Summer preview: Steve Guttenberg’s Bible and 20+ shows on Long Island

As it turns out, Summer is the first season to premiere in theaters on Long Island.

This season debuts an unusual number of shows on local stages, including “Jersey Boys,” “Summertime – Donna’s Summer Musical,” Rupert Holmes’ stage version of “A Time to Kill,” The Parrots Happy Hour’s “Escape to Margaritaville,” Steve Gutenberg’s autobiography “The Gutenberg Bible Story,” and “Beautiful – The Carol King Musical.” There’s even “Double Helix,” an original show that incorporates science into musical formulas.

Here are 21 shows you don’t want to miss this summer, including some familiar favorites.

rotten stuff (Third Theatre, 412 Main St., Port Jefferson, through June 24; 631-928-9100, www.theatrethree.com) is set in Elizabethan England and tells the story of two brothers who don’t think Shakespeare is anything great, especially after Shakespeare gets in the way of their plays. The only way they could surpass him was by creating the world’s first musical, Omelet.

double helix — musical (Bay Street Theater and Sag Harbor Arts Center, 1 Bay St., Sag Harbor, May 30-June 18; 631-725-9500, www.baystreet.org) Madeline Myers musical set in the 1950s about a race to discover the structure of DNA. You can bet there’s a science to the actors singing and dancing.

two gentlemen of verona (Carriage House Players, 180 Little Neck Rd., Centerport, 8 p.m. Wednesday and Friday, 7 p.m. Sunday, June 4-30, 516-557-1207, www.carriagehouseplayers.org) Shakespeare’s comedy about two best friends falling in love with the same woman is updated to a Mediterranean countryside circa 1910.

shape of things (South Shore Theater Experience, 115 S. Wellwood Ave., Lindenhurst, June 9-17, 631-669-0506, southshoretheatre.com) in Neil LaBute’s introspective four-character drama, in which the English major changes his appearance and cuts off his friends, all in what’s being called a nerd makeover, It’s all for the art students he loves.

The Merry Wives of Windsor (East Front Theater, multiple locations, June 9-July 29; 516-749-5047, Eastern Front Theater.org) Falstaff tries to solve his money problems by seducing two happy title wives, seeking revenge when they discover his plan. All performances are free outdoors. For specific times and locations, please email info@eastlinetheatre.org.

Summertime – Donna Summertime Musical (The Gateway, 215 S. Country Rd., Bellport, June 16-July 16; 631-286-1133, www.thegateway.org) three performers work hard to make money in this jukebox musical that charts the disco diva at different stages of her life. Hot stuff, indeed.

time to kill (Manes Studio Theater, 141 S. Wellwood Ave., Lindenhurst, June 30-July 16; 631-226-8400, www.studiotheatreli.com) John Grisham’s bestselling novel about a murder trial that rocks a Southern town unfolds page by page in Rupert Holmes’ adaptation.

Dial M Murder (Bay Street Theater and Sag Harbor Arts Center, 1 Bay St., Sag Harbor, June 27-July 23; 631-725-9500, www.baystreet.org) A retired tennis star plots revenge on his flirtatious wife, but probably won’t she A figure from Frederick Knott’s classic thriller. Who knew rotary phones could be so deadly?

grease (Argyle Theatre, 34 W. Main St., Babylon, July 6-August 27; 844-631-5483, www.argyletheatre.com) is an original high school musical featuring a gas station, Pink Ladies, a beauty school dropout, and even an ode to Sandra Dee.

macbeth (Carriage House Players, 180 Little Neck Rd., Centerport, 8 p.m. Wednesday and Friday, 7 p.m. Sunday, July 7-August 6, 516-557-1207, www.carriagehouseplayers.org) This version of the Scottish drama will be double the toil and trouble, and it will also pay homage to 1800s New England folk horror tales.

escape from margaritaville (John W. Engeman Theatre, 250 Main St., Northport, July 13-August 27; 631-261-2900, www.engemantheater.com) At this tropical festival inspired by a Jimmy Buffett song, a bartender finds love — and maybe even his lost salt shaker.

Strange Incidents of the Nocturnal Dog (Long Island Modern Classics Theater Company, BACCA Center for the Arts, 149 N. Wellwood Ave., Lindenhurst, July 15-30; modernclassicstheatrecompanyoflongisland.net) A 15-year-old math prodigy exhibiting autistic-like behavior is determined to find out who killed his neighbor’s poodle. So why didn’t his neighbors and his father want him to know?

