New Musical I Love You Because to Play Village Theatre

The new musical I Love You Because is coming off-Broadway. The show will begin performances at the Village Theatre on January 19. Avenue Q Tony Award nominee Stephanie D'Abruzzo, Farah Alvin, David A. Austin and Rent's Colin Hanlon star.

Set in New York City, I Love You Because follows Austin Bennet Hanlon, a young greeting card writer whose life is turned upside down when he finds his long-term girlfriend in bed with another man. Forced back out into the treacherous New York dating scene, Austin meets Marcy Fitzwilliams Alvin, a flighty photographer whose spontaneity is matched only by her ability to drive him insane. This new musical comedy explores the rules and nuances of dating and learning how to love someone, not in spite of their differences, but because of them. D'Abruzzo plays Marcy's best friend Diana Bingley and Austin has the role of Austin's brother, Jeff Bennet.

I Love You Because, which was seen in Gotham this fall as part of the National Alliance for Musical Theatre's Festival of New Musicals, features a book and lyrics by Ryan Cunningham and music by Joshua Salzman. The modern-day plot is based on the Jane Austen classic Pride and Prejudice.

I Love You Because, directed by Daniel Kutner, is scheduled to officially open on February 14. The design team includes set designers Beowulf Boritt and Jo Winiarski and lighting designer Jeff Croiter.

I Love You Because is only the third musical to play at the Village Theatre since the space reopened in 2001. Its first tenant that year was Love, Janis. Dream a Little Dream also played there, ending its run in August of 2003.