The opening of a theatrical season is frenzied and frustrating and filled with hope. Old movies gave us dozens of backstage musicals so that Mickey & Judy and Fred & Ginger could tell us what it's supposed to be like. Reality sets in soon enough, but for now all you taste is sweet promise and airy anticipation. That's the way it's supposed to be - though with the passing of Shipping Dock Theatre over the summer, a subtext of sadness tempers the excitement locally.

What eagerness remains - and it's substantial - comes from plays I've never seen, as well as plays I'm eager to see again. Among those I've underlined for the coming season:

"Frost/Nixon" at Geva Theatre Center this October and November. The often preening but always sharp-witted TV interviewer David Frost got Richard Nixon to sit for a number of TV interviews in 1977, three years after Nixon became the only president in history to resign while in office. The match-up between the sometimes tough, sometimes smarmy interviewer and the disgraced Nixon drew enormous audiences. Nixon confessed to no wrongdoings, but the give and take between the two men made for compelling television. Nixon was even smarter than Frost; a lack of intelligence was never his problem. Peter Morgan's theatrical adaptation had a strong run on Broadway in 2007 (partly because the masterful Frank Langella played Nixon) and is now on the regional theater circuit. Morgan uses some passages from the interviews, but also invents scenes of his own. If Geva gets the casting and direction right, if both actors can hold up the give-and-take, this could be a crackling two hours of almost history in the guise of genuine theater.

"Caroline or Change" at JCC Center Stage (February 2009) is a play I haven't seen, but "Book and Lyrics by Tony Kushner" is good enough to get me very interested. Kushner is best known for his Pulitzer Prize-winning "Angels in America," and has addressed gay issues in his work, and the Middle East conflict in other public statements. The play, with music by Jeanine Tesori, tells the story of a Jewish family and their black maid, Caroline, in New Orleans at the start of the civil rights movement. It could settle into all-too-familiar domestic drama, or one of those banal "Les Miz" clones where each character gets an endless song to pour out his or her not-very-interesting heart. But the presence of Kushner suggests something imaginative and even controversial.

"Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street" at Geva February and March 2009. "Broadway Opera" sounds like a contradiction in terms, but that's exactly what "Sweeney Todd" is, along with such works as "Porgy and Bess" and "Most Happy Fella." The story of a barber who was unjustly imprisoned and now takes bloody revenge, this sublimely bleak musical is also set at the dawn of the Industrial Revolution. Sondheim's score is extraordinary, and the play requires equally extraordinary performances to create the characters, sing the demanding melodies, capture the book's chilling but raucously funny humor, and create an increasingly violent world of dehumanizing factories and smoke.

From theater arcana to theater history (if only as a footnote) in the mere blink of an eye: actress Laura Keene came up with the idea of the Saturday matinee so proper ladies could attend the theater unescorted. She also played the lead in the long-forgotten "Our American Cousin" at Ford's Theatre on the night that Abraham Lincoln decided to take his wife to the theater. In 2007, to rescue Keene from obscurity, Charles Busch, he of a long career playing in campy drag comedies on the New York theater scene, wrote "Our Leading Lady," an affectionately slap-happy send-up of 19th century acting styles and theatrical egos. Here comes the estimable Miss Keene, deigning to appear with those beneath her station. The rest, as they almost say, turned out to be history. With director/designer John Haldoupis' affection for dressing actors in period costumes to provide the atmosphere, Blackfriars will be taking what it hopes is a large bite out of the low fun in March 2009.

Theater

Artists Unlimited Nov 7-14: "The Wizard of Oz." German House Theater, 315 Gregory St. 442-6800, thegermanhouse.com.

Black Sheep Theatre Coalition Sep 22: "War Rhythm," Valley Manor, 1570 East Ave, 944-0565 | Oct 10-12, 16-19, 23-25: "The Hill of Victory" | Jan: "Rashomon" | Mar: "Hedda Gabler" | Jun: "Lysistrata" | Village Gate Square, 274 N. Goodman St. 746-7616, blacksheeptheatre.org.

