After a record-breaking run of 27 years, including 18 separate editions and more than 9,000 performances, Gerard Alessandrini's FORBIDDEN BROADWAY will play their final New York performance at the 47th Street Theatre (304 West 47th Street) on Sunday, March 1, 2009.
"The last decade has been tremendous fun spoofing all different types of shows from "Rent" to the Disney musicals," said Gerard Alessandrini. ‘We are looking forward to returning to New York in a few years when there are a whole new crop of shows to spoof.
In the meantime, fans can take comfort in the new coffee table book of Forbidden Broadway as well as upcoming productions this summer on the West Coast and in London."
Ben Brantley of The New York Times calls current edition "One of the year's best....The liveliest and sauciest ‘Forbidden Broadway' in over a decade. It's clearly the place to send anyone and anything in need of rejuvenation."
FORBIDDEN BROADWAY GOES TO REHAB features spoofs of Liza Minnelli at the Palace, Patti LuPone in Gypsy, South Pacific, In the Heights, Young Frankenstein, August: Osage County, and Sunday in the Park with George, among others. Bernadette Peters, Cheyenne Jackson and Kristin Chenoweth come under fire as well.
Created and written by Gerard Alessandrini. FORBIDDEN BROADWAY GOES TO REHAB is directed by Mr. Alessandrini and Phillip George. Featured in the cast are: Christina Bianco, James Donegan, Gina Kreiezmar and Michael West, with David Caldwell on piano. Costumes are by the late Alvin Colt, with additional costumes by David Moyer. Sets are by Megan Halpern and lighting is by Mark T. Simpson. This edition is dedicated to the memory of the legendary Alvin Colt, who designed the show's costumes for 15 years.
FORBIDDEN BROADWAY has been an unstoppable force in New York theatre since 1982 when Gerard Alessandrini created the first parody lampooning the Broadway shows and stars of the day. It is a favorite among theatre lovers as well as Broadway stars (Kathleen Turner, Raul Esparza, Christine Ebersole, Patti LuPone, the cast of Spring Awakening, Cheyenne Jackson, Bernadette Peters, Carol Channing, Stephen Sondheim, Cameron Mackintosh, and Hal Prince among others), who often stop by to laugh at themselves. FORBIDDEN BROADWAY has won numerous awards in its history including the 2008 Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Musical Revue, the 2006 Tony Honor for Excellence in the Theatre, six additional Drama Desk Awards, Outer Critics Circle, Drama League, Obie, and Lucille Lortel Awards. A theatrical institution, FORBIDDEN BROADWAY has received national and international notoriety, racking up over 9,000 performances in more than 200 US cities as well as engagements in London, Tokyo, Singapore and Sydney.
