Evan Cabnet will direct the "pulpy dark comedy about a hypochondriac, a serial killer, a detective, and a man who believes he's Marilyn Monroe." Hypochondria "explores modern society's obsessions with celebrity, trauma, and tragedy with lying, killing, dying and some fantastic original rock songs."

The reading cast includes Marlyne Affleck, Todd Buonopane, Jaymie Dornan, Marin Ireland, Tom Sadoski, Josh Tyson and James Waterston.

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Hypochondria has had developmental readings in Manhattan and Boston. Following the Ars Nova reading, the goal, producer Silver said, is a full production in 2007.

Kyle Jarrow is a Brooklyn-based writer and musician who writes for film and television, as well as for the stage, and plays in the glam rock band The Fabulous Entourage. He won an Obie Award at age 24 for the Off-Broadway hit A Very Merry Unauthorized Children's Scientology Pageant, which also had a successful run in Los Angeles in fall 2004. His follow-up play, Armless, won the Overall Excellence Award at the New York International Fringe Festival, and productions of his musicals Gorilla Man and President Harding is a Rock Star were seen in New York City. His work has been presented at Performance Space 122, The John Houseman Theatre, HERE Arts Center, Boston Theatre Works, New Dramatists, The Flea, The Hangar Theatre, and Dad's Garage in Atlanta among others. He was nominated for a 2004 Los Angeles Drama Critics' Circle Award and a 2004 Backstage West Garland Award for A Very Merry… , and was runner-up for the 2002 Princess Grace Playwriting Award for Hypochondria. He was winner of the 2001 John Golden Prize. He has guest-lectured at Juilliard and Pratt and done art design for the hip hop company Full Circle. Ars Nova is at 511 W. 54 Street between Tenth and Eleventh Avenues.

The reading is free, but reservations are required. To make a reservation call (212) 977-1700 or e-mail [email protected].