The new play with music will officially open at the DR2 April 13 and play a limited engagement through May 10.

Directed by Tom Herman, the production features music direction by David Wolfson and choreography by James Beaudry. The original cast — including Bill Tatum as Mark Twain with Bonne Kramer, Lance Olds and Barry Phillips — will transfer with the production.

Show times will be Wednesday-Saturday at 8 PM with matinees Wednesday at 2 PM and Saturday and Sunday at 4 PM.

Mark Twain's Blues, press notes state, "opens with the 65-year-old Mark Twain preparing for yet another of his frequent humorous lectures. But this one will be different, because soon after Twain begins to speak, he's surprised by a voice from the audience: it's Huckleberry Finn, now a full 20 years older than he was in Twain's book. He's soon joined by escaped slave Jim — now 50 years old — and together the two accuse their creator of betraying the truth of their lives in order to boost book sales. Determined to set the record straight once and for all, Huck and Jim act out some of the scenes in Twain's book...but this time, the way they really happened."

In a statement playwright/songwriter Stepp asks, "Why did America's greatest humorist fall into a great depression at the end of his life? The answer is probably heavy and complex, so my play tries to confine itself solely to the literary reasons for the famous funk. Samuel Clemens had all the usual, mortal reasons to be blue, but Mark Twain's only deep regret was that he blew the ending of what has come to be called the Great American Novel of growing up." The design team comprises scenic designer Jan Varbelow, lighting designer Charles Foster, costume designer Cathy Small and sound designer Chris Rummel. Todd Schwartzberg is the production stage manager.

The DR2 Theatre is located in Manhattan at 103 East 15th Street. Tickets, priced $40, are available by calling (212) 239-6200 or by visiting www.Telecharge.com. For more information go to www.MarkTwainsBlues.com.