Quick Wit Hilarious ‘Forbidden Broadway’ Packs 31 Shows In 97 Minutes

Thu., April 13, 2000

By Jim Kershner jimkershner@comcast.net

“Forbidden Broadway” is like watching 31 Broadway shows in 97 minutes.

Actually, “Forbidden Broadway” is more fun than watching 31 Broadway shows in 97 minutes, because this is actually a razor-sharp spoof of those shows.

The night that I first saw “Forbidden Broadway” in a New York cabaret, the patrons were laughing so hard they were falling off their chairs. (Well, they might also have been hitting the white wine too hard.)

Now, “Forbidden Broadway” is leaving its customary off-Broadway digs to go way off-off-off-Broadway, to the Beasley Coliseum in Pullman as part of a national tour. The show has been booked into Pullman for Mother’s Weekend, and all I can say to all of you mothers out there is: Don’t miss it. You won’t be disappointed.

The man behind the “Forbidden Broadway” phenomenon is Gerard Alessandrini, a cabaret performer who first came up with the idea in 1982. He decided to do a show in which he rewrote the lyrics of hit Broadway shows for satirical effect.

As it turned out, the man is an absolute genius when it comes to cleverly twisting the lyrics of well-known songs. The show was an underground hit, and then, as word got out, an above-ground hit as well. It has been playing almost nonstop ever since, and spawned branch companies in Chicago, Toronto and even London. A West Coast production is currently knocking ‘em dead in L.A.

The concept has remained the same throughout the years, but the songs keep changing as new shows hit Broadway. The show concentrates mainly on the musicals most people are familiar with.

Sometimes Alessandrini even includes movie spoofs, such as Madonna’s version of “Evita.”

But you don’t even have to be familiar with the shows to find Alessandrini’s songs funny. That’s partly because he also has shown an uncanny knack for locating great comic talent. Jason Alexander of “Seinfeld” fame was one early cast member.

They are not just good singers, but excellent mimics as well, being routinely called upon to imitate such stars as Barbra Streisand, Bernadette Peters, Andrew Lloyd Webber, Betty Buckley and Chita Rivera, to name just a few.

The cast at the Beasley performance will consist of members of the New York company.

This sidebar appeared with the story: ON STAGE `Forbidden Broadway’ “Forbidden Broadway,” Friday, 8 p.m., Beasley Coliseum in Pullman. Tickets are $10 to $25, available at the Beasley, the Depot in Pullman, the UI Ticket Office in Moscow, and all G&B Select-a-Seat outlets, or by calling 325-SEAT or 1-800-325-SEAT.

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