A chief attraction of recent theater years has been an international import courtesy of the Cultural Trust. This year, marking the centennial of Samuel Beckett's birth, it's the Gate Theatre of Dublin's "Waiting for Godot" that reclaims it as realistic and Irish, not just existential and universal.

	Barebones Productions will present the Holocaust drama "The Grey Zone," with Bingo O'Malley and Chelsea Mervis, Nov. 2-19. Click photo for larger image.

But for those of broader tastes, the chief attraction may be the much-improved PNC Broadway series. Already under way with "Monty Python's Spamalot," it promises Tony winners and nominees all along the way, including Cherry Jones in "Doubt" (even though that taut whodunit should be in the smaller Byham, not the mammoth Benedum).

Indeed, the list that follows has lots of something for everyone, from world premieres at Public and City to the enticing eccentricities of Quantum and the continuing legacy of the great August Wilson, who died less than a year ago and whose "Piano Lesson" is now at Pittsburgh Playwrights.

And don't forget the universities, where Pitt travels the world and Point Park plans such unusual musicals as "Ragtime," "Reefer Madness" and Sondheim's "Frogs." The greatest innovation is at CMU, which has jettisoned multi-week runs of a few shows for short runs of many more, offering great (if brief) variety to both students and audience.

Of course, this is just a list of titles, and incomplete at that, since by necessity it omits some smaller companies and the many straw hats and community theaters.

THE BIG BOYS

PUBLIC THEATER (O'Reilly Theater, Downtown): For the Public's 32nd season, producing artistic director Ted Pappas features two world premieres, a modern classic, a modernized true classic, two musicals, a sharp modern comedy and a couple of golden oldies -- adding up to more than six, because categories overlap. First is a contemporary take on Sophocles' "Oedipus the King" (Sept. 28-Oct. 29), directed by Pappas in the W.B. Yeats translation. The first premiere is "The Secret Letters of Jackie and Marilyn" (Nov. 9-Dec. 10) by Mark Hampton and Michael Sharp, based on Wendy Leigh's novel about Marilyn Monroe and Jackie Kennedy. The first musical is the Masteroff, Kander and Ebb classic "Cabaret" (Jan. 25-Feb. 25, 2007), also directed by Pappas, and the contemporary comedy is "Life X 3," by Yasmina Reza, a biting, compassionate comedy that digs down under the accidents of life.

The major coup of the season would seem to be the second premiere and second musical, "The Glorious Ones" (April 19-May 20), by Lynn Ahrens and Dormont native Stephen Flaherty ("Ragtime," "Once on This Island"). Based on Francine Prose's novel about a traveling band of actors, it will be directed and choreographed by Graciela Daniele. The season ends with D. L. Colburn's Pulitzer Prize-winning "The Gin Game" (May 31-July 1), Pappas directing.

As extras, the Public brings back Second City's "Dysfunctional Holiday Revue" (Dec. 13-16) and Tom Atkins as "The Chief" (Jan. 2-7), by Rob Zellers and Gene Collier. The Public will also continue its Public Exposure (new play readings) and Mondays with the Public (lectures). 412-316-1600.

CITY THEATRE (South Side): The company that specializes in new plays will center its six-show season on The New American Trio of brand-new plays with a related constellation of discussions, seminars, workshops and open rehearsals throughout the year. That trio is Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa's "The Muckle Man" (Jan. 25-Feb. 18, 2007), a marine thriller set in Newfoundland; Michele Lowe's "Mezzulah, 1946" (March 8-April 1), about the women factory workers displaced at the end of World War II; and Keith Reddin's "The Missionary Position" (April 12-May 13), a political satire commissioned by City.

Before then, the City season starts with "The Good Body" (Oct. 5-29), a new collage play by Eve Ensler ("The Vagina Monologues"), and "A Picasso" (Nov. 9-Dec. 10), a 1941 encounter between the artist and a beautiful Nazi by frequent City playwright Jeffrey Hatcher. The season ends with "Intimate Apparel" (May 3-27), Lynn Nottage's insightful drama of race and class in the early 20th century. As an extra, Maripat Donovan's "Sister's Christmas Catechism" will return, Nov. 24-Dec. 31.

