The makers of A Man of No Importance are in discussions with several music labels about recording the new musical by composer Stephen Flaherty, lyricist Lynn Ahrens and librettist Terrence McNally.

No decision has been reached as to which company will commit the score to CD, according to a spokesman for the show.

Man began previews at Lincoln Center Theater's Mitzi E. Newhouse on Sept. 12, working toward an opening on Oct. 10. The limited run continues to Dec. 29. As is the case with the cast album recording climate these days, good reviews and an extension would make a label even more interested in the score.

Roger Rees and Faith Prince lead the cast. They are supported by the capable likes of Ronn Carroll, Luther Creek, Michael McCormick, Jessica Molaskey, Martin Moran, Sally Murphy, Charles Keating, Barbara Marineau, Sean McCourt, Katherine McGrath, Patti Perkins and Steven Pasquale.

The show is based on the 1994 film of the same name. The movie, set in 1963 Dublin, starred Albert Finney as Alfie Byrne (Rees), a closeted gay bus conductor with a passion for Oscar Wilde who still lives with his sister (Prince). The film concerns Alfie's torn passion for two people and his coming to terms with his true nature as he gets involved in a church staging of a Wilde play. The title is a play on the Wilde work A Woman of No Importance.

The show will have musical staging by Jonathan Butterell, musical direction by Ted Sperling (recently named associate artistic director of Prince Music Theater in Philadelphia), sets by Loy Arcenas, costumes by Jane Greenwood, lighting by Donald Holder and sound by Scott Lehrer.

The show received a reading at Lincoln Center Theater in March 2001. Joe Mantello directed and repeats his duties this fall.

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The work of Tony Award-winning Ahrens and Flaherty is preserved on cast albums of Lucky Stiff, Once On This Island, My Favorite Year, Ragtime and Seussical, as well as the soundtrack of the film, "Anastasia."

—By Robert Simonson