It was recently announced that recording artist Niles River has joined the cast. Once signed to a division of Atlantic Records by producer David Foster, Niles is currently signed to Nefdrum Records, a new label formed by the family of jazz visionary Miles Davis.

J.O.B. the Hip-Hopera takes the Biblical story of Job as its jumping off point. At the hip-hop label Hoover Records, president J. Hoover is pitted against Job, his right hand man, in a test of loyalty, compassion and friendship. And in the jingle department, MC Cain is pitted against his brotha and fellow rapper MC Abel in their struggle for success. According to press notes, "It's the Old (School) Testament retold as an allegory of contemporary corporate life in the music biz."

The cast also includes Eli Batalion, Hassan Christopher, Marissa Labog Aimee Zannoni, Myesha Taylor and DJ Creativity.

The creative team includes Jerome Sabel (composer, lyricist, writer), Eli Batalion (composer, lyricist, writer), Joe Barrucco (composer), Stefan Novinski (director), Hassan Christopher (co-director, choreographer), Steven Young (lighting designer) and Joe Barrucco (sound designer).

(Playbill.com is a media partner of the New York Musical Theatre Festival 2006.)