Dance theater.

LAST YEAR AT THIS TIME, the runaway hit of the season, Hairspray, was already ensconced al the Neil Simon Theatre. This year, Broadway already has a flop: The revival of Little Shop of Horrors derailed when its producers shut it down on the road before its scheduled Broadway opening in August.

They plan to bring it back, after retooling by a new director. And who knows? The show about a man-eating plant may yet blossom into a hit. That's show biz--it ain't over in September. In fact, it's just beginning. Bombay Dreams, Jerry, Spriger--The Opera, and Taboo were previewed in August's Dance Theater. Hem are some of the other entries lined up at the starting gate:

AVENUE Q This was a surprise hit when it opened off-Broadway in the spring, with direction by Jason Moore and Choreography by Ken Roberson. The subject is surviving in New York while broke, and the gimmick is the combination of live actors with puppets. Running at the John Golden Theatre.

BIG RIVER This revival of the Roger Miller musical weaves American Sign Language into the stage action. It was a hit in Los Angeles and is currently at the American Airlines Theatre for a limited run.

THE BOY FROM OZ That's Oz as in Oz-tralia: It recounts the life of Aussie performer Peter Allen, played by X-Man Hugh Jackman. Theater buffs knew he could sing because he starred in the London production of Oklahoma! Everyone else found out when he hosted the Tony Awards in June. His repertoire will include songs by Allen, of course, as well as other hits from the '80s. The director is Philip McKinley, the choreographer Joey McKneely. Scheduled to open October 16 at the Imperial.

WICKED You could call this one "The Girl From Oz"--it's about the Wicked Witch of the West. A slew of Broadway favorites--Kristin chenoweth, Idina Menzel, Robert Morse, Carole Shelley, and Norbert Leo Butz--are in the show, along with songs by Stephen Schwartz, direction by Joe Mantello, and choreography by Wayne Cilento. Scheduled to open October 30 at the Gershwin.

NEVER GONNA DANCE The source is the 1936 Fred Astaire-Ginger Rogers film Swing Time, the music is Jerome Kern's, and the cast is definitely gonna dance, to the specifications of Jerry Mitchell. Jeffrey Hatcher has written the book and Michael Greif is the director. Scheduled to open December 4 at the Broadhurst.

As the cast of Little Shop learned to its dismay, a rented theater and a locked-in opening date don't necessarily mean anything. The shows above are as close to certain as things get. The ones that follow are in various stages of production. hoping to land before the season ends next May:

BROOKLYN Jeff Calhoun will direct and choreograph this show about tire tall tales of a group of homeless street performers gathered trader the Brooklyn Bridge.

FIDDLER ON THE ROOF The British actor Alfred Molina wants to play Tevya, but who will dare to redo the classic staging and brilliant choreography of Jerome Robbins? We shall see. Maybe.

LONE STAR LOVE It's The Merry Wives of Windsor moved to Texas and dancing to a country tune. Michael Bogdanov is set to direct and Randy Skinner to choreograph in time for a January opening.

MOONSTRUCK Henry Krieger's music is always a good reason to put on a show, and this one is based on John Patrick Shanley's Oscar winning screenplay tot the 1987 movie.

SWEET CHARITY Marisa Tomei gave one of the great dance performances of last season in the title role of Oscar Wilde's Salome. So sire could be a terrific Charity' in this 1966 musical originally mounted for Gwen Verdon by Bob Fosse.

THE VAMPIRE LESTAT Elton John and Bernie Taupin have written songs for Anne Rice's popular New Orleans bloodsucker, and Robert Jess Roth is set to direct. They're hoping to be ready in spring.

Not all the good stuff gels scooped tip by Broadway's commercial producers, of course, and there are several promising musicals in the works off-Broadway and at the resident theaters. Here are a few:

CAROLINE or CHANGE Tony Kushner and Jeanine Tesori sound like a combination made in heaven, and they're getting together to tell the story of an African American maid in 1963. George Wolfe is going to direct at the Public in the fall.

THE FROGS This is the famous musical, based on the comedy by Aristophanes, that Steven Sondheim composed before he was Steven Sondheim. Susan Stroman directs and choreographs this spring for Lincoln Center Theater, and Nathan Lane is set to star. He's also punched up Burr Shevelove's book.

THE VISIT This long-promised Kander and Ebb show, with book by Terrence McNally, direction by Frank Galati, and choreography by Ann Reinking, is finally arriving in New York, at the Public Theater this winter.

And who knows what else will turn up before the 2003-04 theater season is history? Or how many of the shows above will still be in the wings this time next year? Check back in September 2004.

Sylviane Gold has written about theater for the Boston Phoenix, The Wall Street Journal, Newsday, The New York Times, and other publications.