Blackfriars Theatre Through Sep 27: "The Gin Game" | Oct 10-Nov 1: "The Pillowman" | Dec: "The Magic Corridor" | Jan: "Same Time Next Year" | March: "Our Leading Lady" | April-May: "The Spitfire Grill" | Blackfriars Theatre, 28 Lawn St. $25. 454-1260, blackfriars.org.

Blue Cross Arena Sep 26-28: Le Grand Cirque. 1 War Memorial Sq. $35-$55. 232-1900, ticketmaster.com.

Downstairs Cabaret Theatre DCT (20 Windsor St): "Flanagan's Wake," "I Love You, You're Perfect, Now Change," "Cindy Miller: I Got the Music in Me," "The Watercoolers" | DCTCenter (540 E Main St): Through Sep 21: "The Johnny Mercer Jamboree"; ongoing: "Boomermania" | $26-$29. 325-4370, downstairscabaret.com.

Everyone's Theatre Company Nov: "The Devil Waits for Imogene Oxford" | Spring 2009: "Assassins" | Location TBD. Everyonestheatre.com.

Fisher Players Drama Club Nov 21-23: "The Wizard of Oz: The Musical." Cleary Auditorium, St. John Fisher College, 3690 East Ave. $5, free for St. John Fisher students. home.sjfc.edu/fisherplayers.

Gates Community Theater Dec 6-7: "Willy Wonka." Cultural Life Center, Roberts Wesleyan College. $8. 594-6008, gatescommunitytheater.org.

GeneseeCenter for the Arts Oct 16-19: "Mindgame" | Nov 21-23: "TANYS Theatre Fest" | Dec 4: PUSH Physical Theatre | Mar 25-27: "The Incredible Jungle Journey of Fenda Maria" | Apr 23-26: spring production (TBA) | Genesee Community College, off Route 48, Batavia. $2-$6. 343-0055, genesee.edu.

Geneva Theatre Guild Nov 7-8: "Verdict." Sons of Italy Lodge, 31 Prospect Ave, Geneva. gtglive.org.

Geva Theatre Sep 22: TheatreRocs!, 7 p.m., $25-$100 | Oct 6: Plays in Progress Series: "Fire in the Garden," 7:30 p.m., free | Main Stage: Through Oct 12: "Ella" | Oct 21-Nov 16: "Frost/Nixon" | Nov 28-Dec 28: "A Christmas Story" | Jan 13-Feb 8: "The House In Hydesville" | Feb 18-Mar 29: "Sweeney Todd" | Apr 7-May 3: "The Ladies Man" | May 19-Jun 21: "Fences" | NextStage: Sept 19-Oct 26: "Rooms: A Rock Musical" | Jan 30-Mar 1: "The Clean House" | Apr 24-May 24: "Evie's Waltz" | 75 Woodbury Blvd. 232-GEVA, gevatheatre.org.

GO Art (Genesee Orleans Regional Arts Council) Nov 6-9: "Singin' in the Rain." Batavia High School, 260 State St, Batavia. 343-0055, ext. 6439, mcarena@genesee.edu.

Henrietta Community Theatre Sep 26-27, Oct 3-4, 10-11: "Nunsense." Covenant Life Church, 70 Bailey Rd, West Henrietta. 7:30 p.m. $2. 359-2540.

Irondequoit Theatre Guild Dec 5-7, 12-14: "Nuncrackers: A Nunsense Christmas Musical." St. Thomas the Apostle Church, 4536 St. Paul Blvd. $8-$10. 544-3648, irondequoittheatreguild.org.

"Jane Austen's ‘Pride and Prejudice,' The New Musical." Oct 21. Broadway-bound, homegrown musical. Eastman Theatre, 26 Gibbs St. 7:30 p.m. $35-$75. 232-1900, prideandprejudicebroadway.com.

JCC Centerstage Sep 20-28: "Golda's Balcony" | Dec 13-Jan 3: "Barefoot in the Park" | Feb 7-21: "Caroline or Change" | Mar 21-29: "Let Me Entertain You: The Songs and Stories of Julie Styne" | May 2-17: "What's Wrong with This Picture?" | 1200 Edgewood Ave. 461-2000 x. 235, jccrochester.org.

