HOLIDAY SHOW CROWDS CAN FIND GEMS AT ON- AND OFF-BROADWAY THEA TERS.(Life & Leisure)

Byline: JOE POLLACK St. Louis Post-Dispatch

Broadway is coming off one of the most successful seasons in its history, with record crowds and a springtime filled with outstanding productions of both straight plays and musicals, including new works like Tony-winner "Conversations With My Father" and revivals like the Frank Loesser classic "Guys and Dolls."

Times have changed, however, and while this used to be the busiest period of the year, producers now load up the spring.

They try to have their potential hits open in March or April, ahead of the Tony awards deadline, and hope that an award or strong reviews will carry them through the summer tourist …