Sharon Rosen (Always…Patsy Cline) directs the readings scheduled to begin at 3 PM on both days.

The work was seen this June at Los Angeles' Celebration Theatre — where it garnered three L.A. Ovation Award nominations, including Best World Premiere Musical. An Off-Broadway production is in the works for 2007, according to a production spokesperson.

DeLaria (On the Town, The Rocky Horror Show) will star in the musical "set in the fictional underground jazz club Mary's Hideaway, circa 1953, [which] explores the underground world of mid-century gay Hollywood."

"Inspired by 1950s film noir, the musical looks at the laws governing gay and lesbian clubs of the time – when women weren't allowed to bartend and men couldn't dance with other men," according to show notes, "when every glance had a double meaning, every word was an innuendo and everything had to be done to strict code."

Larry Dean Harris (Bible Stories) pens the book, Phillip Swann provides music and Mark Winkler (Naked Boys Singing, Bark! The Musical) handles lyrics. Additional musical contributions are by Jim Andron, David Benoit, Michael Cruz, Michael Harris, Robert Kraft, Emilio Palame, Joe Pasquale, Dan Siegel and Larry Steelman. Andrew Pandaleon will also appear in the cast for the readings — re-creating the role he originated in the Los Angeles production.

Industry professionals interested in attending the Play It Cool readings are asked to email [email protected] or call (212) 997-5399.