WHAT'S ON THIRD. What is the third show in the Encores! season? Of Thee I Sing, baby!

I had hoped that the third show might be a transplanted version of this summer's Shakespeare in the Park production of Two Gentlemen of Verona, but the political satire Of Thee I Sing (May 11-14) could be a lot of fun, too. In 1998, Encores! offered an outstanding production of Strike Up the Band (another Gershwin Brothers collaboration with George S. Kaufman) featuring Kristin Chenoweth in a show-stopper that forced Philip Bosco to make a second entrance.

As you might recall, the other two shows are Kismet (February 9-12) and 70, Girls, 70 (March 30-April 2). In the past, Encores! has offered $10 nosebleed seats to bargain-hunters buying tickets for all three productions, so ask about that deal if it appeals to you. Just beware of a scheduling bottleneck if you want to see Kismet, Albert Herring (February 9, 12, 14, 16, and 18), and Lincoln Center's February 11 Loser's Lounge Tribute to Burt Bacharach (reportedly featuring Michael Cerveris and Debbie Harry), all scheduled for, like, a two-week period.

Kismet reunites Brian Stokes Mitchell and Marin Mazzie, who appeared together in the 1999 Broadway revival of Kiss Me, Kate and, I think, the more recent Broadway revival of Man of La Mancha. It's interesting to observe how certain performers "take over" theatrical turf identified with other performers. For example, Nathan Lane plays roles identified with Zero Mostel, Brian Stokes Mitchell plays roles identified with Howard Keel, and Bernadette Peters plays roles identified with Ethel Merman....