Harry Connick Jr. and the Gershwins, George and Ira — Broadway's newest trio. The jazz pianist-singer will return to Broadway in spring 2009 in "Nice Work If You Can Get It," a new musical comedy using Gershwin standards, producer Scott Landis announced Monday. Connick will play a Long Island playboy in the show, which will feature a book by Joe DiPietro, one of the authors of "I Love You, You're Perfect, Now Change"; music by George Gershwin, and lyrics by Ira Gershwin. "Nice Work If You Can Get It" will play a pre-Broadway engagement at Boston's Colonial Theatre. The show will begin preview performances on Broadway in February at a theater to be announced and open in March. Other casting will be announced later. Kathleen Marshall will direct and choreograph. Marshall and Connick last worked together in the Tony-winning revival of "The Pajama Game" in 2006.

Ever since their pleasant revival of "The Pajama Game" won a surprise Tony Award in 2006 - beating out the great "Sweeney Todd" - the two close friends have been looking for their next show. And it will be . . . "They All Laughed." Never heard of it? Who has? "They All Laughed" opened at Goodspeed on Aug. 11, 2001. The critics gave it polite enough reviews, but there was plenty of backstage trouble - the director pulled out one week before opening night - and the show quickly became just another poster in Goodspeed's foyer. The convoluted plot involves Prohibition, a Temperance Society, bootlegging, speakeasies, a playboy, an heiress and some lovable gangsters. But it was the songs, pulled from the golden Gershwin trunk and inserted into the story line, that carried the evening: "I've Got a Crush on You," "He Loves and She Loves," "Blah Blah Blah," "Do Do Do" and "S'Wonderful," among them. As dopey as the plot of "They All Laughed" might be, I suspect that plenty of theatergoers will line up to hear Connick sing those songs. In "The Pajama Game," he brought down the house with "Hey, There," "There Once Was a Man" and, accompanying himself on the piano, "Hernando's Hideaway." Just imagine what he'll do with a Gershwin tune.

For the second project of the season, This Old House travels to New Orleans to tell several compelling stories of neighborhoods and individuals rebuilding the city one home at a time. See how homeowner Rashida Ferdinand, after two years of preparation, finally breaks ground on her damaged 1892 Creole-style shotgun single in the dynamic Holy Cross neighborhood of the Lower Ninth Ward. This Old House's New Orleans project will also chronicle the multifaceted story of Musicians' Village, which was conceived by world-renowned saxophonist Branford Marsalis and multitalented musician, composer, and actor Harry Connick Jr., in conjunction with Habitat for Humanity. Tune in to see these and other stories of hope, perseverance, artistry, and craftsmanship through the eyes of the people and organizations contributing to the city's revival.

Best Instrumental Composition (A Composer's Award for an original composition (not an adaptation) first released during the Eligibility Year.) Best Instrumental Arrangement (An Arranger's Award.)