With The Fantasticks turning 40 this year, its creators, Tom Jones and Harvey Schmidt, are planning on premiering their newest musical, Roadside in 2001 at Dallas' Lyric Stage. Based on Lynn Riggs' play (the same author whose Green Grow the Lilacs served as the backbone to Oklahoma!), the comedy looks at the people, who, contrary to Lilacs' story, fought against statehood for the principals of freedom and individualism. Roadside runs Feb. 15-March 3, 2001.

The first premiere of the season, however, will be a Christmas musical, A Christmas To Remember, running Dec. 1-16, 2000. Set at the turn of the 20th Century, Christmas follows a series of holidays in the life of William Sidney Porter, better known to the world as O. Henry. Specifically, the tuner examines what inspired the man to write his most famous short story, "The Gift of the Magi." Daniel Humbert wrote the music, Clayton Stang the lyrics and Jay Dias wrote the book.

The composer David Friedman, who had his King Island Christmas performed at the Lyric last season, is the subject of a revue, Listen to My Heart: The Songs of David Friedman, premiering April 21-May 5. Friedman's compositions have been sung by the likes of Diana Ross, Nancy LaMott, Kathie Lee Gifford and Petula Clark.

The lone revival in the series will be Lerner and Loewe's classic, Brigadoon. The fairy tale musical about the power of love runs Oct. 6-21.

As a special bonus, ten Dallas divas return for the fifth annual Dallas Divas! concerts March 16 and 17. This special tribute to Lerner and Loewe will be held at the Irving Arts Center's Carpenter Performance Hall. Subscriptions are available for $100-$70.

-- By Christine Ehren