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The fall will bring many other big names to local stages, most notably the Celebrity Series's Bolshoi Ballet and Orchestra at the Wang Center Oct. 6-10. This is a first on a number of fronts: The company hasn't been here since 1980; Boston will be the first stop on the tour, and the only East Coast stop.

More important, the Bolshoi will present two full-length ballets: "Raymonda" and "Don Quixote," which was originally created for the company in 1859 -- not a selection of greatest hits, as it's done in the past.

Meanwhile, one new theater company, the Actors' Shakespeare Project, doesn't even have a fixed space in which to perform, much less a new one, but that doesn't make its launch any less anticipated. Former American Repertory Theatre actor Benjamin Evett has pulled together some of the best players in town for the company's first show, "Richard III," which will play at the Old South Meeting House Oct. 14-Nov. 7.

The hot thing in the visual-arts world this fall is Robert ParkeHarrison's surreal photographs. An exhibit is on display now at the DeCordova Museum and Sculpture Park through Jan. 2.

Other grand musical openings include: the post-punk band Interpol at Avalon Oct. 11, Pearl Jam at the FleetCenter Sept. 28 and 29, Cuban bandleader and composer Gonzalo Rubalcaba with his New Cuban Quartet at the Real Deal Jazz Club & Cafe Sept. 24-26, and Malian singer/songwriter Rokia Traore at the Somerville Theatre Oct. 15.