Soon, Jekyll & Hyde won't be the only musical in New York City inspired by the writings of Robert Louis Stevenson. Come December, the Melting Pot Theatre Company will present Child's Garden. The show, based on autobiographical poems, essays and letter by the Scottish author, will run Dec. 10-Jan. 26, 2001.

According to an audition notice in Back Stage, the musical's libretto -- by Louis Rosen, Arthur Perlman and Charlotte Maier -- is drawn from missives and nonfiction writings Stevenson penned, while the lyrics (by the same trio) come from the novelist's poetry. Louis Rosen composed the music.

The show is set in a time before Stevenson found fame through such works as "Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde," "Treasure Island," and "Kidnapped," as well as "A Child's Garden of Verses," from which the tuner takes its title.

Lori Steinberg will direct Child's Garden; a musical director is to be announced. No theatre or cast has been mentioned.

--By Robert Simonson