TOM TITUS -- Theater

Fewer and fewer musicals are being written for Broadway consumption,

financial considerations and risk factors being what they are. Thus, the

oldies are being revived at a rapidly accelerating pace.

This situation extends to the provinces as well, with those

communities fortunate enough to house a venue such as the Orange County

Performing Arts Center. Next season, the Center’s Broadway series will

offer a revival-heavy slate of oldies-but-goodies along with a pair of

newcomers in its nine-show lineup.

The leadoff slot, Sept. 19-23, goes to a show that lifts musical

satire to a new level, “Forbidden Broadway.” Unseen locally since

Saddleback College offered its own version back in the mid-’80s, it’s a

hilarious put-down of the shows and stars that have become legendary,

from Ethel Merman and Mary Martin to “Phantom of the Opera” and “Les

Miserables.”

The two newcomers arrive back to back -- “Swing!” from Nov. 27 to Dec.

2 and “Blast!” Dec. 27 to Jan. 6. “Swing!” is a potpourri of singing and

dancing that spans the past 60 years in music, while “Blast!” features 60

brass, percussion and visual performers in an explosion of music and

theater. No story line, apparently, in either offering.

The delightful Ann-Margret visits Costa Mesa from Feb. 5-10 as the

madam of “The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas.” This show has some miles

on it, but has been seen only once in this area, long ago at the

now-defunct Harlequin Dinner Theater.

One of the best musicals of all time on my personal list, “Kiss Me

Kate,” arrives March 19 and will play through the 24th. Cole Porter’s

tuneful musicalization of “The Taming of the Shrew” was born in the

1940s, but recently enjoyed a whopping Broadway revival, winning five

Tonys in 2000.

Shortly after St. Patrick’s Day, “Riverdance” will have Irish eyes

smiling at The Center on a return visit March 26-31. The celebration of

Irish music, song and dance will feature an international company.

A hardy perennial slice of Americana, “The Music Man,” plays from

April 30 to May 5. We’ve all seen this one a hundred times, but few

musicals make the prospect of a return visit so attractive. Break out the

76 trombones.

Another American classic, recently redone on TV, is Rodgers and

Hammerstein’s “South Pacific,” which visits The Center from June 4-9.

This tale of cross-cultural romance on an island at the height of World

War II has a score most theatergoers know by heart -- and it was only the

second musical to win a Pulitzer Prize for drama.

Finally, in an extended engagement, “The Phantom of the Opera” makes

its third visit to Costa Mesa from July 31 to Aug. 24. Andrew Lloyd

Webber’s most celebrated musical continues to spin its web over audiences

entranced by the music of the night.

If we must have revivals, at least we have some substantial ones to

look forward to at the Center in 2001-02.

* TOM TITUS writes about and reviews local theater for the Daily

Pilot. His stories appear Thursdays and Saturdays.