The staging is produced in association with Chicago's Goodman Theatre — where it will play Jan. 10-Feb. 15, 2004.

The Light in the Piazza is a love story between a young American woman and a young Italian man. When she learns of the affair, the young woman's mother opposes it for seemingly unknown reasons. Based on the 1960 novel by Elizabeth Spencer, the musical is set in Florence and Rome in the summer of 1953.

Intiman's associate artistic director Lucas helms the first staging which stars Victoria Clark (Urinetown, Titanic), Celia Keenan-Bolger (Little Fish, Summer of '42), Steven Pasquale (A Man of No Importance), Patti Cohenour (The Phantom of the Opera), Kelli O'Hara (My Life with Albertine), Glenn Seven Allen (Naked Boys Singing!), Mark Harelik (Lost Highway) and Robert Shampain (The Odyssey at Seattle Rep).

Craig Lucas (The Dying Gaul, Prelude to a Kiss) provides the book for the tuner with music and lyrics by Adam Guettel (Floyd Collins). Ted Sperling serves as music director and Pat Graney handles choreography. Orchestrations are by Sperling and Guettel.

The fairy tale musical marks a departure from the recent dark work associated with Lucas. "I have been writing these punishing, angry, tragic plays. I just could not write enough mean, cruel, dark, upsetting things," Lucas told Playbill On-Line. "So when Adam brought me this [love story], I kind of thought 'I don't know, maybe I'm the wrong guy.' But it's been a tremendous joy." The Light in the Piazza design team includes Loy Arcenas (scenic), Catherine Zuber (costume), Christopher Akerlind (lighting) and Acme Sound Partners (sound).

Tickets to The Light in the Piazza at the Intiman, 201 Mercer Street in Seattle, WA can be purchased by calling (206) 269-1900 or visit http://www.intiman.org.