Broadway bound? Our critic's picks

If your idea of summer play is plays, consider these shows from the recent season.

ON NOW

 'LA CAGE AUX FOLLES' Kelsey Grammer and the amazing Douglas Hodge make Jerry Herman's 1984 drag-club family-values comedy seem new again in this grittier, seedier, funnier revival imported from London. (Parental advice: Tough gay men in dresses and unconventional but strong family values.) Longacre Theatre, 220 W. 48th St. $36.50-$132.50; 212-239-6200; lacage.com.

'COME FLY AWAY' So you think you can dance? Wait until you see dance wizard Twyla Tharp's tough and gorgeous wordless theater, a celebration of smooth Sinatra songs. (Parental advice: Some erotic dancing.) Marquis Theatre, 1535 Broadway. $65-$125; 800-982-2787; comeflyaway.com.

'THE ADDAMS FAMILY' The plot and songs leave a lot to be desired, but the cast - including Nathan Lane as Gomez and Bebe Neuwirth as Morticia - is terrific. The creepy look is just right, but some images may be frightening to very small children. Lunt-Fontanne Theatre, 205 W. 46th St.; $51.50-$136.50; 877-250-2929; theaddamsfamilymusical.com.

'AMERICAN IDIOT' Stories of alienated suburban youth are a wild ride in this imaginative and hard-driving musical based on the Grammy-winning album by punk rockers Green Day. (Parental advice: Strong sexual content, drug use.) St. James Theatre, 246 W. 44th St. $32-$127; 212- 239-6200; americanidiotonbroadway.com..

HURRY IF YOU WANT TO GO

'FENCES' Denzel Washington and Viola Davis are only scheduled through July 1 in this revival of August Wilson's drama (not for children) about a black garbage collector born too soon to play big-league baseball. Cort Theatre, 138 W. 48th St. $61.50-$126.50; 212-239-6200; fencesonbroadway.com.

'A LITTLE NIGHT MUSIC' Angela Lansbury and Catherine Zeta-Jones are only contracted until June 15, and no replacements were known at press time. Whatever, Stephen Sondheim's grown-up 1973 musical is still delicious. Walter Kerr Theatre, 219 W. 48th St. $52-$132; 212-239-6200; telecharge.com.

'RED' Alfred Molina is fascinating as Mark Rothko, difficult genius of the abstract expressionists, in John Logan's two-character drama, closing June 27. John Golden Theatre, 252 W. 45th St. $212-239-6200; redonbroadway.com.

'SOUTH PACIFIC' The Lincoln Center Theater's glorious revival of the Rodgers and Hammerstein musical drama closes Aug. 22 after two wonderful years at the Beaumont Theater. $65-$125; 212-239-6200; lct.org..

OPENING SOON

'THE MERCHANT OF VENICE' Al Pacino tackles the psychological ambiguities of the Jewish moneylending Shylock in Central Park June 9, part of the Public Theater's first two-Shakespeare season of rotating repertory, alternating with "The Winter's Tale." Most of the same actors (but not Pacino) will be in both dark dramas. Free at the Delacorte Theatre. For ticket information, check publictheater.org.