Shows are bustin' out all over

Among the characters coming to Broadway this fall are a man-eating plant, Liza Minelli's first husband, the Wicked Witch of the West, a glam male 1980s pop idol, an Israeli prime minister, a Florida beauty queen and a German transvestite. While we won't give much away, WSN's sneak peek at the remaining Broadway productions of 2003 should help you plan your trip to the Great White Way.

Musicals:
"Little Shop of Horrors"
Closes Oct. 2
Virginia Theatre
The cult classic by Alan Menken and Howard Ashman about a man-eating plant stars original "Urinetown" leading man Hunter Foster and "Hairspray" star Kerry Butler, alongside stage faves like Douglas Sills and Rob Bartlett. Jerry Zaks directs and Kathleen Marshall choreographs.

"The Boy From Oz"
Opens Oct. 16
Imperial Theatre
"X-Men" star Hugh Jackman makes his Broadway debut as Australian celebrity Peter Allen, Liza Minelli's first husband. Phillip William McKinley directs a cast that also includes Tony-winner Jarrod Emick as Allen's lover, Stephanie Block as Minelli and Isabel Keating as Judy Garland.
"Wicked"
Opens Oct. 30
Gershwin Theatre
Tony-winning director Joe Mantello takes on the highly anticipated "Wizard of Oz"-themed Stephen Schwartz musical, set to open just in time for Halloween. Based on the novel by Gregory Maguire about "what happened before Dorothy dropped in," the musical stars Tony-winners Kristin Chenoweth and Joel Grey and other theater favorites including original "Rent" star Idina Menzel, Carole Shelley and Norbert Leo Butz.

"Taboo"
Opens Nov. 13
Plymouth Theatre
Producer Rosie O'Donnell brings the '80s London club scene to present-day New York in this British import about Boy George's life as a gender-bending pop icon. Boy George himself stars alongside Raul Esparza, Cary Shields and Liz McCartney. Christopher Renshaw directs and Charles Busch provides a new book.

"Laughing Room Only"
Opens Nov. 19
Brooks Atkinson Theatre
Comedian Jackie Mason stars in this new musical about making a $10 million Broadway musical for $19.99. Robert Johanson directs.

"Wonderful Town"
Opens Nov. 23
Al Hirschfeld Theatre
Donna Murphy stars in the Kathleen Marshall-helmed revival of this Bernstein-Comden-Green musical about two sisters who come to New York from Ohio and find urban life more complicated than they ever imagined.

"Never Gonna Dance"
Opens Dec. 4
Broadhurst Theatre
"Rent" director Michael Greif directs and powerhouse choreographer Jerry Mitchell provides the moves for this new musical based on the film "Swing Time." Noah Racey, Nancy Lemenager, Karen Ziemba and Deirdre Goodwin star.

Plays:
"Golda's Balcony"
Opens Oct. 3
Helen Hayes Theatre
Tovah Feldshuh reprises her celebrated off-Broadway turn as Golda Meir, Israel's prime minister from 1969 to 1973, in this play by William Gibson.

"Retreat From Moscow"
Opens Oct. 23
Booth Theatre
Powerhouse director Daniel Sullivan ("Proof," "Morning's At Seven") brings William Nicholson's family drama to Broadway, starring John Lithgow, Eileen Atkins and Ben Chaplin.

"Six Dance Lessons in Six Weeks"
Opens Oct. 29
Booth Theatre
Arthur Allan Seidelman directs Richard Alfieri's play about a dance teacher (Mark Hamill) who finds a special bond with a widow (Polly Bergen) as he teaches her the joys of dance.

"Cat on a Hot Tin Roof"
Opens Nov. 2
Music Box Theatre
"Cat," perhaps playwright Tennessee Williams' most famous play, returns to Broadway with an all-star cast including Ashley Judd, Ned Beatty and Jason Patric.

"Oldest Living Confederate Widow Tells All"
Opens Nov. 3
Longacre Theatre
Ellen Burstyn stars in this one-woman play, adapted from the Allan Garganus novel and directed by Don Scardino, about the life of a Civil War vet's young bride.

"The Violet Hour"
Opens Nov. 6
Biltmore Theatre
Scott Foley ("Felicity"), Jasmine Guy ("A Different World"), Robert Sean Leonard ("Dead Poets Society"), funnyman Mario Cantone ("Sex and the City") and musical theater ingenue Laura Benanti ("Nine") star in the inaugural production at MTC's new Biltmore, a new play by "Take Me Out" scribe Richard Greenberg that tells the story of an ambitious young publisher in 1919.

"The Caretaker"
Opens Nov. 9
American Airlines Theatre
Roundabout presents this classic Harold Pinter play about two brothers, one of whom invites a homeless man to stay with them. David Jones directs a cast that includes Patrick Stewart, Kyle MacLachlan and Aidan Gillen.

"Henry IV"
Opens Nov. 20
Lincoln Center Theatre
"Hairspray" director Jack O'Brien brings to life parts I and II of Shakespeare's history about the choice between duty and revelry with a cast of Hollywood heavyweights, including Kevin Kline, Richard Easton, Ethan Hawke and Billy Crudup.

"Bobbi Boland"
Opens Nov. 24
Cort Theatre
Farrah Fawcett stars in this comedy about a former Miss Florida who has to fight for her man when a young rival comes to town. David Esbjornson directs.

"I Am My Own Wife"
Opens Dec. 3
Lyceum Theatre
"Laramie Project" director Moises Kaufman transports his off-Broadway critical hit to the Broadway stage with its original star, Jefferson Mays. Doug Wright's play tells the story of a German transvestite who survives Nazism and communism without being discovered. €¢