Smalltown Boy, a new musical from country music recording artist and Broadway alum Orville Peck, will receive industry presentations in NYC December 12 at Open Jar Studios. The project is the brainchild of director-choreographer Jakob Karr (So You Think You Can Dance), who has co-written the book with Cassie Maurer.

Set in the Deep South of the mid-'80s, the work centers on a young gay boy growing up in an Evangelical household who embarks on a journey of self discovery. The project will feature original orchestrations and arrangements of Peck's existing music.

The presentation cast will feature Jakob Karr, Adrian Lee, Douglas Burkhardt, Serena Crouse, Ian Spring, Luke Qualls, Chase Madigan, Mariah Reives, Jordan Lombardi, Miles Yeung-Tieu, Mykal Kilgore, Daniel Quadrino, Bradley Dean, Christian Brailsford, Ximone Rose, and Tyler Hardwick. Casting is by Jenny Ravitz.

Peck has made the bulk of his career as a country musician, with album releases including Pony, Bronco, and Stampede. His background is in musical theatre, appearing in productions of West Side Story, The Producers, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, and, in London's West End, Peter Pan Goes Wrong. He made his Broadway debut earlier this year as The Emcee in Cabaret.

Orchestrations are by Joi Marchetti, and Meg Zervoulis Bates is music directing. William Carlton is serving as production stage manager, with Chelsea Friday as assistant stage manager. Grace Buckley is the associate choreographer. Sharon Fallon Productions is general managing, and Patti Maurer of Blue Topaz productions is producing.

Those interested in attending can e-mail [email protected].