Stories from Gutenberg’s Bible (Bay Street Theater and Sag Harbor Arts Center, 1 Bay St., Sag Harbor, Aug. 1-20; 631-725-9500, www.baystreet.org) North Massapequa’s son Steve Guttenberg adapted his 2012 memoir, “The Gutenberg Bible,” into a comic book series narrated by him, with three other actors playing more than 90 roles.

jersey boy (The Gateway, 215 S. Country Rd., Bellport, Aug. 4-Sept. 10; 631-286-1133, www.thegateway.org) with a lot of Rage and Valli in this dramatic jukebox musical about the ups and downs of ’60s hit producer Seasons.

lost love (Carriage House Players, 180 Little Neck Rd., Centerport, 8 p.m. Wednesday and Friday, 7 p.m. Sunday, August 11-September 8; 516-557-1207, www.carriagehouseplayers.org) is a royal romantic comedy in which a king and his three friends woo a princess and her three maids-in-waiting. Ladies and gentlemen wait a whole year to get married when the princess has to go home. But can they stay loyal?

A Bronx Tale – The Musical (CM Center for the Performing Arts, 931 Montauk Hwy., Oakdale, Aug. 12-26; 631-218-2810, cmpac.com) a kid in the 1960s Bronx idolizes a mob boss, much to the displeasure of the boy’s blue-collar father, in this musical starring Chazz Palminteri based on his 1993 play of a book.

country of dance (Eastline Theatre, BACCA Center for the Arts, 149 N. Wellwood Ave., Lindenhurst, August 12-27; 516-749-5047, Eastern Front Theater.org) A group of preteen dancers are doing their best to win the Boogie Down Grand Prix, but the real prize may be discovering who they really are.

six degrees of separation (Manes Studio Theater, 141 S. Wellwood Ave., Lindenhurst, Sept. 1-17; 631-226-8400, www.studiotheatreli.com) Guess who comes to dinner and never leaves? Here’s a young con man who claims to be Sidney Poitier’s son and infiltrates the homes of members of Manhattan high society in John Gual’s play based on true events.

Beautiful — The Carol King Musical (John W. Engeman Theatre, 250 Main St., Northport, Sept. 14-October 29; 631-261-2900, www.engemantheater.com) King’s hits are woven into this musical tapestry about the life and career of the Grammy-winning singer-songwriter.

into the woods (CM Center for the Performing Arts, 931 Montauk Hwy., Oakdale, September 16-30; 631-218-2810, cmpac.com) Mind you, what you’re hoping for is the moral of this fairytale musical featuring a book by James Lapine and songs by Stephen Sondheim.

prom (Third Theatre, 412 Main St., Port Jefferson, Sept. 16-October 21; 631-928-9100, www.theatrethree.com) A group of flamboyant actors travel to rural Indiana to help a teenage girl who shocks her conservative town by deciding to take her girlfriend to prom.

8 Broadway Shows to See This Summer

gray house (Lyceum Theatre, 149 W. 45th St., in preview, opens May 30; 212-239-6200, telecharge.com) After a car accident, a couple seek refuge in a mountain cabin, in this spooky film starring Laurie Metcalf and Tatiana Maslany, here The bumps occurred both night and day.

again (Marquis Theatre, 210 W. 46th St., in preview, opens June 22; ticketmaster.com) Cinderella, Snow White and other fairytale women find new happy endings with the help of Betty Friedan’s “The Feminine Mystique” and lyrics from Britney Spears songs.

just for us (Hudson Theatre, 141 W. 44th St., previews begin June 22, showings June 26-August 19; www.thehudsonbroadway.com) comedian Alex Edelman’s surprise off-Broadway hit moves uptown. It’s based on his secret visits to meetings of white nationalists after he was taken over by anti-Semites.

there is love (Broadway Theatre, 1681 Broadway, previews begin June 17, opening July 20; 212-239-6200, www.telecharge.com) David Byrne and Fatboy Slim are the creative forces behind this all-Philippine musical about former Philippine First Lady Imelda Marcos. So does that mean she has a few pairs of dancing shoes in her collection?

cabin (Hayes Theatre, 240 W. 44th St., previews begin July 7, July 24-October 29; 212-239-6200, www.telecharge.com) Love, sex and marriage are all under fire in this comedy starring Eric McCormack and directed by Jason Alexander.

back to the Future (Winter Garden Theatre, 1634 Broadway, previews beginning June 30, opening August 3; 212-239-6200, www.telecharge.com) In this musical adaptation of the hit 1985 movie, Marty McFly travels back to the 1950s when it’s time to speed up the DeLorean.

shark is broken (John Golden Theatre, 252 W. 45th St., previews beginning July 25, August 10-November 19; 212-239-6200, www.telecharge.com) The summer’s biggest takeaway may be this comedy about the making of the 1975 blockbuster “Jaws.” Ian Shaw, who co-wrote the show with Joseph Nixon, is also very fond of the role of his father, Robert Shaw, one of the stars of Big Fish Tales.

Pop Elf (Ethel Barrymore Theatre, 243 W. 47th St., Aug. 17-27; elmagopop.com) gibberish! The Spanish-born magician is about to hit Broadway. He’s only there for 10 days, so hurry up and get your tickets before he disappears. —Daniel Bubio