Titanic's Victoria Clark and Falsettos' Michael Rupert will head the cast as Arlene and Alan, the oldest of three couples whose lives are affected in various ways by the prospect of having (or not having) a baby. Side Show's Norm Lewis and Brandi Chavonne Massey will play Nick and Pam, and the youngest couple will be portrayed by Nikki James (Lizzie) and Robb Sapp (Danny). The ensemble will include, among others, Lenny Wolpe, Jordan Leeds, Blake Ginther, Becky Gulsvig, Rosena Hill and Deborah Tranelli. Mark S. Hoebee directs the Oct. 15 and 18 readings at the New Jersey Performing Arts Center with music direction by Eugene Gwozdz. The reading is part of Other Stages, a unique festival of staged readings, family performances and New Jersey premieres. Hoebee will also helm the upcoming production of Baby at Paper Mill: The State Theatre of New Jersey this spring. That production will run March 31-May 9, 2004.

Baby played Broadway's Ethel Barrymore Theatre, Nov. 8, 1983-July 1, 1984. The original cast featured Liz Callaway, Todd Graff, James Congdon, Martin Vidnovic, Beth Fowler and Catherine Cox. Song titles include "I Want It All," "I Chose Right," "Two People in Love" and "The Story Goes On."

The October readings at 7:30 PM are open to the public. Tickets, priced at $26, are available by calling (888) 466-5722. The New Jersey Performing Arts Center is located in Newark, NJ; visit www.njpac.org for more information.