Encores or some other theatre company should consider reviving Milk and Honey. Have Mandy Patinkin play the role done by Robert Weede in the original and Rebbeca Luker done by Mimi Benzel and Fran Dresher the part done by Molly Picon. The Israeli setting of this musical is timely again now.
I've never seen the show, but it is apparently strongly, unstintingly, and even perhaps jingoistically pro-Israel. It was originally produced well before a deeper examination of how a great many people (not only Americans but also Israelis, including but of course not limited to Israeli and American Jews) differ in their views about the creation of Israel as a Jewish state. And well before mass debate about Israeli policies for maintaining that state since the show was developed.
Perhaps most critically, I would highly suspect that it leaves much that is now being examined and debated about Zionism completely unexamined.
So, whether fair or right or not - and believe me, I don't mean to start that debate - I would think there's very little chance, barring the unlikelihood of a complete rewrite, that any MILK AND HONEY revival could escape a damning and resounding level of political controversy. "For this lovely land is mine" (a lyric repeated five times at the rousing conclusion of the title song) is bound to be heard very differently in the 21st Century than it was in 1961.
I anticipate the response to any revival would be something like what might meet a current revival of a big 60s musical about Christopher Columbus which completely failed to examine the impact of his voyages and conquest (and their legacy) on the new world and its peoples.
Of course, some might argue that avoiding political controversy may not be a good reason to not revive the show.
But I would suspect most producers would shy away from this one.
I'm almost positive Herman has refused all Encores! offers for his shows (this, Mack and Mabel, Dear World) because he believes they're all commercially revivable. I'd love for them to do all three and have a tribute to Herman season and maybe bring back a Summer Stars-type 3 week run of Mame.