PlayhouseSquare will develop Fat Camp as the inaugural production in its "Page to Stage Program," which invites theatre writers to develop Broadway-aimed productions, while allowing Ohio audiences to provide response and feedback as the creators hone their works.

Casey Hushion, who associate-directed Minsky's, will direct the PlayhouseSquare production. Fat Camp is based on a book by Blair, who also penned lyrics, with a book by Drucker and music by roi Berger. Performances will run July 13-24.

Casting for the production, which will be done with minimal set and costumes, will be announced shortly.

The musical about a group of plus-sized kids at a sleep-away camp debuted in 2009 as part of the New York Musical Theatre Festival and received a 2010 workshop starring stage and screen Hairspray leads Carly Jibson and Nikki Blonsky, under the direction of Tony-nominated Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson book writer-director Alex Timbers. 

Rock of Ages producers Carl Levin and Michael Minarik, who also produced the 2010 reading of Fat Camp, are partnering with The Dodgers on the PlayhouseSquare developmental run. The Dodgers previously teamed with PlayhouseSquare on the musicals Pump Boys and Dinettes and Jersey Boys. "We are most excited to be back in Cleveland at PlayhouseSquare, participating in their inaugural 'Page to Stage Program' with Fat Camp," said Tony-winning Dodger co-founder Michael David in a statement. "The Dodgers have had a long history developing shows at PlayhouseSquare and we are most appreciative for the opportunity to nurture this young, new production; to get it up on stage and to experiment, to refine, to try to find our feet with the support of the Playhouse staff, and the audiences of Cleveland."

"Nothing is going to make rock-and-roll rebel Robert Grisetti change this summer," according to original NYMF press notes for Fat Camp. "That is, except for one ex-Navy Seal father, two suspiciously cheery camp counselors, and a 12-foot barbed wire fence. Visit Camp Overton, a weight loss retreat for hefty teenagers, as secrets, sex, S'mores, and self-image collide in this new musical comedy exploring the trials and triumphs of being 'the fat kid.'"

Tickets for Fat Camp, priced $10, are available by phoning (216) 241-6000 or by visiting PlayhouseSquare.