Anticipation always runs high in September. Yay, a new season! Tons of new shows to look forward to!
But while there are promising offerings this year, we may have to dig a little deeper to find them.
Tellingly, the most buzzed-about Broadway musicals are revivals.
The first marks the return of everybody’s favorite plucky heroine, “Annie” (previewing Oct. 3 at the Palace Theatre) — and charming as those orphans look, the real draw is the adult stars.
Katie Finneran hadbut a single, 10-minute scene in “Promises, Promises,” but it was so epically funny that it earned her a Tony. Just imagine what she can do as that fire-breathing harridan, Miss Hannigan.
Facing her as Daddy Warbucks is Anthony Warlow, a star in his native Australia no making an eagerly anticipated Broadway debut.
The other high-profile revival is “The Mystery of Edwin Drood” (Oct. 19, Studio 54), Rupert Holmes’ high-concept whodunit from 1985. If the customer is always right, it’s even more so here, as every night the audience votes on the show’s outcome.
As if this weren’t fun enough, the cast includes Chita Rivera and Will Chase, late of “Smash.”
The pickings are slimmer for new productions. One, “Rebecca,” may or may not open at the Broadhurst, pending the resolution of enduring cash-flow issues.
Another, “Scandalous — The Life and Trials of Aimee Semple McPherson” (Oct. 13, Neil Simon Theatre), is garnering attention because its book and lyrics are by a beginner named … Kathie Lee Gifford.
Bringing up the rear are a couple of holiday shows. Up-and-comers Benj Pasek and Justin Paul (“Dogfight”) wrote the score for “A Christmas Story, the Musical” (Nov. 5, Lunt-Fontanne Theatre), which was well received on tour last year.
It’ll compete for seasonal dollars with another Christmas show based on a movie, “Elf — The Musical” (Nov. 9, Al Hirschfeld), returning after a 2010 run.
The real nuggets may lurk off-Broadway.
The Keen Company is putting on the obligatory Sondheim show with a revival of the revue “Marry Me a Little” (now in previews, opens Oct. 2 at the Clurman Theatre).
But the ones to watchare three new efforts.
First off is the political cabaret “Paris Commune” (Oct. 3-7, BAM), by the excellent local company the Civilians (“In the Footprint,” “This Beautiful City”). Among its strongest assets is Michael Friedman (“Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson”), a composer with a genuine pop sensibility.
Larger inscale is “Giant” (Oct. 26, Public Theater), by Michael John LaChiusa. Based on Edna Ferber’s novel — and James Dean’s last movie—this sprawling, Texas-set work has the potential to be grand.
Finally, Manhattan Theatre Club returns to producing new musicals with Julia Gordon and Juliana Nash’s “Murder Ballad” (Oct. 30, MTC II). The shows hould benefit from the dynamic presence of “West Side Story” Tony winner Karen Olivo and Will Swenson, late of “Hair” and “Priscilla, Queen of the Desert.”
Seeing these out size performers light up a small stage should be a reward in itself.