Forbidden Broadway, the 27-year old off-Broadway phenomenon which parodies popular musical theater fare, will close on January 15. The newest incarnation of the piece, Forbidden Broadway Goes to Rehab, of the show is set to open on September 17 at the 47th Street Theatre. It is currently in previews.
Creator Gerard Alessandrini, who has helmed all 18 editions of the show, expressed hope that Forbidden Broadway will eventually return to New York. "With the changing of the artistic climate on Broadway, I felt the next couple of seasons might be a perfect time to take a break," he said in a press statement. "I've just put together a new edition that I feel succinctly encapsulates the last couple of years on Broadway, and I thought this would be a positive and fun way to end our 27-year run. However, I do hope we might bring Forbidden Broadway back to New York at some point down the road when there will be plenty of new shows and stars to spoof."
Forbidden Broadway debuted on January 15, 1982 at Palsson's Supper Club. It has since played more that 9,000 performances, winning a collection of awards such as the Outer Critics Circle, Drama League, Obie and Drama Desk Awards, as well as the 2008 Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Musical Revue and a 2006 Tony Honor. Forbidden Broadway Goes to Rehab features spoofs of South Pacific, In the Heights, Equus, [title of show], August: Osage County, Gypsy, Young Frankenstein and Sunday in the Park with George among others.