New American Trio events begin already on Sept. 18 with "Setting the Stage/Play in Progress 1," a first reading of "The Missionary Position," followed by an audience discussion with playwright Reddin. Other extras include the annual Young Playwrights Festival (Oct. 14-29) and the Momentum weekend (June). 412-431-CITY.

PITTSBURGH CLO (Benedum Theater, Cabaret at Theater Square and Byham Theater): The 2006 summer season concludes with "Spamalot" (through Oct. 1), a joint offering of the CLO and PNC Broadway. But thanks to its new Cabaret Theater, the CLO is now a year-round company, running the musical spoof, "Forbidden Broadway," which is expected to be revamped this fall with new material and to keep on running. And the CLO revives its Christmas tradition at the Byham, "A Musical Christmas Carol" (Dec. 8-23). 412-456-6666.

PITTSBURGH MUSICAL THEATER (Byham): The companyis settled back at the Byham, where its season opens in January with the locally produced premiere of "Cats" (Jan. 18-28), then "Footloose" (Feb. 22-March 4) and "Disney's Beauty and the Beast" (May 10-20). 412-456-1390.

TOURING PROS

PNC BROADWAY ACROSS AMERICA -- PITTSBURGH (Bendum, Heinz Hall): Opening the season is "Monty Python's Spamalot" (Benedum, through Oct. 1), to be followed by William Finn's and Rachel Sheinkin's "The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee" (Heinz Hall, Oct. 31-Nov. 5); Davd Yazbeck and Jeffrey Lane's "Dirty Rotten Scoundrels" (Benedum, Jan. 23-28, 2007); Adam Guettel and Craig Lucas' "The Light in the Piazza" (Benedum, Feb. 20-25); Coleman, Simon and Fields' "Sweet Charity" (Benedum, April 3-8), starring Molly Ringwald; and the one off-Broadway selection, Adler, Walker and Del Aguila's "Altar Boyz" (Heinz, April 23-May 6). In the midst of all that comes the one play, John Patrick Shanley's "Doubt" (Benedum, March 6-11), starring Cherry Jones.

The season's extras already gave us "Rent"; ahead are "Mama Mia!" (Benedum, Nov. 28-Dec. 3); "The Rat Pack" (Heinz, Dec. 26-31); "Stomp" (Feb. 6-11); "Riverdance" (Heinz, March 27-April 1); and Movin' Out (Heinz, May 22-27). 412-456-1390 or 1-800-828-9200 for subscriptions; 412-456-6666.

PITTSBURGH CULTURAL TRUST ON STAGE (Benedum, Byham): Certainly the Trust's biggest adventure of the fall is the Gate Theatre of Dublin's acclaimed version of Samuel Beckett's "Waiting for Godot" (Byham, Oct. 18-22). In addition, over the next two months the Byham will also house "Discover Theatre!" (Sept. 20), featuring Disney's Cinderella Kids and Jungle Book Kids; Neil Berg's "100 Years of Broadway" (Sept. 24); Charles Ross' "One-Man 'Star Wars' Trilogy" (Oct. 7); "An Evening with Tab Hunter" (Oct. 26); the gypsy cabaret of the Tiger Lillies (Oct. 28); "Dorothy the Dinosaur's Party" (Oct. 29); and Capitol Steps (Nov. 5).

In the new year, the Byham stage program includes The Acting Company in "Jane Eyre" (Feb. 6); comic Kathy Griffin (Feb. 7); 4-D Art in "The Tempest (La Tempete)" (March 30-31); Roald Dahl's "Willy Wonka" (April 15); and Aquila Theatre Company in "The Canterbury Tales" (April 22). At the Benedum, the Trust presents Scooby Doo in "Stagefright" (Nov. 4-5) and Matthew Bourne's grand dance drama, "Edward Scissorhands" (Jan. 12-14). 412-471-6930 or 412-456-6666.

