Falsettos' Barbara Walsh and "Cradle Will Rock's" Tim Jerome star in a two-performance staged reading of Polly Pen's Richard Rogers Award winning musical, Christina Alberta's Father, Feb. 28 at the Theatre at St. Luke's in Manhattan. Staged by National Music Theatre Network, the first performance was Feb. 21.

Based on the 1925 H. G. Wells novel, Christina Alberta's the story of old Preemby, who, tired with his boring existence at a London boarding house, sets out on a wild journey. Parallel to his experiences, his daughter finds herself succumbing to the sinful pleasures of the bohemian lifestyle.

An Obie winner for Bed and Sofa, Pen composed Goblin Market (based on the Christina Rossetti poem) and the upcoming Night Governess, based on a Louisa May Alcott story, "Behind the Mask." Pen was a 1999 Gilman & Gonzalez-Falla Award winner.

Jerome is the father of the title; Walsh is Christina Alberta's mother. Another "Cradle Will Rock" vet, Erin Hill (Cabaret, Titanic) plays Christina Alberta. Also in the cast are Jeb Brown, Rod Campbell (Ragtime), Eleanor Glocner (Beauty and the Beast), Patty Goble (Kiss Me, Kate), Joy Hermalyn (Cyrano), Jim Ludwig (Pen's Night Governess, After the Fair) and Thom Warren (Once Upon A Mattress).

Tickets are $15. The Theater at St. Luke's is located at 308 West 46th Street. For reservations, call (212) 664-0979. The second and third entries in the 2000 series will be Ron Kaehler and Albert Evans' A Country Christmas Carol and Edward Thomas and Jon Marans' Searching For Y. Jamie Rocco directs Carol, running March 20 and 27; Edie Cowan directs Searching For Y, April 17 and 24.

-- By Christine Ehren