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B’way: nothing left to satirize anymore

Great White Way’s theme-park mentality prompts ‘Forbidden Broadway’ to close

After an impressive 26-year run and over 9,000 performances, off-Broadway mainstay Forbidden Broadway is closing its curtain with no set plans to reopen, according to The New York Times. The production of satirical spoofs was founded long before “The Daily Show” and the “Scary Movie” series played to mass audiences.

The show, which began as a small cabaret act and has barely changed over the course of its successful run, summarizes every theater season through songs and sketches featuring four performers and a pianist. Throughout its history, it has poked fun at the likes of Carol Channing, Yul Brynner and Andrew Lloyd Webber, and shows like The Lion King and My Fair Lady.

Gerard Alessandrini, who first introduced this clever form of comedy in 1982, cites lack of artistic inspiration as the main reason for closing. “When I look at the seasons coming up, I don’t particularly think we’ll have a great opportunity to have really funny numbers about Shrek or another Guys and Dolls revival or some of the stuff that’s coming out,” he told The Times. Alessandrini, co-writer and director of Forbidden Broadway, called the recent commercialism of Broadway “too theme-park-like.”

But fans needn’t worry too much: Alessandrini has plans for a video of the show and a book chronicling its history. Expressing an interest in taking the revue on tour, he also said that Forbidden Broadway’s return to the stage might be a possibility in the future, focusing on one edition at a time instead of an open run.

Forbidden Broadway Goes to Rehab is the latest installment, which opened on September 17 at the 47th St. Theater, and makes sport of Young Frankenstein, Gypsy and Equus, among others. The final performance will take place on January 15, 2009, the 27th anniversary of its debut. -Kristin Forte