PITTSBURGH INTERNATIONAL CHILDREN'S THEATER: The Family Series opens with TheatreworksUSA's "Junie B. Jones" (Oct. 15-22). Then come England's Tall Stories Theatre Company with "The Snow Dragon" (Nov. 15-19); TheatreworksUSA again with "Seussical" (Jan. 7-14); Omaha Theater Company with "Berenstain Bears On Stage" (Feb. 14-18); and Mermaid Theatre of Nova Scotia with "Swimmy, Frederick, and Inch by Inch" (March 11-18). 412-321-5520.

SMALLER PROS

PLAYHOUSE REPERTORY COMPANY (Pittsburgh Playhouse, Oakland): The professional theater company of Point Park University is already under way with Tom Stoppard's literate comedy, "The Real Thing" (through Sept. 24). Then come David Mamet's "American Buffalo" (Nov. 15-Dec. 10); Bertolt Brecht's "Mother Courage" (March 14-April 1); and the world premiere of "FBI Girl: How I Learned to Crack My Father's Code" (May 23-June 10), adapted by Tammy Ryan from a bestseller by Maura Conlon-McIvor. 412-621-4445.

PITTSBURGH IRISH & CLASSICAL THEATRE (University of Pittsburgh theaters): PICT mixes classics of all eras with the rich verbal outpouring of Ireland. Its adventuresome BeckettFest, celebrating the centennial of Samuel Beckett's birth, concludes with the Oct. 19 performance of "Waiting for Godot." The finale of PICT's 2006 season is Dion Boucicault's famous comic melodrama, "The Shaugraun" (Dec. 6-23). 412-394-3353 or 412-561-6000.

QUANTUM THEATRE (various venues): Still to come for Quantum are Polly Teale's "After Mrs. Rochester" (Sept. 28-Oct. 2), which mixes the worlds of "Jane Eyre" and of Jean Rhys, who wrote so movingly about the first Mrs. Rochester; Octavio Solis' "El Paso Blue" (Nov. 30-Dec. 17); and artistic director Karla Boos' comic extension of Hans Christian Andersen's "The Red Shoes" (Feb. 8-March 4).

JEWISH THEATRE OF PITTSBURGH (Jewish Community Center, Squirrel Hill): In its sixth year, producer Tito Braunstein's JTOP is staging a short season to catch its breath and reorganize. Samuel Hazo's "Watching Fire, Watching Rain" ends Sept. 17, to be followed by the world premiere of "Mazel" (Nov. 9-Dec. 3), Amy Hartman's story of a Pittsburgh Holocaust survivor, which has an out-of-town tryout at Seton Hill College. 412-394-3353.

BAREBONES PRODUCTIONS (different venues): Tim Blake's "The Grey Zone" (Nov. 2-19), will star Bingo O'Malley.

MOUNTAIN PLAYHOUSE (Jennerstown): Its year concludes with "Looking Both Directions" (Sept. 20-Oct. 1) and "Sister Rita Mary's Bingo Extravaganza." (Oct. 4-15). 1-814-629-9201.

THEATRE FACTORY (Trafford): Sondheim's "Company" (Sept. 15-Oct. 1) followed by Edward Albee's "Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?" (Oct. 27-Nov. 12) and "The Gifts of the Magi" (Dec. 1-17). 412-374-9200.

STAGE RIGHT (Palace Theater, Greensburg): Rodgers & Hammerstein's "Cinderella" (Sept. 22-24). 724-832-7464 or 724-836-8000.

SEMI-PRO

OPEN STAGE THEATRE (2835 Smallman St., Strip District): "The True Cost of Living" season contains Tennessee Williams, "Camino Real" (Oct. 20-Nov. 5); Jeanne Drennan, "Asparagus" (Feb. 23-March 11); Phyllis Nagey, "Scarlet Letter" (April 27-May 13). 412-394-3353 or 412-257-4056.

