Good news, theatre fans! The previously announced Broadway debut of Gerald Alessandrini's long-running Broadway parody musical series Forbidden Broadway will arrive at the Hayes Theatre a little earlier than originally announced. Previews are now set to begin July 15 ahead of an August 5 opening night. The switch actually constitutes a slight extension, with the limited engagement still set to continue through November 1.
The Broadway edition of the series will be titled Forbidden Broadway on Broadway: Merrily We Stole a Song, with series creator Alessandrini at the helm.
In addition to a five-person cast to be announced (including the onstage pianist), the production will also welcome weekly guest stars.
Forbidden Broadway on Broadway: Merrily We Stole a Song will be created around the current and recent seasons of Broadway. It will include spoofs of The Great Gatsby, The Notebook, Water for Elephants, Hell’s Kitchen, and Back to the Future, as well as current and recent Stephen Sondheim revivals like Sweeney Todd, Into the Woods, Company, and Merrily We Roll Along.
The series debuted in 1982 at New York’s 130-seat Palsson’s Supper Club. The revue has gone on to play in over 200 cities around the world. The show has spawned multiple iterations with Alessandrini continually updating the material to reflect Broadway’s current slate; a few evergreens remain. For his work on Forbidden Broadway in all its forms, Alessandrini and the show received a Tony Honor for Excellence in the Theatre and several Drama Desk Awards. Alessandrini's spoof of Hamilton, entitled Spamilton, played New York and continues to tour the country.
The most recent version, Forbidden Sondheim: Merrily We Stole a Song, played several performances at Manhattan's Green Fig Cabaret Theater in November 2023.
Forbidden Broadway on Broadway will be produced by Broadway & Beyond Theatricals (Ryan Bogner, Victoria Lang, and Tracey Stroock McFarland) with John Freedson and Harriet Yellin.
Ticket sales will begin with an Audience Rewards presale April 9, with a Fan First presale (signups are available at ForbiddenBroadwayonBroadway.com) starting April 12. General sales will begin April 15 through Telecharge.
