Gorilla Repertory Theater Company will present, Faust -- The New Musical Comedy, at Downtown's House of Candles Theater, May 7-31.

Gorilla Rep's Faust is a provocative re-telling of the classic story of a corrupt professor who sells his souls to the devil in exchange for the love of a young woman. Commissioned by The Rep from NADA playwright Kirk Wood Bromley (Icarus and Aria, Life's Losses Loved), Faust stars Chris Barron, lead singer of the popular rock group -- The Spin Doctors and will be directed by Christopher Sanderson.

For the past six years, Gorilla Rep has presented its critically acclaimed, environmental Midsummer Night's Dream at Washington Square Park. The Rep is known for producing classical plays and adapting them to fit their physically kinetic performance style, other productions include: Alice in Wonderland, Taming of the Shrew and King Lear.

The music (co-written by Barron and Sanderson) encompasses a wide variety of genres merging influences from bossa nova to blues and rap, with more traditional Broadway sounds. A limited edition CD, featuring selected songs from Faust, will be sold in conjunction with the production.

In addition to Barron, the cast of seven includes Melanie Brown, Bethany Burgess-Smith, Matt Daniels, Mara Flynn, Mark Greenfield, Marylana Syms and Karen Flood. Faust is one of the most oft-told tales in theatre, with recent adaptations including The Wooster Group's House/Lights, and The Builder's Association's Jump Cut (Faust). The lower east side's NADA recently had an OBIE award winning "Faust Festival" containing 43 versions of Faust in eight months.

Faust -- The New Musical Comedy plays May 7-31 at the House of Candles on 99 Stanton Street. For information and reservations, call (212) 330-8086.

-- By Sean McGrath