PITTSBURGH PLAYWRIGHTS THEATRE (542 Penn Ave., Jackman Building, Cultural District): The troupe pays tribute to its mentor with August Wilson's "The Piano Lesson" (through Oct. 1). Next up is the 4th annual Theatre Festival in Black & White (Oct. 19-Nov. 5) and Brendon Bates' "Corps Values" (Nov. 17-Dec. 3). 412-288-0358.

LITTLE LAKE (North Strabane): Its 58th season continues with Norm Foster's "The Foursome" (through Sept. 23); Donald Margulies' "Dinner with Friends" (Sept. 28-Oct. 14); Kaufman and Hart's classic "You Can't Take It With You" (Oct. 19-Nov. 4); Rachel Downie in Pamela Gien's "The Syringa Tree" (Nov. 9-25); and the musical "A Christmas Survival Guide" (Nov. 30-Dec. 16). 724-745-6300.

Little Lake also has a Family Matinee Series comprised of Marisha Chamberlain's adaptation of Louisa May Alcott's "Little Women" (Oct. 8-29, complete with Victorian tea parties on Oct. 8 and 22) and Kirkeby & Mier's musical, based on Ludwig Bemelmans, "Madeline's Christmas Book" (Nov. 19-Dec. 10).

PRIME STAGE (New Hazlett Theater, North Side): Newly ensconced at the Hazlett, it opens with Arthur Miller's "The Crucible" (Oct. 28-Nov. 5), directed by Nona Gerard, and continues with "To Kill a Mockingbird" (Feb. 24-March 4), "The Diary of Anne Frank" (April 28-May 6) and the Holocaust drama "Jack and Rochelle" (TBA). 412-394-3353.

THANK YOU FELIX PRODUCTIONS (Brillobox, Bloomfield, and other locations): Noah Haidle, "Mr. Marmalade" (Feb. 8-17); Robert Isenberg, "Where the Woodbine Twineth" (April 26-May 5). 412-848-3984.

SPECIALIZED

KUNTU REPERTORY THEATRE (Alumni Hall, University of Pittsburgh): For its 32nd season, the black student-community company led by Vernell Lillie partners with Pitt's Center for Minority Health in looking at real world problems of health care and racial and gender bias. Kathleen Collins' "In the Midnight Hour" (Oct. 19-Nov. 4) is followed by Mbongeni Ngema's "Sarafina!" (Jan. 25-Feb. 10), directed by Olusegun Ojewuyi; Cassandra Medley's "Relativity" (March 22-April 7); and "Healthy Black Family" (May 17-June 2), a world premiere commissioned for Kuntu. 412-624-7298.

NEW HORIZON (Kelly-Strayhorn Theater, East Liberty): Pittsburgh's second oldest black theater opens its 15th season with Bill Harris' "Robert Johnson: Trick the Devil" (Sept. 21-Oct. 1). 412-431-0773.

PITTSBURGH SAVOYARDS (at St. Benedict Center, Perrysville Ave., Ross, during renovation of Andrew Carnegie Free Library Music Hall): The Gilbert & Sullivan company opens with "The Sorcerer" (Oct. 13-29), with "The Pirates of Penzance" to follow in the spring. 412-734-8476.

AMISH MONKEYS (Gemini Theater, Point Breeze): Improv comedy troupe (Sept. 9, Oct. 14, Nov. 11, Dec. 9). 412-243-5201.

SPECIAL EVENTS

DRYWALL MACBETH (Oakland Square/Parkview Avenue): Experimental music/theater in Steve Pellegrino's Drywall series (Sept. 20-23). 412-683-7535.

OFF THE RECORD VI (Byham): The annual musical spoof of Pittsburgh newsmakers staged by AFTRA and the Newspaper Guild to benefit the Greater Pittsburgh Food Bank is titled "Place Your Bets!" (Oct. 5 only) and chronicles the follies of slots and politics. 412-456-6666.

