Mark S. Hoebee will direct the fall reading and spring staging of the musical comedy about three unrelated couples who go through the funny, painful and life changing nine-month experience of making a baby. Casting is ongoing.

The charmer of a musical (with songs by Richard Maltby Jr. and David Shire and an original book by Sybille Pearson) was short-lived on Broadway in 1983-84, but has had a rich life regionally and in stock and amateur markets. Its cast album, with Beth Fowler and Liz Callaway among the cast, is treasured by fans. "I Want It All," "The Story Goes On," "Patterns" (cut from Broadway but retained on disc), "Two People in Love," "I Chose Right," "The Ladies Singing Their Song," "The Plaza Song" and "Baby, Baby, Baby" are among the songs from the original cast album.

Although Paper Mill, of Millburn, NJ, is a planning to present the Broadway script and score come spring (March 31-May 9, 2004), the not-for-profit company is talking to the authors about possibly updating or revising the material, according to Roy Miller, a producer at Paper Mill.

In recent seasons, the Baby makers have reworked their show for readings and a look-see by Roundabout Theatre Company.

The Paper Mill presentations of Baby in Newark are Oct. 15 and 18, part of a festival highlighting work by New Jersey resident companies. Baby earned 1984 Tony Award nominations for Best Musical, Best Score, Best Book, Best Featured Actor (Todd Graff) and Best Featured Actress (Callaway), as well as Best Director (Maltby) and Best Choreographer (Wayne Cilento).