THEATRE LOVER MOM: Forbidden Broadway: Show Review by Robin Gorman Newman

Photo credit: Carol Rosegg

Gerard Alessandrini’s FORBIDDEN BROADWAY COMES OUT SWINGING!  is an up-to-the-minute new edition featuring Alessandrini’s dry witted take on Kinky Boots, Matilda, Rocky, Cabaret, The Bridges of Madison County, Aladdin, Pippin, the turntable-less Les Miz, Motown, The Sound of Music Live! and Bullets Over Broadway, among others.  

Featured in the cast are: Carter Calvert, Scott Richard Foster, Mia Gentile and Marcus Stevens, with David Caldwell on piano.

The musical revue send-up of Broadway, whether shows or composers or performers, is a total hoot.  The talented cast demonstrates both impressive pipes and big time versatility.  Marcus as Jason Robert Brown, leading into The Bridges of Madison County featuring Carter and Scott was a really terrific combo.  Mia as Idina Menzel captured her voice and presence.  Act II opened with a great Once parody that was both funny and affecting. 

Carter was spot-on delivering riotious impressions including Fran Drescher (Cinderella), Cyndi Lauper (Kinky Boots) and Carole King (Beautiful).

Other huge crackups were Scott as Alan Cumming (Cabaret) and Marcus as Woody Allen (Bullets Over Broadway).

Could have done without the Liza Minnelli and Mandy Patinkin skits which didn’t quite match the rest, but there’s much to enjoy in this show.  If you’re a Broadway fan, you will get a huge kick out of FORBIDDEN BROADWAY COMES OUT SWINGING!  

FORBIDDEN BROADWAY COMES OUT SWINGING! is created and written by Gerard Alessandrini, and directed by Phillip George and Mr. Alessandrini, with musical direction by David Caldwell, set by Megan K. Halpern, lighting by Mark T. Simpson, costumes by Dustin Cross and Philip Heckman, sound by Matt Kraus and wigs by Bobbie Cliffton Zlotnick. The show is produced by John Freedson, Harriet Yellin and Paul Bartz, in association with Paul G. Rice, Carol Ostrow, Paxton Quigley and Robert Driemeyer, Jamie deRoy, Lawrence Poster and Tweiss Productions. 

The playing schedule for FORBIDDEN BROADWAY COMES OUT SWINGING! is as follows: Mondays and Tuesdays at 7PM, Fridays and Saturdays at 8pm, Sundays at 7:00pm, with matinees on Wednesdays and Saturdays at 2pm and Sundays at 3PM.  Tickets are $79. Student Rush and Premium Tickets are available. Tickets can be purchased by calling Telecharge at (212) 239-6200 or by visiting www.telecharge.com.

FORBIDDEN BROADWAY COMES OUT SWINGING! is playing at the newly refurbished.   Davenport Theatre (354 West 45th Street – between 8th and 9th Avenue).

Visit http://www.forbiddenbroadway.com.

Tags: forbidden broadway