An industry, invitation-only reading of the new musical Born Country, featuring chart-topping country hits, will be presented May 5. 

Directed by Kenneth Ferrone (The Wanderer, SpongeBob SquarePants), the cast will feature Jessica Phillips (Dear Evan Hansen), Analise Scarpaci (Mrs. Doubtfire), Jennifer Fouché (Chicago), Asa Somers (Dear Evan Hansen), Troy Iwata (Be More Chill), J (Wild Party), Ken Wulf Clark (Shucked), Brandon J. Ellis (Bandstand), Gaelen Gilliland (Kinky Boots), Bre Jackson (Six), and Dion Simmons Grier (Stardust Road).

With a book by Eric Holmes (The Good Fight, With(out) Her) and Erin Holmes (Hey, Beautiful), Born Country follows Louisa, who plans a summer adventure in Nashville so that her daughter Gemma can take her shot at becoming a country star. However, when Louisa starts to get more attention than Gemma, her own teenage dreams are given a second chance.

The presentation will also have music supervision and arrangements by Britt Bonney (Once Upon A One More Time) and music direction and additional arrangements by Geoffrey Ko (The Notebook, Be More Chill). 

The reading is presented by Mara Burros Sandler from Be Forward Productions. Caitlin McNeilage will serve as executive producer.