Forbidden Broadway is an Off-Broadwayrevueparodyingmusical theatre, particularly Broadway musicals. It was conceived, written and directed by Gerard Alessandrini and has been updated many times to parody new musicals and productions. Typically, the revue is performed by a cast of four with a piano. Versions of the show have been seen in more than 200 cities in the U.S., as well as London, Tokyo and elsewhere.
Background
The original version of the revue opened on January 15, 1982, at Palsson's Supper Club in New York City and ran for 2,332 performances.[1] Alessandrini has rewritten the show more than a dozen times over the years to include parodies of newer shows. In the original iteration of the show, Alessandrini was one of the original actors alongside the actress Nora Mae Lyng, whom Alessandrini said he "created it for.".[2] Michael Chapman directed and produced.[3] In 1982, Jeff Martin succeeded Chapman as director. Alessandrini assumed the directing position subsequently, with Phillip George, Alessandrini's long-time collaborator, co-directing or directing all of the editions of the revue since 2004.[4]
The show, in its various editions, received over 9,000 performances by 2009 and has been seen in more than 200 U.S. cities as well as playing in London, Tokyo, Singapore and Sydney.[5]
The show, in its various editions through 2009, received over 9,000 performances and been seen in more than 200 U.S. cities as well as in London, Tokyo, Singapore[5] and Adelaide, Australia, where it played for the only time with an orchestra at the 2002 Adelaide Cabaret Festival.[21] A 2009 review of the London production, in Britain's The Independent, commented: "Actors have always poked fun at the foibles of commercial theatre. ... Usually, though, they keep their parodies to themselves. It takes a touch of genius to turn them into something saleable, but writer Gerald Alessandrini has that Midas touch."[7] The original artwork advertising the show was designed by caricaturistKen Fallin, who suggested the actors find the name "Nina" written on their bodies as an homage to Al Hirschfeld, who was known for working his daughter's name into his drawings.[22]
A production of Forbidden Broadway was intended to play for the first time on Broadway, at the Helen Hayes Theatre, in 2024, as Forbidden Broadway on Broadway: Merrily We Stole a Song. In addition to the usual four-person cast and pianist, the show was expected to have a guest star each week.[33][34] Producers later announced that a Broadway run is postponed, but Forbidden Broadway: Merrily We Stole a Song is scheduled to play off-Broadway at Theater 555 with previews starting on August 23 before an official opening on September 12, directed by Alessandrini, with musical staging by Gerry McIntyre; it is expected to target recent Broadway productions for parody, including Merrily We Roll Along.[35]
Editions of Forbidden Broadway
Forbidden Broadway (May 4, 1982 – August 30, 1987)
Forbidden Broadway 1988/1989 (September 15, 1988 – December 24, 1989)
Forbidden Broadway 1990 (January 23, 1990 – June 9, 1991)
Forbidden Broadway 1991½ (June 20, 1991 – January 12, 1992)
Forbidden Broadway 1992 (April 6, 1992 – November 30, 1992)
