The show features music by McMahon, lyrics by Jeffries and a book co-written by both of them. Kelly Briggs directs the reading, which will star Trisha Rapier, Raissa Katona Bennett, Casey Clark, Jana Robbins and Eadie Scott.

According to a release, Friends Like These "is the story of four sassy New York women—a young celebrity newswoman, a sensuous and free-spirited soap opera star, a wisecracking author, and an eccentric socialite—who prove that while men come and go, friends like these are forever."

Blau, who endowed the award, is a philanthropist and an attorney with Blau and Kayman. The award pays for the reading and helps the musical in its next steps in development.

The reading will be produced by Joel Ehrlich, who is president of The Harmony Consulting Group, a sports and entertainment marketing organization, and Phyllis Ehrlich, a senior vice president at Cartoon Network.

Jeffries wrote lyrics for the Off-Broadway revues Fun City and For Love or Money. John McMahon composed the music for Satan's School for Girls. The two previously teamed on the revue That's My New York!. TRU (Theater Resources Unlimited), founded in 1992 by playwright-songwriter Bob Ost, supports theatre professionals with various resources. Previous musicals read in the TRU Musicals Reading Series include The Great American Trailer Park Musical, Nor'mal and Saint Heaven.

The Players Theater is at 115 MacDougal Street.