When it comes to New York’s theatre scene, no time of year comes off as more creatively schizophrenic than the August-September crossover.

Personally, I find it stimulating being caught up in this annual Cirque-worthy balancing act. Like everyone in my peculiar circle of theatre-smitten gourmands, I shamelessly gorge myself on as many last-minute Off- and Off-Off Broadway fest delicacies as possible while turning a speculative eye to the hovering Broadway season and its celebrity players.  

Thanks to this year’s top-flight Summer Shorts 3 (a collection of original plays by noted American playwrights running through 8/27 at 59E59 Theatres) and FringeNYC (Off-Off Broadway’s celebration of emerging theatre companies and performing artists from around the world presented at multiple downtown venues from 8/14 through 8/30), late-summer visitors to the Big Apple are privy to a uniquely New York stage phenomenon: a generous collection of bold new works and an insider’s intro to the next generation of high-profile actors.

Summer Shorts 3 serves up eight short one-acts -- four at a time -- for a staggering range of “voices, styles, and subject matter.” Series A includes a solo show written and performed by CBS Sunday Morning’s Nancy Giles (Things My Afro Taught Me); a mini-musical (The Eternal Anniversary, book by Bill Connington; music & lyrics by Skip Kennon); and two plays: Death by Chocolate by John Augustine and A Second of Pleasure by Neil LaBute (author 2008 Tony nominee reasons to be pretty).

Series B offers Don’t Say Another Word by Carole Real (featuring Stephanie D’Abruzzo, who picked up a Tony nomination for her performance in Avenue Q); The Sin Eater by Keith Reddin; If I Had by Roger Hedden; and William Inge’s The Killing. (Visit www.summershortsfestival.com for play descriptions and playing schedule.)

FringeNYC: While it would be impossible to list every 2009 entry, I can throw out a few highlights -- and recommend you visit their website for a complete roster of shows, playing times, and other info: www.fringenyc.org.

Fringe shows with “Best Bet” Buzz: 38 Witnessed Her Death, I Witnessed Her Love: The Lonely Secret of Mary Ann Zielonko (Kitty Genovese Story), written & performed by LuLu LoLo (www.lululolo.com/theater/38witnessed.html); 666, a psycho-visual death row comedy from Madrid Spain’s Yllana Theater Company that’s following up its international success with a U.S. debut (www.666comedy.com); Baby Wants Candy, a 60-minute improv musical with few-to-no limitations (www.babywantscandy.com); and finally there’s the Fringe folk’s five-star pick: Powerhouse from Sinking Ship Productions, which features swing dancing, puppetry and futuristic music machines to capture the story of composer Raymond Scott, whose life’s work is hijacked by cartoonists (www.sinkingshipproductions.com).  

As for Broadway’s upcoming season, all I can say is get ready to do some serious blogging and tweeting, kids: this fall is turning into one whopping celeb-a-thon -- and I’m just giving you September’s hot head turners. October through December promise to be equally tantalizing. (HINT: Keep your cameras handy as early as mid-August since many fall stars will be in rehearsals -- and dining -- in the Broadway area!)

For a look at the stars arriving on Broadway in September, click here.