PEN PAL

THE PITTSBURGH NEW WORKS FESTIVAL (CAPA Auditorium, Cultural District): Its 16th season has four programs of three original one-act plays (through Oct. 8), plus matinees for its Young Playwrights (Sept. 30-Oct. 8); awards gala is Oct. 22; www.pittsburghnewworks.org or 412-881-6888.

COLLEGES

CARNEGIE MELLON UNIVERSITY (Purnell Center, Oakland): John Guare, "House of Blue Leaves" (Oct. 5-14); August Strindberg, "Miss Julie" (Oct. 11-13); Brecht, "Man Is Man" (Nov. 8-10); Russell & Krieger, "Side Show" (Nov. 30-Dec. 2); Shakespeare, "Romeo and Juliet" (Dec. 6-9); Vaclav Havel, "The Memorandum" (Feb. 7-10); Jane Martin, "Keely & Du" (Feb. 7-19); "Playground," student work (Feb. 16-18); Naomi Izuka, "36 Views" (Feb. 28-March 2); Bryony Lavery, "Frozen" (March 28-30); Aeschylus, "The Oresteia Project" (April 11-28); Buchner, "Woyzeck" (April 25-28). 412-268-2407.

POINT PARK UNIVERSITY CONSERVATORY (Pittsburgh Playhouse, Oakland): Aphra Behn's "The Rover" (Oct. 4-22); Michael Rupert directs "Ragtime" (Nov. 1-12); Thornton Wilder's "The Skin of Our Teeth" (Jan. 31-Feb. 18); Sondheim, Shevelove & Lane, "Frogs," (Feb. 14-25); Studney & Murphy, "Reefer Madness" (April 11-22); and Ntozake Shange, "for colored girls who have considered suicide/when the rainbow is enuf" (April 11-22). 412-621-4445.

UNIVERSITY OF PITTSBURGH: Stephen Foster Memorial and Studio Theatre, Oakland): Pitt's "Global Crossings" season, from China, Argentina, England and Russia, is comprised of Gao Xingian's "Noctural Wanderer" (Oct. 5-15); Osvaldo Dragun's "Three Plays for the Theatre" (Nov. 9-19); Caryl Churchill's "Vinegar Tom" (Feb. 1-11); and Chekhov's "The Proposal, The Wedding and The Boor" (March 22-April 1). 412-624-PLAY.

CHATHAM COLLEGE (Eddy Theater): Paul Zindel, "The Effect Of Gamma Rays On Man-In-The-Moon Marigolds" (Nov. 3-5); Rolin Jones, "The Intelligent Design of Jenny Chow" (Feb. 23-25); New Directions: Student-Directed One-Acts (April 6-7). 412-365-1240.

SETON HILL (Reeves Theatre): Amy Hartman, "Mazel" (Oct. 6-14); "Evening of One Act Plays by Anton Chekhov" (Nov. 10-18); "Everyman" (Feb. 23-March 3); Menken, Spencer & Brennert, "Weird Romance" (April 27-May 5). 724-838-4241.

CHILDREN

PLAYHOUSE JR. (Pittsburgh Playhouse, Oakland): Caird & Gordon, "Jane Eyre - The Musical" (Oct. 13-Nov. 5); Friedman, Webster & Perry, "The Emperor's New Clothes" (May 12-27); "Pinocchio" (May 12-27). 412-621-4445.

KIDWORKS (Trafford): "Princess and the Pea" (Oct. 7-15); "Most Powerful Jujus" (March 24-31). 412-374-9200.

GEMINI CHILDREN'S THEATER (The Factory, Point Breeze): "The Little Mermaid" (through Oct. 1); "Jungle Book" (Oct. 14-Nov. 12); "A Little Christmas Carol" (Nov. 25-Dec. 27). 1-866-243-6460.