Do you remember the first time you kissed? For real, I mean.

None of this slobber on the cheek business, but the first time you felt what it means to kiss someone you felt tingly about? That's one of those teenage milestones that begins a journey into the social complexities of adulthood.

Kissless — a musical taking shape right here in Houston that will make its debut at the 2011 New York Musical Theatre Festival off Broadway in six performances from Sept. 28 to Oct. 8 — might seem like it's a work about that specific moment, but it's much more than that.

I found out how much more during a routine Art and About adventure.

Camera and microphone on hand, I went to the Houston Family Arts Center, where rehearsals are now in full swing. I got an opportunity to chat with the cast and learn about the play, the actors' aspirations and what it means to be debuting in New York.

Most shows at the New York Musical Theatre Festival are cast out of New York. This one is Houston based and mainly made up of young actors, from teenagers upwards to mid-twenties. Getting the chance to perform off-Broadway is something many seasoned performers dream of but never achieve.

Whatever the young hopefuls lack in experience, they are certainly making up in rehearsal hours, perfecting their characters' intentions and understanding their inner struggles, experimenting with blocking and improving their vocals.

At their age, they can really relate to the storyline and the themes of cliques — jocks, goths, nerds and rednecks — stereotypes, alienation and loss. On the surface, Kissless may seem like the stereotypical, happy, Glee-esque musical, but its surprise and shocking ending morphs any carefree aura into lifelong lessons that everyone — children, students and adults — need to learn, and relearn.

When Summer, a misfit goth, is forced to live with Derek, a hyper jock, their burgeoning romance causes angst and turmoil at Forest Glen High School. As the characters struggle to come to terms with their self-imposed labels and situations, youth naivete comes to a crashing halt with the discovery of a classmate's death.

Life, sometimes, doesn't go on. Seize today as tomorrow may just not be here. Live life to the fullest. That's the message that writer Chance McClain wanted to put forth in this genre mixer that brings pop, rock, country, traditional Broadway tunes and a dash of jazz hands together.

"I had a story inside that wanted to get out, the regular live life to the fullest story," McClain said. "An underlying theme is the loss of a teen. It's really sad and you never know how to deal with it. I wanted to find away to tell the story of how kids deal with death."

Kissless began as a short story in March 2010 before morphing into a musical last August. After staged readings at the Houston Family Art Center and Texas Repertory Theatre and some tweaks, the audience responded well — laughing when they were meant to laugh and crying during tender moments.

"The community is paying for us to go to New York," McClain said. "We are trying to raise $100,000 to send 27 performers plus the creative and the production team for two weeks. When people hear about our show, they realize there is something special here. That along with Houston pride, has earned us significant support."

To sponsor Kissless, interested donors can support the cast's efforts online or by participating in the musical's upcoming golf tournament at Wildcat Golf Club on Sept. 8.

For McClain, it is a dream come true.

"I feel humble and unworthy. It's happening and I just can't stop smiling."

The cast comments on going to New York: