Long Island fall theater preview: 'Come From Away,' 'Annie,' more must-see shows

From a girl named Annie to a boy named Eugene (not to mention "A Boy Named Sue"), some colorful characters will be making their way to local theaters this fall and even into the beginning of the new year.

Here are 12 shows that will light up Long Island stages.

COME FROM AWAY (John W. Engeman Theater, 250 Main St., Northport, Sept. 11-Oct. 26; 631-261-2900, engemantheater.com) Timed to the 24th anniversary of the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks, the Engeman kicks off its new season with this heartfelt Tony Award-winning musical. It's based on a true story about folks in the Canadian province of Newfoundland who took in stranded airline passengers on that fateful day. Let's hope the Engeman has Kleenex on each seat for everyone who gets misty-eyed.

ANNIE (Theatre Three, 412 Main St., Port Jefferson, Sept. 13-Oct. 19; 631-928-9100, theatrethree.com) The hard-knock life isn't about to keep Depression-era moppet and eternal optimist Little Orphan Annie from spreading plenty of sunshine. And you can bet your bottom dollar on that. Aided by her adorable scene-stealing pooch Sandy, it's a surefire crowd-pleaser to open Theatre Three's 55th season.

SISTER ACT (The Argyle Theatre, 34 W. Main St., Babylon, Sept. 18-Oct. 26; 844-631-5483, argyletheatre.com) Let the nunsense begin in this musical based on the 1992 movie comedy starring Whoopi Goldberg about a lounge singer hiding from her mobster boyfriend in a convent. To say all hell breaks loose upon her arrival would be apt.

QUEEN OF THE SKIES (Jeanne Rimsky Theater at Landmark on Main Street, 232 Main St., Port Washington, Nov. 2; 516-767-6444, landmarkonmainstreet.org) Landmark Radio Theater is on the air again with this original story performed onstage in the style of a 1930s radio program. The action takes place aboard a luxury airliner in 1939. And just like an old-time radio show, it features sound effects, station breaks, commercials and musical interludes. 

A CHRISTMAS CAROL (Theatre Three, 412 Main St., Port Jefferson, Nov. 8-Dec. 27; 631-928-9100, theatrethree.com) The holiday perennial returns for the 40th time at Theatre Three with the venue's executive artistic director Jeffrey Sanzel reprising his role as Mr. Bah Humbug himself, Ebenezer Scrooge.

ANNIE (The Argyle Theatre, 34 W. Main St., Babylon, Nov. 13-Jan. 4; 844-631-5483, argyletheatre.com) Yet another production about everyone's favorite orphan, this one being spotlighted as Argyle's holiday show. 

A CHRISTMAS CAROL: THE MUSICAL (John W. Engeman Theater, 250 Main St., Northport, Nov. 13-Dec. 28; 631-261-2900, engemantheater.com) The Dickens of a ghost story arrives at the Engeman in this adaptation featuring music by Alan Menken ("Beauty and the Beast," "The Little Mermaid") and lyrics by Lynn Ahrens ("Seussical," "Once on This Island").

HOLIDAY SPECTACULAR ON ICE (The Gateway, 215 S. Country Rd., Bellport, Nov. 28-Jan. 4; 631-286-1133, thegateway.org)

Forget Elsa from "Frozen." Meet the real queen of the ice, Olympic figure skater Nancy Kerrigan, when she returns to The Gateway for its annual holiday spectacular. The stage will be transformed into an ice rink for the family-friendly show featuring figure eights, holiday tunes, snow and more cool entertainment.

RING OF FIRE (John W. Engeman Theater, 250 Main St., Northport, Jan. 15-March 1; 631-261-2900, engemantheater.com) The music of Johnny Cash frames this jukebox musical that features 38 songs from The Man in Black, including "I Walk the Line," "I've Been Everywhere" and the title number.

BRIGHTON BEACH MEMOIRS (Theatre Three, 412 Main St., Port Jefferson, Jan. 17-Feb. 8; 631-928-9100, theatrethree.com) Neil Simon's semiautobiographical coming-of-age tale focuses on young Eugene and his experiences growing up as a teen in Brooklyn among a family of Polish immigrants. The comedy is the first of Simon's "Eugene" trilogy, which was followed by "Biloxi Blues" and "Broadway Bound."

THE RAT PACK IS BACK (The Gateway, 215 S. Country Rd., Bellport, Jan. 23-Feb. 15; 631-286-1133, thegateway.org) It doesn't get much cooler than this. Imagine a night at The Sands in Las Vegas with Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin and Sammy Davis Jr. on the bill performing standards like "Fly Me to the Moon," "My Way," "That's Amore" and "What Kind of Fool Am I?" You'll feel just like you stepped back into the swingin' '60s.

DISNEY'S NEWSIES (The Argyle Theatre, 34 W. Main St., Babylon, Jan. 29-March 22; 844-631-5483, argyletheatre.com) The 1992 nonmusical Disney movie flopped, but got resurrected for the 2012 Broadway musical that ran for over two years. Now the show about an 1899 strike by newsboys in New York City arrives at The Argyle, which is good news for Long Island audiences.