Hunter Bell (left), Robert C. Torri and Kathi Gilmore in "Promises, Promises" at Stages St. Louis

“Promises, Promises” - the 1968 Burt Bacharach/Hal David musical based on “The Apartment,” Billy Wilder’s wry assessment of office mores in the “Mad Man” era - is headed for a Broadway revival next spring. The revival, announced on Monday, will star Kristin Chenoweth and Sean Hayes.

 There’s always a sense in these announcements of the rediscovery of great treasures. Maybe so. But “Promises, Promises” played Stages St. Louis in 1998. (A good production, it starred Hunter Bell, who would go on to win an Obie award for a musical that he and Jeff Bowen wrote, “[title of show].” It plays the Studio series at the Repertory Theatre of St. Louis in January.) We really haven’t had time to forget yet.

A big show already on the Broadway scene, a revival of the 1960 hit ”Bye, Bye Birdie,” last played the Muny in 1998 and Stages in 1999. The long-lived off-Broadway hit ”The Fantasticks,” which also opened in 1960, played at the Muny in 2002 and New Line Theatre in 2005, and is going to play the Repertory Theatre of St. Louis in the spring.    

Among straight plays, the story isn’t too different. Here in St. Louis, we’ve recently enjoyed revivals of 1959’s “The Miracle Worker” (Repertory Theatre of St. Louis, 2009). 1961’s “The Night of the Iguana” (Muddy Waters Theatre, 2008), 1964’s “The Subject Was Roses” (Avalon Theatre, 2009) and 1966’s “A Delicate Balance” (2007, St. Louis Actors’ Studio).

These lists could go on and on. It’s simply worthwhile noting that big trends, though they may be confirmed in New York, don’t necessarily arise there.

No matter where it started, Midcentury Modern certainly looks good again. With that in mind, here are some other musicals that might be worth another look - maybe in New York, but even better here:

“Do Re Mi” (1960), a musical satirizing the juke box business

“Subways Are For Sleeping” (1961), a musical about homelessness that, alas, is not out of date

“I Can Get It for You Wholesale” (1962), the Garment District musical that made Barbra Streisand a star

“Stop the World - I Want To Get Off” (1962), an Everyman allegory with mad Mod edge

“What Makes Sammy Run?” (1964), a mad man in Hollywood.