A triumphant return for Follies… Simon Russell Beale brings his genius stateside… Rent is officially paid at New World Stages… and FringeNYC turns 15.

Blake

Saturday, August 6
GO (FREE)? Shelebration! — a tribute to the late author, poet, illustrator and songwriter Shel Silverstein — comes to New York’s Central Park. Annabella Sciorra, Melvin Van Peebles, Chloe Webb, Martha Wainwright, Lou Reed, Laurie Anderson and Darrell Hammond will take part in the celebration that will include special performances of Silverstein’s poetry and songs. (7 PM, Central Park’s Mainstage at Rumsey Playfield, info)

Sunday, August 7
PREVIEWS? Follies — the classic Stephen Sondheim and James Goldman musical about aging Weismann (read: Ziegfeld) Follies chorines returning to their former place of glory — returns to Broadway with a starry cast in tow including Bernadette Peters as Sally Durant Plummer, Jan Maxwell as Phyllis Rogers Stone, Danny Burstein as Buddy Plummer, Ron Raines as Benjamin Stone and Elaine Paige as Carlotta Campion. Includes the songs "In Buddy's Eyes," "I'm Still Here," "The Girls Upstairs" and "Losing My Mind." (Marquis Theatre, 1535 Broadway, at 46th St., Click here for Playbill Club discount previews tickets. Officially opens September 12)

Monday, August 8
GO (FREE)? “Coney Island Flicks on the Beach” will host a free screening of the Academy Award-winning Woody Allen flick, “Annie Hall.” Starring Allen with Diane Keaton, Tony Roberts, Paul Simon, Carol Kane, Shelley Duvall, Christopher Walken, Sigourney Waver and John Glover. (8:30 PM, Coney Island, on the beach at W. 10th St., info)

Tuesday, August 9
PREVIEWS? One of Britain’s most acclaimed actors, Olivier Award winner Simon Russell Beale, stars in the U.S. premiere of Simon Stephens’ Bluebird — a story about a London cabbie who lends an ear to an interesting assemblage of troubled passengers. As it turns out, the troubles don’t end with those in the back of the taxi. (Through Sept. 9, Atlantic Stage 2, 333 W. 16th St., btwn. 9th & 9th Aves., info/tickets. Officially opens August 22.)

Wednesday, August 10
PREVIEWS? Tricks the Devil Taught Me — a new play written and directed by Tony Georges — stars Beth Grant, Tony nominee Mary Testa, TJ Linnard, Desiree Rodriguez, Peter Bradbury, Julie Jesneck and Jodie Lynne McClintock. The haunting tale centers on a West Texas family and the problems with their 22-year-old son. (Minetta Lane Theatre, 18 Minetta Lane, Click here for Playbill Club discount previews tickets. Officially opens August 18.)

Thursday, August 11

OPENING? Rent — the Pulitzer Prize- and Tony Award-winning musical about a group of struggling artists in New York’s East Village during the heights of the AIDS epidemic — opens Off-Broadway. Original director Michael Grief is once again at the helm to bring back to New York what he calls a “re-imagined” version of the 1996 musical by the late Jonathan Larson. (New World Stages, 340 W. 50th St., btwn. 8th & 9th Aves., Click here for Playbill Club discount tickets)

Friday, August 12
GO? The 15th Annual New York International Fringe Festival (or Fringe NYC) returns to Manhattan offering 1,200 performances in 20 venues around the city. For the past 15 years, Fringe has been one of the premiere venues nurturing new and exciting talent to the stage. Among its success stories are Urinetown, Williamsburg: The Musical, Dog Sees God, and the musical adaptation of Debbie Does Dallas. (Through Aug. 28, multiple venues, Click here for a full list of performances and show times)