TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – The University of Alabama department of theatre and dance presents the first reading of the musical “Gallery,” with book by Linda Kline, author of the Broadway show “A Class Act,” and music and lyrics by the late Ed Kleban, lyricist of the Broadway classic “A Chorus Line.”

Kline worked with Raphael Crystal, UA director of musical theatre, and a group of musical theatre students, to prepare the reading of this new work. “Gallery” is inspired by works of art, and the show pokes some gentle fun at New York’s Metropolitan Museum of Art.

The show also includes references to Kline’s own Alabama family heritage, in the characters of two young women and an up-and-coming artist, all from Dothan.

“This is a very unique opportunity for any University theatre – to develop a work with such renowned Broadway writers so many hundreds of miles away from the lights of Manhattan,” said Crystal.

The reading will be Sunday, May 6 in 205 Gorgas Library at 2 p.m.

The department of theatre and dance is housed in the College of Arts and Sciences, the University’s largest division and the largest public liberal arts college in the state. Students from the College have won numerous national awards including Rhodes Scholarships, Goldwater Scholarships and memberships on the “USA Today” Academic All American Team.

The University of Alabama, a student-centered research university, is in the midst of a planned, steady enrollment growth with a goal of reaching 28,000 students by 2010. This growth, which is positively impacting the campus and the state’s economy, is in keeping with UA’s vision to be the university of choice for the best and brightest students. UA, the state’s flagship university, is an academic community united in its commitment to enhancing the quality of life for all Alabamians.