L.A. Theatre Works Mar 28: "The War of the Worlds," "The Lost World"; part of Nazareth College Arts Center Renovation Tour. Pittsford Sutherland High School, 55 Sutherland St, Pittsford. naz.edu/artscenter.

Magical Journey Thru Stages Oct 17-25: "Fiddler on the Roof" | Dec 5-21: "Madeline's Christmas" | UpStage3, Auditorium Center, 3rd floor, 875 E. Main St. 935-7173, mjtstages.com.

Mercury Opera Sep 26, 28: "Il Barbiere Di Siviglia" (The Barber of Seville), Greece Athena Performing Arts Center, 800 Long Pond Rd. $15-$85 | Nov 14, 16: "Iolanthe," Bethlehem Lutheran Church, Fairport, Free | Dec: "Amahl and the Night Visitors", dates & locations TBA, $5-15 | Jan 16, 18: "Tosca," Eastman Theatre, 26 Gibbs St, $15-$85 | 473-6567, mercuryoperarochester.org.

Merry-Go-Round Playhouse Through Oct 2: "Church Basement Ladies." Emerson Park, Route 38A, Auburn. Merry-go-round.com.

Method Machine Through Sep 20: "Lux in Tenebris," Star Alley, next to Lux, 666 South Ave. | Spring 2009: "Edge," location TBD. myspace.com/methodmachine.

Monroe Community College Nov 6: "The Mask: An Academic Workshop," 4 p.m. Free | Nov 21-23: "The Spitfire Grill," $8-$10 | Feb 26: "African-American Theatre: An Academic Workshop," 4 p.m. Free | Mar 21: Visiting Artist: Alan Lightman, Free | Apr 3-5: "The Boys Next Door," $8-$10 | Apr 9-11: "Einstein's Dreams," Free | May 2: "10th Annual Otis Young Motivational Speak-Off," Free | May 7: "2nd Annual Student Playwriting Competition," 7 p.m. Free | Jun 3: "A Year with Frog and Toad," 6:30 p.m. Free | MCC Theatre, Building 4, 1000 E Henrietta Rd. 292-2000, monroecc.edu.

Nazareth College Department of Theatre Arts Oct 23-Nov 2: "Hamlet," JCC Center Stage, 1200 Edgewood Ave. | Nov 19-20: "Elegies for Angels, Punks and Raging Queens," Shults Center, Nazareth College | Feb 20-Mar 1: "Rabbit Hole," location TBD | Apr 17-25: "Sweet Charity," location TBD, $12-$15 | $8-$10 (unless otherwise noted) | 389-2170, naz.edu.

Neighborhood Acting Company Nov 21-23: "Ragtime." Wayne Midde School, Route 350 S, Ontario Center. neighborhoodactingcompany.org.

NTID Performing Arts Oct 9-12: "Broken Spokes" | Oct 30-Nov 2: "Noises Off!" | Jan 22-25: "An Evening of One Acts" | Feb 12-15: "Othello" | Apr 14-19: "The Elephant Man" | Apr 29-May 3, May 8-9: "Alice in Wonderland" | NTID Performing Arts Building, 52 Lomb Memorial Dr, RIT. 475-6254, rit.edu/ntid/dccs/dada.

Off-Monroe Players Oct 5: Gilbert and Sullivan Revue (Rochester Club Ballroom, 120 East Ave, 3 p.m., $40, 381-2121) | Nov 7-22: "HMS Pinafore" | Dec: "A Gilbert & Sullivan Christmas Carol" | May: "The Yeoman of the Guard" | Salem United Church of Christ, 60 Bittner St. 234-0500, off-monroeplayers.org.

Penfield Players Nov 7-22: "Seven Keys to Baldpate," Penfield Community Center, 1985 Baird Rd | Feb 27-Mar 14: "Be My Baby," India Community Center, 2171 Monroe County Line Rd, Macedon | May 1-16: "Evil Doings in Queen Toot's Tomb," Penfield Community Center | $10-$12. penfieldplayers.org.

Pittsford Musicals Nov 15-22: "Hello Dolly" | Pittsford Mendon High School, 472 Mendon Rd, Pittsford. 586-1500, pittsfordmusicals.org.

