FORBIDDEN BROADWAY: ALIVE AND KICKING to Conclude Off-Broadway Run 4/28

Gerard Alessandrini's, Forbidden Broadway: Alive and Kicking, which received unanimous raves from critics and audiences alike, broke all box-office records at the 47th Street Theatre, and won spots on the Top Ten Lists of Time Magazine and the Associated Press, will wind up its current edition at the 47th Street Theatre on Sunday, April 28, in order to make room for The Puerto Rican Traveling Theatre's own season, as required by the show's lease agreement with the theatre.

In a statement, Mr. Alessandrini said, "We knew from the start that the theatre could only be ours until the end of April. Although we hate to leave town when we're a hit, I actually think this is a perfect time for us to wind up "Alive and Kicking", which has been a thrilling return to New York for us, to take a brief break; and to begin plans to return with another edition later this year." The show, which has recently added extended parodies of Cinderella and the movie version of Les Miz, is also a Critic's Pick for The New York Times, The Daily News and New York Magazine. This edition stars Lindsay Nicole Chambers, Natalie Charlé Ellis, Scott Richard Foster, Marcus Stevens and David Caldwell on piano. DRG Record's cast recording Forbidden Broadway; ALIVE AND KICKING! The UN-Original Cast Album, is available in stores, on iTunes and Amazon.com.

Critical and audience reception has been overwhelming. Ben Brantley of the New York Times called the show "A Godsend," Joe Dziemianowicz of the NY Daily News exclaimed: "Riotous, biting and brilliant! For theatre lovers, it's like Halloween and Christmas both came early!" WCBS' Jim Taylor dubbed it "The funniest 100 minutes onstage today!" Jeremy Gerard of Bloomberg News raved: "Forbidden Broadway is spot on and superb," and Roma Torre of NY1 proclaimed it "A Glorious Celebration of Theatre...Irreverently and Hysterically funny!" (full list of quotes on following page). Recent backstage visitors have included Carol Burnett, Stephen Sondheim, Mike Nichols, Lesley Stahl, Diane Sawyer, and Michael Kors.

Forbidden Broadway; ALIVE AND KICKING, features Gerard Alessandrini's parodies Broadway's biggest shows and brightest stars, including Cinderella, Annie, Newsies, Once, Book of Mormon, Spiderman, Evita, Porgy and Bess, Anything Goes, Follies, as well of send-ups of Catherine Zeta Jones, Matthew Broderick, Anne Hathaway, Hugh Jackman and Russell Crowe in the film version of LES MISERABLES, Patti LuPone and Mandy Patinkin, among others.

This edition is created and written by Gerard Alessandrini, and directed by Mr. Alessandrini and Phillip George, with musical direction by David Caldwell, and additional dialogue by Phillip George. Costumes are designed by Philip Heckman, lighting design by Mark T. Simpson and wig design by Bobbie Cliffton Zlotnik. Forbidden Broadway: Alive and Kicking is produced by John Freedson, Harriet Yellin and Paul Bartz, in association with Paul G. Rice, Carol Ostrow, Paxton Quigley, Robert Driemeyer, Jamie deRoy, Lawrence Poster and Tweiss Productions.

What started as a small cabaret act at West 72nd Street's Palsson's Supper Club, is now one of New York City's best-loved and most highly anticipated musicals. Now celebrating its 30th year, Forbidden Broadway is a theatrical institution joining the ranks of A Chorus Line and Phantom of the Opera as one of the longest-running shows in New York.

Forbidden Broadway was born in 1982, when Alessandrini, a frustrated performer looking for a place to showcase himself and his friends, booked a weekend performance at Palsson's. The cast of five, had no producer or backer, and used costumes from the cast's own closets to spoof stars like Yul Brynner and Ethel Merman. Hailed by critics, Forbidden Broadway became an overnight sensation, quickly expanding to eight performances a week and running at Palsson's for over six years. Needing a bigger venue, Forbidden Broadway moved to the 125-seat Theatre East, where it ran until 1994. Since then, Forbidden Broadway was presented at the Triad until 1997, the Stardust Theatre from 1997-2001, the Douglas Fairbanks Theatre from 2001-2005, and the 47th Street Theatre, where it opened in 2005. The show now returns to the 47th Street Theatre after a three-year absence. Forbidden Broadway has also enjoyed both national and international success, performing over 10,000 shows on four continents with engagements in over 200 U.S. cities, at London's famed Menier Chocolate Factory, and a concert version with major symphony orchestras. A recent production in Manila, Philippines guest-starred Lea Salonga, and the show is currently nominated for 9 Ovation Awards in Los Angeles.

Over the last 30 years, the show, which changes as often as Broadway, has been a favorite among theater lovers and Broadway stars as well including Carol Channing, Angela Lansbury, Patti LuPone, Hal Prince, Raul Esparza, Tyne Daly, Mike Nichols, Christine Ebersole, Bernadette Peters, Joan Rivers, Stephen Sondheim, Harold Prince, Whoopi Goldberg, and Cameron Mackintosh to name a few, who often stop by to laugh at themselves alongside the public. The show has also launched the careers of several previously unknown actors, including Jason Alexander, Bryan Batt, Michael McGrath, Chloe Webb, Barbara Walsh, Dee Hoty and Daniel Reichard, while many Forbidden Broadway alumni are currently appearing on Broadway. Forbidden Broadway has won numerous awards in its history including a Special Tony Award, 9 Drama Desk Awards, the Drama Critics' Circle Award, an Obie, Outer Critics Circle, Drama League, and Lucille Lortel Awards.