Forbidden Broadway

Forbidden Broadway on Broadway Background

Debut in 1982 At Palsson’s Supper Club

Forbidden Broadway 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 and the show has performed at least one version of itself in 38 of the last 42 years.

Multiple Versions Of The Show Over The Years

As the popular shows change, so does Forbidden Broadway, always lampooning the latest Broadway hit while still hitting the evergreen material like Phantom, Chicago and Hamilton

Various Show Updates Over 42 Year History

Between 1982 and 1994, Forbidden Broadway had 8 updates of the show. In 1996 the show began making specific show names for each version of the shows that started with Forbidden Broadway Strikes Back in October 1996.

That version of the show won the Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Lyrics and was nominated for the Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Revue.

Each Version Of Forbidden Broadway Gets A New Moniker

Since 1996 the show has received 15 updates with some show highlights being Forbidden Broadway 2001: A Spoof Odyssey in December 2000 (which won Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Revue), Forbidden Broadway: Special Victims Unit in December 2004 (which won Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Revue) and Forbidden Broadway: Rude Awakening in October 2007 (which won Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Revue that year).

Since then the show has not received any accolades and has mostly been attended by hard-core Broadway fans, often playing to smaller and smaller venues.

Most Recent Version Of Forbidden Broadway

The most recent version of Forbidden Broadway, was Forbidden Sondheim: Merrily We Stole a Song, which played several performances at Manhattan's Green Fig Cabaret Theater in November 2023. The Green Fig Cabaret Theater has only 190 seats and was well suited to this show.

Alessandrini And The Show Received A Tony Honor

For his work on Forbidden Broadway in all its forms, Gerard Alessandrini received a Tony Honor in 2006 for "Excellence in the Theatre" and several Drama Desk Awards.

Spamilton Success

One of Alessandrini's most popular spin-off versions of the Forbidden Broadway was that of Hamilton, with his version entitled Spamilton. This show played New York and toured the US from 2016-2017. Lin-Manuel Miranda (the Hamilton writer) was very vocal about just loving the spoof.

Show Remains Untested In A Larger Venue

Forbidden Broadway has been tremendously successful in playing in smaller venues over the years for the Broadway "people in the know". This is the first time this show will be playing in a theatre with nearly 600 seats and the show may face a scaling challenge.

Unsold Seats May Damage This Brand

The Helen Hayes Theatre is small enough that you'll be hard-pressed to find a bad seat. Producers though, may find it tough to fill the theatre at mid-week shows as few tourists will attend this show - they may not be familiar with all the Broadway shows that are being lampooned.

In addition, the "Broadway show in- jokes" may go right over the heads of tourists, leading to poor audience reviews and bad word of mouth.

Show Cancelled on April 26, 2024

The previously announced Broadway debut of the long-running musical theatre parody Forbidden Broadway has been cancelled prior to opening due to an overcrowded Broadway slate, per a statement from producers.

Show Dates Prior To Cancellation

Forbidden Broadway: Merrily We Stole a Song, was initially announced to begin a Broadway debut at the Hayes Theater on July 29, 2024 - a date that later got moved up to July 15, 2024

Its new previews date was set for July 15, 2024 with the red carpet opening set for August 5, 2024. The show had been set to close on November 1 2024.

Poor Advance Ticket Sales

Advance ticket sales were reportedly terrible and the show was cancelled.

Too Many Shows on The Broadway Block

Producers Ryan Bogner, Victoria Lang, and Tracey McFarland said in a joint statement that the show just could not compete with the crowded Broadway landscape this season.

It is highly doubtful that this show will ever get a crack at Broadway again, as cancelled shows are a kiss of death for a Broadway brand, as investors lose money without any opportunity to recoup.

What's Forbidden Broadway Like?

Forbidden Broadway: Merrily We Stole a Song is created around the current and recent seasons of Broadway shows and includes spoofs of The Great Gatsby, The Notebook, Water for Elephants, Hell’s Kitchen, and Back to the Future.

Other shows that are lambasted are revivals like Sweeney Todd, Into the Woods, Company, and Merrily We Roll Along.

The show typically has a five-person cast and also welcomes weekly guest stars to perform in various roles.

Is Forbidden Broadway Good for Kids?

This show is good for kids who already know some of the more popular Broadway shows