By MICHAEL KUCHWARA
The Associated Press
Wednesday, February 7, 2007; 12:18 PM

NEW YORK -- It's not easy following that little off-Broadway record-breaker, "The Fantasticks."

But Tom Jones (lyrics) and Harvey Schmidt (music) went on to write the score for "110 in the Shade," a musical based on N. Richard Nash's play, "The Rainmaker." It opened on Broadway in 1963 and ran for 330 performances.

Now the show, set in a drought-stricken Western town, is coming back, starring Audra McDonald as Lizzie Curry, a woman parched for affection. Into town swaggers Bill Starbuck, played by Steve Kazee, a rainmaker who lifts Lizzie's spirits as well as the town's hope for a deluge.

Also in the cast are Christopher Innvar as Sheriff File, the third point in the musical's romantic triangle, and John Cullum as the patriarchal H.C. Curry, Lizzie's father. Lonny Price directs.

"110 in the Shade" opens May 9 at the Roundabout Theatre Company's Studio 54. Preview performances begin April 13. For tickets, call 212-719-1300, or go online at http://www.roundabouttheatre.org.

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Broadway ticket availability and capsule reviews of shows as of Feb. 5. Unless otherwise noted, tickets are available at the theaters' box offices for the shows listed. Details about how to obtain tickets appear at the end.

_"A Chorus Line." Michael Bennett's classic musical about dancers auditioning for a big Broadway show is back. Gerald Schoenfeld. Telecharge.

_"Avenue Q." Love blossoms among the 20-something set _ a group that includes puppets _ in this very funny, adult musical comedy. Golden. Telecharge.

_"Beauty and the Beast." For those who want a lavish, literal, live-action version of the delightful Disney animated feature, this is the ticket. Others may be content to rent the film. Lunt-Fontanne. Ticketmaster, a special Disney hot line, 212-307-4747. Closes July 29.

_"Chicago." An entertaining revival of the 1975 Bob Fosse musical with a sassy Kander and Ebb score. Broadway's longest running musical revival and deservedly so. Ambassador. Telecharge.

_"Company." Raul Esparza heads the cast in this revival of the Stephen Sondheim-George Furth musical about a bachelor who can't make a commitment. Ethel Barrymore. Telecharge.

_"Grey Gardens." A musical version of the haunting film documentary about a reclusive mother and daughter who were relatives of Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis. Christine Ebersole and Mary Louise Wilson star. Walter Kerr. Telecharge.

_"Hairspray." The cult John Waters movie set in 1960s Baltimore has been turned into a hilarious, tuneful musical. Neil Simon. Ticketmaster.

_"Jersey Boys." The musical story of Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons. Winner of four 2006 Tony Awards including best musical. August Wilson. Telecharge. Difficult.

_"Journey's End." Hugh Dancy, Boyd Gaines and Jefferson Mays head the cast in a revival of R.C. Sherriff's classic tale of life in the trenches of World War I. Now in previews. Opens Feb. 22. Belasco. Telecharge.

_"Les Miserables." The musical version of Victor Hugo's sprawling novel is back. Alexander Gemignani stars as the heroic Jean Valjean and Norm Lewis is Javert. Broadhurst. Telecharge.

_"Mamma Mia!" The London musical sensation featuring the pop songs of ABBA makes it to Broadway. Die-hard ABBA fans will like it best; others may be puzzled. Cadillac Winter Garden. Telecharge.

_"Mary Poppins." The world's most famous nanny comes to the stage after her great success as a P.L. Travers book and a Disney movie. New Amsterdam. Ticketmaster, a special Disney hot line, 212-307-4747. Difficult on weekends.

_"Monty Python's Spamalot." A musical inspired by that demented film comedy, "Monty Python and the Holy Grail." Shubert. Telecharge.

_"Rent." Jonathan Larson's touching and now nostalgic look at struggling artists in New York's East Village. Loosely based on Puccini's opera "La Boheme." Nederlander. Ticketmaster.

_"Spring Awakening." A striking rock musical based on Frank Wedekind's classic drama about a dozen young people discovering their sexual identities. Music by Duncan Sheik. Book and lyrics by Steven Sater. Eugene O'Neill. Telecharge.

_"Tarzan." A Disney musical about Edgar Rice Burroughs' vine-swinging hero. The score is by Phil Collins. Richard Rodgers. Ticketmaster, a special Disney hot line, 212-307-4747.

_"The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee." A sweet-tempered, often hilarious new musical by William Finn and Rachel Sheinkin about youngsters competing in a local spelling bee. Circle in the Square. Telecharge.

