A new musical revue, The Water Coolers, set in the world of 9-to-5'ers, cubicles and Xerox machines, will begin performances at Dillons in midtown Manhattan Sept. 27, toward an opening Oct. 13.

Such major Broadway producers as Steven Baruch, Marc Routh, Richard Frankel, Tom Viertel and Rodger Hess, among others, are behind the work, which sounds like it might want to do to the corporate world what I Love You, You're Perfect, Now Change does to romance — make affectionate fun of it and lure in the thousands of white collar workers who are the target audience.

Written by Thomas Michael Allen (Tony N' Tina's Wedding), Joe Allen, Marya Grandy and E. Andrew Sensenig, the show features a cast of five exploring everyday life in the corporate world. The production, directed by William Wesbrooks, is told by way of sketch comedy, original music and revised old songs. Songs include "Panic Monday" (about worries about last Friday's happy hour), "I Bought a Palm" (all about palm pilots) and "In Windows 2525" (all about technology).

The cast of The Water Coolers features Peter Brown, Marya Grandy, Adam Mastrelli, Kurt Robbins and Elena Shaddow.

The design team includes Michael Schweikardt (sets), Jeffrey Johnson-Doherty (costumes) and John-Paul Szczepanski (lights). Musical direction is by Michael Lavine and choreography is by Timothy Albrecht. The Water Coolers is presented by Steven Baruch, Marc Routh, Richard Frankel, Tom Viertel, Pete Herber, Ross Meyerson, Ken Gentry and Rodger Hess.

For tickets ($50 for previews, $65 for regualr run) to The Water Coolers, call Tele-charge at (212) 239 6200 or visit the Dillons box office, at 245 West 54th Street (beginning Sept. 20). For group sales, please call ShowTix at (212) 302-7000.

— by Ernio Hernandez
and Kenneth Jones