RAPA Playhouse Nov: "Hansel & Gretel" | Jan: "Peter Pan" | Feb: "Purlie" | Mar: "Cinderella" | Spring: "Aida" | Summer: "Dreamgirls," "Chicago" | RAPA Theater, 727 E Main St. 325-3366, rapaonline.us.

Roberts Wesleyan College-Community Theatre Oct 3-5: "The Man Who Came to Dinner" | Dec 5-7: "Willy Wonka" (Gates Community Theatre) | Jan 16-18, 23-25: "George M" | Cultural Life Center, Roberts Wesleyan College. 594-6008, roberts.edu/clc

Rochester Broadway Theatre League Sep 25: "Tyler Perry's ‘The Marriage Counselor,'" 7:30 p.m., $39.50 | Oct 21-26: "Legally Blonde" | Nov 8: "In Times Like These," 7 p.m., $25 | Dec 9-14: "Mamma Mia!" | Feb 3-8: "The Drowsy Chaperone" | Feb 25-Mar 15: "Jersey Boys" | Apr 21-26: "Rent" | May 26-31: "The Wizard of Oz" | Jun 6: "Rain: The Beatles Experience," 3 & 8 p.m., $27.50-$47.50 | Auditorium Center, 885 E. Main St. 222-5000, rbtl.org.

Rochester Children's Theatre Oct 19-19, 25-26: "The Legend of Sleepy Hollow," Bigtop, Nazareth College, 4245 East Ave. | Nov 8-9, 15-16: "Number the Stars," JCC, 1200 Edgewood Ave | Nov 22-23: "Stuart Little," Schults Center Forum, Nazareth College | Dec 13-14, 20-21: "A Child's Christmas in Wales," Linehan Chapel, Nazareth College | Dec 14, Jan 4, 10-11: "Busytown," Schults Center Forum, Nazareth College | Mar 14-15, 21: "Narnia," Linehan Chapel, Nazareth College | May 16-17, 23-24: "Disney's Beauty & the Beast," Bigtop, Nazareth College | 385-0510, rochesterchildrenstheatre.org.

School Of The Arts Theatre Oct 24-26, Nov 1-2: "All in the Timing" | Dec 5-7: "Anything Goes" | Mar 6-8: "Dance Concert 2009" | Mar 27-29, Apr 3-5: "A Midsummer Night's Dream" | May 15-17: "Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat" | School of the Arts, 45 Prince St. 324-3535.

Shaw Festival Court House Theatre: Through Oct 4: "The Stepmother" | Through Oct 4: "A Little Night Music" | Through Oct 5: "Belle Moral: A Natural History" | Festival Theatre: Through Oct 5: "Wonderful Town" | Through Nov 1: "Mrs. Warren's Profession" | Through Nov 2: "An Inspector Calls" | Royal George Theatre: Through Oct 4: "The President" | Through Oct 5: "After the Dance" | Through Nov 1: "Getting Married" | Through Nov 1: "The Little Foxes" | 10 Queen's Parade, Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario, Canada. 905-468-2172, 800-511-7429, shawfest.com.

Stratford Shakespeare Festival Festival Theatre: Through Nov 8: "Romeo and Juliet" | Through Oct 26: "Hamlet" | Through Oct 25: "The Taming of the Shrew" | Aug 17-Nov 9: "Caesar and Cleopatra" | Avon Theatre: Through May 1: "The Music Man" | Through Oct 25: "Cabaret" | Nov 5-9: "Emilia Galottti" | Tom Patterson Theatre: Through Oct 5: "The Trojan Women" | Through Oct 4: "Love's Labour's Lost" | Through Oct 4: "Fuente Ovejuna" | Studio Theatre: Through Aug 31: "Hughie" | Through Aug 31: "Krapp's Last Tape" | Aug 16-Sept 21: "Palmer Park" | Aug 17-Oct 18: "Moby Dick" | Festival Pavilion: "Shakespeare's Universe: Her Infinite Variety" | 55 Queen St, Stratford, Ontario, Canada. 800-567-1600, stratfordfestival.ca.

