D'Abruzzo Set for Off-Broadway Musical I Love You Because; Departs Q in December

By Andrew Gans
05 Nov 2005

Stephanie D'Abruzzo
Stephanie D'Abruzzo
Photo by Aubrey Reuben

Stephanie D'Abruzzo, the Tony-nominated actress who created the roles of Kate Monster and Lucy The Slut in Avenue Q, will depart the Tony-winning musical just prior to Christmas. She will be featured in the new Off-Broadway musical I Love You Because.

D'Abruzzo told Playbill.com that her final performance in Avenue Q will be the matinee on Saturday, Dec. 24. She will play Diana in I Love You Because, the new musical comedy that is scheduled to open Off-Broadway Valentine's Day 2006 at a theatre to be determined. No other casting has been announced.

Two readings of I Love You Because, a new musical described as a "modern-day telling of Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice," were presented this past summer at the East 13th Street Theatre. The readings boasted D'Abruzzo as well as The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee's Lisa Howard, All Shook Up's Julie Reiber, The Wedding Banquet's David A. Austin, Rent's Colin Hanlon and Little Women's Michael Minarik.

I Love You Because features music by Joshua Salzman and lyrics by Ryan Cunningham. Daniel Kutner directed the readings, which were produced by Jennifer Maloney and Fred M. Caruso.

The musical, according to press notes, "follows Austin Bennet, a young greeting card writer whose life is turned upside down when he finds his girlfriend in bed with another man. He is sent back out into the treacherous New York dating scene where he meets Marcy, who's spontaneity is matched only by her ability to drive Austin insane. What ensues is a comedy about love that explores the rules and nuances of dating and how sometimes love is learning how to love someone not in spite of their differences, but because of them."

Stephanie D'Abruzzo is currently making her Broadway debut in Avenue Q at the Golden Theatre. She received a Tony nomination and a Theatre World Award for her work in the Broadway production and a Drama Desk nomination for her work in the Off-Broadway mounting of Q. She has also been seen on stage in the City Center Encores! production of Carnival, the all-star Chess concert, the Encores! 10th Anniversary Bash and the Stephen Sondheim celebration, Children and Art. D'Abruzzo has spent several seasons on "Sesame Street" and the kids show "Oobi" and was recently seen in VH-1's "I Love the 70s Part II" and "I Love the 80s 3-D." She also made her solo cabaret debut at the famed jazz club Birdland.

For more information about I Love You Because visit www.iloveyoubecausethemusical.com.