In this 1991 photo, composer John Kander, left, and lyricist Fred Ebb are shown at the piano at Ebb's apartment in New York. (Associated Press)A new musical from Cabaret and Chicago collaborators John Kander and Fred Ebb will have its world premiere off-Broadway in the new year, more than five years after the death of lyricist Ebb.

New York's Vineyard Theater has announced that the famed musical theatre pair's The Scottsboro Boys will begin previews on Feb. 12, with its official opening set for March 10.

With a book by David Thompson and direction by Susan Stroman, the musical explores the infamous 1930s case in which a group of young black youths in Scottsboro, Ala., were accused of the rape of two white women.

Casting has yet to be announced.

Composer Kandar and lyricist Ebb had completed work on the musical before the latter died in September 2004 after suffering a heart attack at his New York home.

Though the Vineyard production had only been slated to be a development lab, organizers have instead decided to proceed with a fully staged show.

Best known for their collaborations with Harold Prince, Bob Fosse, Liza Minnelli and Chita Rivera for musicals such as Cabaret, Chicago and Kiss of the Spider Woman, Kander and Ebb are also responsible for the iconic song New York, New York.

With files from The Associated Press