According to a casting notice, previews for the new musical, which was seen in September at the Geva Theatre Center, will begin Feb. 6, 2009, with an official opening scheduled for Feb. 23. Scott Schwartz, who helmed the Geva run of the musical, will again direct.
Scotsman Goodman penned music and lyrics for the new two-actor project and co-wrote the book with Miriam Gordon. The writers are married, and the musical was inspired by some experiences in their lives.
In the show, Monica is a Scottish-Jewish songwriter with dreams of stardom. Ian is a hard-drinking Catholic rocker, content to just play his music in Glasgow obscurity.
Doug Kreeger and Natascia Diaz co-starred in the Geva production. The casting notice indicates Kreeger will reprise his work for the Off-Broadway run, which will feature music direction by Jesse Vargas.
"[Monica and Ian] become creatively and romantically entangled as ambition propels them from Scotland to London to New York and into the punk rock explosion," according to Geva notes. "A gritty rock musical, Rooms explores the desire for escape and the redemptive powers of creativity and love. An energetic and tuneful new musical that captures the exuberance and drive of two young musicians in full creative throttle: composing, laughing, arguing and loving." Born in Scotland, Paul Scott Goodman wrote the book, music and lyrics for Bright Lights Big City, which was presented at The Guggenheim Museum and produced by New York Theater Workshop (directed by Michael Greif). His other musicals include Him & Her (New York International Fringe Festival 2002 Best Performance Award), ROOMS (University of Michigan), God Save the New Wave (Bottom Line, West Bank Theater); and Just East of Broadway (The Duplex).
Miriam Gordon co-wrote the book and directed Him & Her (NYCFringe 2002 Award, Musical Theater Works), Tiny Dancer (New End Theater, London), ROOMS (Theater on 2, NYC) and God Save the New Wave (Bottom Line, West Bank Theater). She directed I've Got to See You Again and Marathon (NYTW), When Heaven and Earth (Circle Rep East), In Audela (Cherry Lane Theatre). Gordon is the recipient of the Allan S. Gordon Foundation Performing Arts Program Award for The Kid Who Ran for President (writer/director) and a Stella Adler Talent Award.
New World Stages is located in Manhattan at 340 West 50th Street.
