Pines Dinner Theatre kicks off the new year with the area premiere, Jan. 17 to Feb. 28, of “I Love You Because,” a musical love story inspired by Jane Austen.

“I Love You Because” is a modern-day reimagining of Austen’s “Pride and Prejudice” novel, set against the backdrop of New York City.

The musical follows Austin Bennet (Michael Covel), an uptight, rule-bound greeting cards writer whose world is upended when he meets Marcy Fitzwilliams (Lisa Sims), a free-spirited photographer.

As their unlikely romance unfolds, mirroring the sparks and clashes of Austen’s beloved characters, they navigate love, misunderstandings and the meddling of Austin’s brother and their eccentric friends.

The cast includes Edward Mountz, Lydia Walker, Ryan Domalewski and Mandi Marko.

“I Love You Because” has book and lyrics by Ryan Cunningham and music by Joshua Salzman.

Cunningham and Salzman met at New York University, where they were in the graduate program for musical theater writing, and where they began writing the songs that became “I Love You Because.”

The musical was first performed off-Broadway in 2006 at the Village Theater as part of the National Alliance for Musical Theatre Festival of New Musicals.

Cunningham and Salzman were awarded the Jonathan Larson Award and were selected for the ASCAP Workshop with Stephen Schwartz. Salzman won the American Musical Theatre Project Writers Residency Award and the ASCAP Frederick Loewe Award.

An original cast recording of the show was released in 2006.

Directing the Pines production is Pines co-owner Oliver Blatt.

Food is not included in the ticket price, but is available a la carte for an additional cost.

“I Love You Because,” 6 p.m., dinner; 7:30 p.m., show Fridays; noon, dinner; 1:30 p.m., show; 6 p.m., dinner; 7:30 p.m., show Saturdays; noon, dinner; 1:30 p.m., show Sundays;, Jan. 17 to Feb. 28, Pines Dinner Theatre, Shops at Cedar Point, 315 S. Cedar Crest Boulevard, Allentown. 610-433-2333, https://www.pinesdinnertheatre.com/

“Curtain Rises” is a column about the theater, stage shows, the actors in them and the directors and artists who make them happen. To request coverage, email: Paul Willistein, Focus editor, pwillistein@tnonline.com