The ruthless and utterly enjoyable "Forbidden Broadway" is making a triumphant return to the Emerson Colonial Theater in Boston with a slate of performances that are sure to provoke more than a few belly laughs. With the master parodist at the helm, Tony Award winner Gerard Alessandrini is back to skewer the Broadway hits and misses, ensuring that no show tune or Broadway darling is safe from his razor-sharp wit.
In this edition, Boston audiences can look forward to "Forbidden Broadway: Merrily We Stole a Song," which takes a snarky swipe at the works of the late, great Stephen Sondheim, particularly "Merrily We Roll Along." Alessandrini told CBS News Boston, "When he passed, you could feel the loss in theater because you know Sondheims only come along once in a century." Although it delivers the laughs, "Forbidden Broadway" serves up a droll homage to a composer who redefined the musical theater landscape.
Nostalgia buffs and culture vultures alike will also appreciate the lampooning of contemporary productions and stars. The roster includes pokes at shows like "Hell’s Kitchen" and "The Great Gatsby," and actors such as Patti LuPone and Daniel Radcliffe. According to the Emerson Colonial Theatre's website, their brand of comedy is guaranteed to elicit laughter whether you're a die-hard theater aficionado or a newbie to the stage scene.
Alessandrini's unrelenting commitment to reinvention is what keeps "Forbidden Broadway" timely and topical. He elaborates, "I update it all the time. So it's not what it was in 1981 or in 82, it's about what theater is like now on Broadway, around the world, around the country," he told CBS News Boston. With a fresh cast of four zany and gifted actors, the show melds stellar performances with costume-quick changes that pull the audience through a whirlwind theater experience.
The show is scheduled to play at the Emerson Colonial Theater on Saturday, February 8 at 2:00 PM and 8:00 PM, and on Sunday, February 9 at 2:00 PM. Those interested in experiencing the sidesplitting satire can snag tickets via the Emerson Colonial Theatre's website.