_"The Apple Tree." A wonderful Kristin Chenoweth stars in a revival of three one-act musicals by Jerry Bock and Sheldon Harnick. A Roundabout Theatre Company production. Studio 54. 212-719-1300. Closes March 11.

_"The Coast of Utopia." "Voyage" and "Shipwreck," the first two parts of Tom Stoppard's trilogy about a group of 19th-century Russian intellectuals, are now playing in repertory. The large cast includes Brian F. O'Byrne, Billy Crudup and Ethan Hawke. "Salvage," part three, opens Feb. 15. Vivian Beaumont. Telecharge.

_"The Color Purple." A musical version of Alice Walker's novel about one woman's triumph over adversity. Broadway. Telecharge.

_"The Drowsy Chaperone." A big fan remembers his favorite musical from 1928 _ and it joyously comes to life. Marquis. Ticketmaster.

_"The Lion King." Director Julie Taymor is a modern-day Merlin, creating a stage version of the Disney animated hit that makes you truly believe in the magic of theater. Minskoff. Ticketmaster, a special Disney hot line, 212-307-4747. Difficult on weekends.

_"The Little Dog Laughed." Douglas Carter Beane's comedy about an ambitious Hollywood agent and her closeted movie-star client. Cort. Telecharge. Closes Feb. 18.

_"The Phantom of the Opera." The one with the chandelier. The Andrew Lloyd Webber musical about a deformed composer who haunts the Paris Opera House is the prime, Grade A example of big Brit musical excess. But all the lavishness does have a purpose in Harold Prince's intelligent production, now the longest running show in Broadway history. Majestic. Telecharge.

_"The Producers." A riotous stage version of the 1968 Mel Brooks movie. The musical is even better than the film, which is saying something. St. James. A special "Producers" Telecharge number 212-239-5800.

_"The Vertical Hour." Julianne Moore and Bill Nighy star in David Hare's play about an American journalist turned academic whose values are called into question during a vacation in Wales. Music Box. Telecharge.

_"Translations." A revival of Brian Friel's play about language, miscommunication and cultural differences in 1833 Ireland. Biltmore. Telecharge.

_"Wicked." An ambitious, wildly popular musical about the witches in "The Wizard of Oz" as young women. Based on the novel by Gregory Maguire. Gershwin. Ticketmaster. Difficult.

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The Telecharge number is 212-239-6200 unless otherwise indicated. There is a $6 service charge per ticket, plus a $2.50 handling fee per order.

Ticketmaster is 212-307-4100. There is a $6 service charge per ticket, plus a $3 handling fee per order.

All theaters owned by Jujamcyn _ the St. James, Martin Beck, Virginia, Eugene O'Neill and the Walter Kerr _ have a $1 surcharge per ticket for theater restoration. Shows that opened in Shubert theaters after Jan. 1, 2001, have a "facilities" surcharge for theater restoration: $1.25 per ticket.

Both Telecharge and Ticketmaster will provide information on specific seat locations. They also have toll-free numbers for theater ticket calls outside New York, New Jersey and Connecticut. For Telecharge call 800-432-7250; for Ticketmaster call 800-755-4000.

The League of American Theaters and Producers has a special telephone line called the Broadway Line for information on most Broadway shows (except "The Lion King" and "Beauty and the Beast") and how to purchase tickets. Calls must be made on a touch-tone phone. The number is 1-888-BROADWAY. The line also will provide information on Broadway touring productions. Consumers in the New York tri-state area may call 212-302-4111.

The TKTS booth in Times Square is currently in a temporary location just outside the New York Marriott Marquis hotel on West 46th St., between Broadway and Eighth Avenue. It sells same-day discount tickets to Broadway, off-Broadway, music and dance productions. There is a $3 service charge per ticket. Cash or travelers checks only. Hours of operation are Monday through Saturday evening performances, 3 p.m.-8 p.m.; matinees Wednesday and Saturday, 10 a.m.-2 p.m.; Sunday 11 a.m.-7 p.m.

The downtown TKTS booth is in the South Street Seaport at the corner of Front and John Streets. Hours of operation are Monday through Friday 11 a.m.-6 p.m., Saturday 11 a.m.-7 p.m. Closed Sunday. Matinee tickets must be purchased at South Street Seaport the day before, meaning Wednesday matinee tickets are available Tuesday, Saturday matinee tickets are available Friday and Sunday matinee tickets are available Saturday.

Full-price tickets and information on Broadway and off-Broadway shows are available at the Broadway Ticket Center, located on the east side of Broadway between 46th Street and 47th Street. There is a $4.50 service charge per ticket.