The Kid is a new musical based on the book by the popular sex advice columnist, Dan Savage, entitled The Kid: What Happened After My Boyfriend And I Decided To Go Get Pregnant.  Produced by the New Group and directed by its artistic director Scott Elliott, the play was conceived by the trio of Andy Monroe (music), Michael Zam (book), and Jack Lechner (lyrics).  Christopher Sieber (from Shrek and Spamalot) plays Savage, and Lucas Steele plays his boyfriend Terry.  The formidable cast of 11 also includes the charismatic Susan Blackwell (a joy in [title of show]).  I spoke with the director, Elliot, mid-rehearsal.
 
Hi Scott.  I'm a big fan of Dan Savage's weekly column, but I didn't read the book.
 
This is a musical based on the book, which is about Dan and his boyfriend adopting a baby, and the process that they go through.  It's a gay couple going into the adoption process.  It's told in the first person, from Dan's point of view.  These three guys have written a musical with a catchy musical theater scope.  The songs are wonderful.
 
What can you tell me about the story?
 
When I read it, I realized that you have a wonderful journey, but at the end, it's a love story of two guys...

What about the cast?
There's a large cast, all musical theater luminaries.  Chris Sieber plays Dan.  He was nominated for Tonys for both Shrek and Spamalot.  Ann Harada, who was here with us in Avenue Q.  And a new kid, Lucas Steele, plays Terry, Dan's boyfriend.  It's an eclectic group, not homogenous at all.
 
So what happens?
 
You meet the parents of the baby that they're going to adopt, and the people at the adoption agency, their social workers.  It's very human.  Jill Eikenberry from L.A. Law plays Dan's mother, and she can sing.  There's a scene at the adoption services agency, where you meet other parents going after babies.  And there's a group of Dan's friends.
 
But it's Dan's story?
 
The character of Dan himself is quite complex, and what he grapples with in his pursuit of becoming a father.  It's two acts.  It goes through the whole process, with a little back and forth.  You get a gay couple's picture of the whole adoption process.  And there is a big love story in the middle of it, Dan and his boyfriend, and what you have to go through to create a family with two men.  People have a crisis, and how do you meet it.
 
The New Group @ Theatre Row, The Acorn Theatre, 410 W. 42nd St. (212 279-4200). Previews Apr. 16, opens May 10-29. Mon., 8 p.m.; Tues., 7 p.m.; Wed.-Sat., 8 p.m.; Sun., 2 p.m. $60.