FORBIDDEN BROADWAY: Show Review by Robin Gorman Newman
(Photo credit: Carol Rosegg)
If you are a theatre fan, run, don’t walk, to Gerard Alessandrini’s FORBIDDEN BROADWAY that has returned to New York after a five-year hiatus. Ardent fans know what they are in for….but if you have yet to experience, now’s your chance to take in this all new 90 minute production.
The show pays both loving and snarky homage to Broadway, as it brilliantly spoofs shows, stars, and in this case, touches on film/television as well, and it is a hoot from start to finish.
The nimble, hugely talented and versatile players are Imanuel Houston (debut) Aline Mayagoitia (starring regional roles in Evita, Kinky Boots, In The Heights) Chris Collins-Pisano (Elf, Friends, The Musical), Jenny Lee Stern (Rocky, A Christmas Story, Jersey Boys) and 13 year old standout Joshua Turchin (A Christmas Story, The Pill), with Fred Barton on Piano.
Shows parodied include Hadestown, Moulin Rouge, this season’s Oklahoma! revival, The Ferryman, Tootsie, Beetlejuice, Frozen, the Yiddish Fiddler on the Roof, Dear Evan Hansen, and such Broadway stars as Billy Porter, Jeremy Pope, Jennifer Holliday, Karen Olivio, Alex Brightman, Bette Midler, Andre de Shields, Bernadette Peters and Lin-Manuel Miranda.
Many stellar numbers….one favorite of mine being the Fosse/Verdon sendup with the really fabulous team of Collin-Pisano and Stern. Stern once again knocked it out of the park with her Judy Garland/Renee Zellweger number. Oklahoma! was deliciously skewered, and the Mary Poppins song about “Where the Lost Shows Go” was wickedly funny.
Too many highlights to name here. Suffice it to say there’s a reason FORBIDDEN BROADWAY has been a theatrical institution since 1982, when Alessandrini created the first edition.
Gerry McIntyre is Choreographer, Dustin Cross does Costume Design, Conor Donnelly does Wig Design, and Set/Poster Design is by Glenn Bassett.
FORBIDDEN BROADWAY has garnered international acclaim and awards that include 7 Drama Desks Awards, an Obie, a Drama League Award, an Outer Critics Circle Award, 2 Lucille Lortel Awards and a Special Tony Award.
GERARD ALESSANDRINI (Creator, Writer and Director) Spamilton: (creator/writer/director): New York, London, Chicago, Los Angeles, and National Tour. Forbidden Broadway (creator/writer/director): 25 editions all over the world. Also Forbidden Hollywood (writer/director), Madame X: The Musical (NYMF) (co-writer/director), The Nutcracker & I (lyrics), Maury Yeston’s revue Anything Can Happen in The Theater (director), New York.Television: special material for Carol Burnett, Angela Lansbury and Bob Hope. Film: Aladdin, Pocahontas (vocals). Recordings: 12 Forbidden Broadway cast albums, Forbidden Hollywood & Spamilton cast albums. Special Lyrics: Barbra Streisand Duets 2. Awards: Drama League Lifetime Achievement Award, Obie Award, 2 Lucille Lortel Awards, 7 Drama Desk (2 Best Lyrics, 2 Special Achievement, 3 Best Musical Revue), and a Special Tony Award for Lifetime Achievement in Theatre.
Visit www.forbiddenbroadway.com. The show is running through January 5th at the Triad Theatre (158 West 72nd Street).
Tags: comedy, forbidden broadway, mom theatre blogger robin gorman newman, nyc theatre, off broadway show
