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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
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