Billed as "a contemporary musical fable," a new musical featuring the hit songs of Burt Bacharach and Hal David opens April 2 at San Diego's Old Globe Theatre, for a run through May 3, What The World Needs Now is prepping for a Broadway run at the Roundabout Theatre, June 3-Aug. 16.

Gillian Lynne directs and choreographs the revue, which has a book by Kenny Solms, based on an idea by Solms and Lynne. Lynne is the choreographer of Cats and Phantom Of The Opera.

Appearing in Bacharach and David's World are Roxane Barlow, John Bolton, Brendan Byrnes, Lindsay Chambers, Misty Cotton, Sutton Foster, Jack Donohue, Christianne Farr-Wersinger, Pamela Gold, Amy Heggins, Jenny Hill, Alicia Irving, Joanne Manning, Adam Matalon, Rod McCune, Paula Newsome, Monica Pege, Jonathan Sharp, Mark Anthony Taylor, Lewis Cleale and Courtney Young.

Designing the show are Bob Crowley (set), Greg Barnes (costumes), Kenneth Posner (lighting), Jeff Ladman (sound) and Harold Wheeler (orchestrations). Alex Rybeck serves as musical director.

The story of WTWNN...AMF follows Alfie and his friends searching for modern romance. As the Old Globe press release puts it, "boy meets girl, boy loses girl, boy struggles to get girl back." No doubt interest in Bacharach & David's work was rekindled by the wildly acclaimed Encores! concert staging of Promises, Promises last season. Songs by the pair include "Raindrops Keep Falling On My Head" and "I'll Never Fall In Love Again," both in the show, alongside "One Less Bell To Answer," "Walk On By" and "Alfie."

Here is a complete list of the songs in the show, as of opening night, April 2, 1998:

Act One

"What The World Needs Now"
"Always Something There to Remind Me"
"This Guy's In Love With You"
"Knowing When To Leave"
"I'll Never Fall In Love Again"
"Raindrops Keep Falling on My Head"
"She Likes Basketball"
"Raindrops Keep Falling On My Head"
"Walk On By"
"The World Is A Circle"
"Cotillion"
"You'll Never Get to Heaven (If You Break My Heart)"
"Magic Moments"
"Are You There? (With Another Girl)"
"In The Land Of Make Believe"
"To Wait For Love"
"Close To You"
"The Look Of Love"
"You'll Think Of Someone"
"I Say A Little Prayer"
"I Just Have To Breathe"
"Alfie"
"Paper Mache"
"The Balance Of Nature"
"Don't Make Me Over"
"Alfie (Reprise)"

Act Two

"Entr'acte"
"Walk On By"
"Trains And Boats And Planes"
"Do You Know The Way To San Jose"
"Twenty Four Hours From Tulsa"
"Message To Michael"
"I Just Don't Know What To Do With Myself"
"My Little Red Book"
"Wives And Lovers"
"Any Ole Time Of The Day"
"Make It Easy On Yourself"
"Denial Ballet"
"A House Is Not A Home"
"What's New Pussycat?/Wishin' And Hopin'"
"A House Is Not A Home (Reprise)"
"One Less Bell To Answer"
"Blue On Blue"
"Here Where There Is Love"
"Anyone Who Had A Heart"
"What The World Needs Now" (Reprise)

For tickets to the Old Globe staging of What The World Needs Now...A Musical Fable, call (212) 239-2255.

-- By David Lefkowitz and Robert Viagas