Amy Rogers, the head of Pace University's musical theatre program, will direct the reading of the musical that is set during the Roaring Twenties. Robert Meffe will musical direct.

Oliver penned the score to the musical with a book by Ryback. A cast of Pace University students will populate the Jan. 20-25, 2009, presentations at Pace University's Schaeberle Studio.

The cast will feature Jennifer DeRosa as Ursula Morgan, Lyle Colby as Peter, Ally Bonino as Stella, Katy Karr as Lily, Brandon Contreras as Hughes, Joshua Ramos as Smithy, Eric Restivo as Binx, David Piazza as Duke, Kyle Gipson as Slightly and Chris Brick as Nibs.

The ensemble will comprise Nick Miller, Tal Fox, Andy White, Daniel Berlin, Kris Howard, Jon Karsky, Liz Froio, Abby Stevens, Melanie Burg and Kate Bristol.

Darling, press notes state, "follows upper crust teenager Ursula Morgan in 1929 Boston as its society boils in the weeks before the Crash. Neglected by her excessive, self-absorbed parents, Ursula encounters Peter, a charming rent-boy of uncertain age, on the run from the Captain of Police who pursues him for a heinous crime he may or may not have committed. When she is offered the opportunity to run away with him, she takes it and finds herself swept into a seedy underground of jazz, sex and a mysterious white powder called Fairy Dust—and in love…" Past works in the Pace New Musicals Program include Mark Waldrop and Brad Ross' musical Luck!, as well as Scott Elmegreen and Drew Fornarola's College: The Musical, which was seen as part of the 2008 New York Musical Theatre Festival.

For more information or reservations e-mail [email protected], or phone (212) 346-1352. Pace University's Schaeberle Studio is located at 41 Park Row, 10th Floor, in Manhattan.