Florida, Jan. 17- Feb. 11, 2007, as part of the Actor's Playhouse 2006-07 season. Mountings are also planned for Boston, Chicago, Seattle and Korea by the end of 2007.

Featuring music by Joshua Salzman and book and lyrics by Ryan Cunningham, the new musical co-stars Farah Alvin, David A. Austin, Stephanie D'Abruzzo and Colin Hanlon with Jordan Leeds and Courtney Balan. Daniel Kutner directs with choreography by Christopher Gattelli.

I Love You Because, according to press notes, 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.” The musical is described as a gender-reversed modern-day retelling of “Pride and Prejudice.”

Song titles include “Another Saturday Night in New York,” “Maybe We Just Made Love,” “But I Don't Want to Talk About Her” and “I Love You Because.” The creative team also features Larry Hochman (orchestrations), Jana Zielonka (musical director), Beowulf Boritt and Jo Winiarski (scenic design), Millie Hiibel (costume design), Jeff Croiter (lighting design) and Tony Smolenski and Walter Trarbach (sound design).

I Love You Because plays Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday evenings at 8 PM, Saturdays at 3 and 8 PM and Sundays at 3 and 7 PM.

The Village Theatre is located in Manhattan at 158 Bleecker Street. Tickets are priced $20-$65. Visit www.ILoveYouBecauseTheMusical.com for more information.