Book excerpt: David Ackerman, a young pianist working at a piano bar in New York City, wants nothing more than to stand on a stage and make people laugh. He meets Gabrielle, an attractive and slightly eccentric young woman who yearns to be a professional ballerina. These two hungry dreamers climb the shaky ladder of success from seedy bars to comedy clubs to the stage of the Metropolitan Opera House, their on-again, off-again romance propelling them along in heartfelt pursuit of love, fame and laughter. This engaging musical features a contemporary pop score and great casting flexibility. -- Amazon.com.