Photos by Carol Rosegg
Christina Bianco proves to be POP-U-LAR in Glitter and Be Glib. The greatest new number in Rehab.
Jared Bradshaw, Val Fagan and Michael West - There's a moment you know you're fucked. This is not the Drowsy Chaperone!
Gina does the best Patti LuPone I have ever seen.
Putting up with shit. Jared Bradshaw and Michael West!
Liza with a G. Can't get a ticket to Liza at the Palace? I couldn't and would rather see Gina. She's terrific!
Michael West gets into Lin Manuel Miranda and goes IN THE HEIGHTS. YO!
Some Enchanted Evening (Christina Bianco and Jared Bradshaw)
Due to popular demand, Gerard Alessandrini and the producers of FORBIDDEN BROADWAY have extended the run of FORBIDDEN BROADWAY GOES TO REHAB at the 47th Street Theatre (304 West 47th Street) through March 1, 2009. This latest edition opened to rave reviews on September 18, 2008.
Producer John Freedson said, “The response to our latest edition has been terrific, and there has been great demand for us to extend. Our theatre lease ends March 1, so we must end performances at that time. But I’m thrilled to be able to tack a few final weeks on to the run and give everyone more time to see the show ”.
Corine Cohen- I have seen every version but one and Forbidden Broadway is my favorite Off Broadway show of all time. If I could be an Associate Producer and raise money to keep it running I would. There is no Broadway as funny as Forbidden Broadway. It makes me laugh so hard I cry. It will be a sad day on March 1st, but if you are smart you will see it now! I thank Forbidden Broadway for 27 years of laughter!
Ben Brantley of The New York Times calls the show “The liveliest and sauciest ‘Forbidden Broadway’ in over a decade. It’s clearly the place to send anyone and anything in need of rejuvenation.” The Today Show exclaims: ‘Forbidden Broadway’ is a fabulous show. It’s the Saturday Night Live of Broadway. So brilliant! Go see this one!” The Daily News raves “Intoxicatingly funny. You don’t have to be a theater addict to revel in this show.” The New York Post says “Fresh and hilarious. The theatrical equivalent of a week-long spa.” The New York Observer champions “Side splittingly-funny. No show has given me more pleasure over the years. It’s my favorite show on earth.” “It’s a hoot! ‘Forbidden Broadway’ is flying high, and taking everyone along for the trip. I am still chuckling days later.” cheers Time Out.
Newsday applauds it as “A treasure! As inspired, as plugged-in, as cruel-to-be-kind and as cruel-to-be-fun as the best of the 18 versions since 1982” and WOR Radio heralds “You can’t miss it! If you love Broadway, if you love musicals, see ‘Forbidden Broadway’- Definitely!” “Superb! There are so many hilarious bits in the new edition of ‘Forbidden Broadway,’ it’s hard to single any one out! It’s fresh and smart, and it pulses with comic energy” says The Bergen Record and New York 1 raves: “Forbidden Broadway is always the highlight of the season for me. It’s the Energizer Bunny of Off-Broadway.”
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.
After a record-breaking run of 27 years, including 18 separate editions and more than 9,000 performances, the show will play its final performance on March 1, 2009. In deciding to end the run, FORBIDDEN BROADWAY creator Gerard Alessandrini said: “With the changing of the artistic climate on Broadway, I felt that the next couple of seasons might be a perfect time to take a break. I put together a new edition that I feel succinctly encapsulates the last couple of years on Broadway, and I thought that would be a positive and fun way to end our 27 year run. However, I do hope we might bring Forbidden Broadway back to New York at some point down the road when there will be plenty of new shows and stars to spoof.”
Forbidden Broadway will continue to tour around the country, as well as perform concert dates with symphony orchestras. Mr. Alessandrini will be working on new projects on the West Coast and in New York.
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.
The playing schedule for FORBIDDEN BROADWAY GOES TO REHAB is as follows: Now through March 1st - Mondays, Tuesdays, Fridays and Saturdays at 8:00 pm and Sundays at 7:30 pm, with matinees on Wednesdays at 2:00 pm, Saturdays at 4:00 pm, and Sundays at 3:00 pm. Tickets are $65 Saturday, Sunday and Monday evenings - and $60 all other performances. For tickets call (212) 239-6200. For Group Sales call (212) 840-5564.
http://www.forbiddenbroadway.com/
PS A note to John Freedson, now that all the other great shows are closing in January, you might want to look for a new space. Also, look for one with a wheel chair bathroom.
