Director-choreographer Donna Drake again stages the satiric revue slated to play a limited run Dec. 17-31.

Tartaglia — fresh from his Las Vegas stint in Avenue Q — will join original cast member Stephanie Kurtzuba (The Boy From Oz, The Joys of Sex, Bat Boy: The Musical) as well as Trish Rapier (The Boy From Oz, Forbidden Broadway/ Hollywood, Golf: the Musical) and Jamison Stern (By Jeeves).

Following an eight-month New York run last year, composer-lyricist Crom churns out an updated production of his Newsical, which plucks its material from the wealth of current events and regular headliners. As in its previous incarnation, the evolving work features updated songs and material every week, making the show almost a completely new experience.

Newsical made its debut Sept. 10, 2004 and opened Oct. 7 at Upstairs at Studio 54. The show played 215 performances (and 30 previews) before closing April 17, 2005. The work then went on to tour nationally and enjoyed two sit-down productions in Denver and Provincetown.

A cast album — which features the songs "Martha Stewart The Mini-Musical," "Nobody Messes with Liza," "Felt Up at the Airport" and more — is currently available through the show's website and in music stories. Crom's previous works include Oh Fine RSVP, The Subject Was Neurosis, Absolutely Rude, Our Life and Times and What in the World.

Director-choreographer Drake (A Chorus Line) stages the work. As an actress, she has appeared on Broadway in It's So Nice to Be Civilized, Sophisticated Ladies, Woman of the Year and Wind in the Willows. Her directorial credits include Romance in the Dark, Boobs the Musical and Christmas with the Crawfords.

Tickets to Newsical 2006: The Next Edition at the Village Theatre, 158 Bleecker Street (between Thompson and Sullivan) can be purchased by calling (212) 307 4100. For more information, visit www.newsicalthemusical.com.