Fall’s Fresh Faces

Theater

Eric D. Schaeffer, 36, director

Look for: A starry new production of “Putting It Together” at the Taper, opening Oct. 22. Stephen Sondheim is revising this revue of his work, weaving in songs that weren’t in the original Manhattan Theatre Club production. Schaeffer directs Carol Burnett, Susan Egan, Bronson Pinchot and others who will pretend they are guests at a sophisticated cocktail party while singing dozens of terrific theater songs.

Why he matters: In the last few years, Schaeffer took a tiny, unknown company in Arlington, Va., called the Signature and developed it into a theater of national importance. His productions of Sondheim’s “Passion,” “Assassins” and “Sunday in the Park With George” garnered rave reviews, bringing him to the attention of impresario Cameron Mackintosh, with whom he will present a show at the Signature next year. Last year, the Signature’s “Never the Sinner,” about the Leopold and Loeb murder, went on to become an off-Broadway hit. Schaeffer’s impressively rapid rise to prominence signals a major career in the making.

****

Jon Klein, 43, playwright

Look for: “Dimly Perceived Threats to the System,” opening at South Coast Repertory Sept. 26. This comedy about yet another dysfunctional American family was a hit at the Arena Stage in D.C. earlier this year, where the Washington Post called it “sweet, tender and transcendent.”

Why he matters: Klein has written 20 plays. One of them, “T Bone N Weasel,” was seen here in 1987 at the Victory Theatre and later as a TV movie. His plays have been produced off-Broadway and at regionals, but this one--a comedy written in highly differentiated scenes--is gathering a buzz that promises a breakout for Klein. SCR has a solid track record for picking new plays. Two of last year’s offerings, “Freedomland” by Amy Freed and “Three Days of Rain” by Richard Greenberg, went on to snag Pulitzer nominations. Mark Rucker directs, which means anything can happen.

MORE FALL PREVIEWS

Friday Calendar: A phalanx of fall’s first movie reviews.

Saturday: Give a hand to puppets--they’re everywhere.

Sunday: Fall Sneaks--a look at the coming movies.

Sept. TK: Howard Rosenberg reviews the new television series.

Sept. 20 TV Times: Our complete season preview.