SUNY Brockport Sep 19-21: "Colorblind: The Katrina Monologues" | Sep 28: "Bringing it Home: Thomas Honeck '85 in Concert" | Nov 7-9, 13-15: "A Midsummer Night's Dream" | Feb 27-Mar 1, Mar 5-7: "Festival of Ten VI" | Apr 24-26, Apr 30-May 2: "The Cover of Life" | Tower Fine Arts Theatre, SUNY Brockport. 395-2787, brockport.edu/finearts.

SUNY Geneseo Sep 23-27: "Fool for Love," Sinclair Theater, Brodie Hall, $7 | Oct 23-25: VegSOUP presents "Rumors," Sinclair Theater, Brodie Hall, $5 | Oct 24: Kaleidoscope (Geneseo performing arts ensembles), Wadsworth Auditorium, 8 p.m., free | Nov 5-9: "The Three Penny Opera," Alice Austin Theater, Brodie Hall, $5-$7 | Nov 13-15: Musical Theatre Club Revue, Alice Austin Theater, Brodie Hall, Free | Nov 20-22: GENseng presents "Where There's a Will," Sinclair Theater, Brodie Hall, $6 | Geneseo.edu.

TANYS Fest 2008 Nov 21-23. Theatre Association of New York State; workshops, demonstrations, performances. Stuart Steiner Theatre, Genesee Center for the Arts, 1 College Rd, Batavia. tanys.org.

Traveling Cabaret Sep 20: Honeoye Falls District Auditorium, Honeoye Falls Middle School, 619 Quaker Meeting House Rd. 7 p.m. $8-$12. 624-5197.

University of Rochester International Theatre Program Oct 16-25: "You Can't Take it With You" | Dec 5-6: New play workshop public reading, 8 p.m. | Nov 14-15: UR Performing (celebration of UR performing arts groups) | Feb 26-Mar 7: "Curse of the Starving Class" | Apr 1-4: One-Act Play Festival | Apr 23-May 2: World premiere or new play by Andy Bragen | $6-$10 | 275-4088, rochester.edu/theatre.

WebsterTheatre Guild Jan 24-31: "Evita" | Webster Thomas High School, 800 Five Mile Line Rd, Webster. 234-1069. webstertheatreguild.org.

Young Audiences Rochester Showcase Sep 27. Sample performances by mor than 40 regional and touring artists. School of the Arts, 45 Prince St. 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Free, preregistration required. 530-2060 x204, yarochester.info.

Comedy

The Capitol Steps Oct 8: Ingle Auditorium, RIT, 5 & 7 p.m., $25, 232-1900, ticketmaster.com | Dec 31: Shults Center, Nazareth College, 4245 East Ave, details TBD, 389-2170, naz.edu/artscenter.

Carolos Mencia Nov 5. Auditorium Theatre, 885 E Main St. 7 p.m. $42.50. 222-5000, rbtl.org.

Geva Comedy Improv Oct 31-Nov 1; Nov 21-22. Nextstage, Geva Theatre, 75 Woodbury Blvd. 10:30 p.m. $7. 232-1366, gevatheare.org.

Jimmy Fallon Oct 11. Gordon Field House, RIT. 5 p.m. $40. 232-1900, ticketmaster.com.

Nuts and Bolts Improv Sep 20, Oct 17-18, Nov 28-29. UpStage3 at the Auditorium Theatre, 875 E Main St. 8 p.m., $10. 334-8973, nutsandboltsimprov.com.

Pauly Shore Oct 4. Building 10, Monroe Community College, 1000 E Henrietta Rd. 7:30 p.m. $5-$15. 292-2545, web.monroecc.edu/casa.

Unleashed! Sep 18, 25, Oct 16, 23, 30, Nov 6, 13, 20, Dec 4, 11, 20, 31. JCC, 1200 Edgewood Ave. 7:30 p.m. $7-$8. 461-2000 x235.

Village Idiots Oct 10-11: Improv Cypher presents "Gorilla Theatre"; Improv Open Jam ($1) to follow. Village Gate, 274 N. Goodman St, #D312. 7:30 p.m., $5. 797-9086, villageidiotspresent.com.