They don’t call it the doldrums of August for nothing — openings this month tend to be sparse. The silver lining? We’ve got quite a few sneaking up at the end of the month, and those shows that are premiering look pretty damn intriguing.

Olney Theatre will take us down the Rabbit Hole, a play about a couple whose lives are changed by a tragic accident (Aug. 6).

If Jason Grote’s Maria-Stuart, premiering at Woolly, is half as intriguing as his recent This Storm Is What We Call Progress, we’re in for a ride (Aug. 18).

We always look forward to Open Circle’s annual production, and this year’s no exception; they’ll stage Story Theatre, based on fables and myths (Aug. 22).

No one does world premiere musicals like Signature, and this month they open their season with Ace, about a young boy’s journey back in time (Aug. 26).