Forbidden Broadway Celebrates 25 Years! October 2

On Tuesday, October 2nd, Gerard Alessandrini's  Forbidden Broadway marks its 25th Anniversary with a brand-new edition Forbidden Broadway: Rude Awakening, at the 47th Street Theatre (304 West 47 Street).   To mark the occasion, Mayor Michael Bloomberg's Office of Theatre, Film and Television has named October 2, 2007 as "Forbidden Broadway Day."  At 6PM, prior to the opening night performance on October 2,  two-time Tony Award winner (and beloved subject of Forbidden Broadway parodies) Chita Rivera will be on hand to read a proclamation from  Mayor Michael Bloomberg and unveil a street sign renaming West 47th Street "Forbidden Broadway."   Opening night curtain is at 7PM.

"Forbidden Broadway: Rude Awakening features spoofs of the season including Spring Awakening, Curtains, A Chorus Line, 'Grease: You're The One That We Want,' Legally Blonde, Frost/Nixon, Mary Poppins in addition to Company and Grey Gardens along with some classic bits from Forbidden Broadway's past quarter century," explain press notes.  This edition is created and written by Gerard Alessandrini and directed by Mr. Alessandrini and Phillip George. Featured in the cast are: Jared Bradshaw, Janet Dickinson, James Donegan and Valerie Fagan, with David Caldwell on piano. Costumes are by the legendary Alvin Colt, who was just honored with an exhibit at the Museum of the City of New York. Sets are by Megan Halpern and lighting is by Marc Janowitz.

A theatrical institution, Forbidden Broadway has received national and international notoriety, racking-up over 10,000 performances in more than 200 US cities, as well as engagements in London, Tokyo, Singapore and Sydney. The show was a recipient of a 2006 Tony Honor for Excellence in the Theatre.

Forbidden Broadway has been an unstoppable force in theatre since 1982 when Gerard Alessandrini created the first edition that lampooned the Broadway shows and stars of the day.  It has been a favorite among theatre lovers, as well as the Broadway stars themselves (Carol Channing, Kathleen Turner, Raul Esparza, Donna Murphy, Christine Ebersole, Bernadette Peters, Tommy Tune, Stephen Sondheim, Patti LuPone, Cameron Mackintosh, and Hal Prince, to name a few) who often stop by to laugh at themselves alongside their public. Forbidden Broadway has won numerous awards in its history in addition to the Tony Honors, which include Obie, Drama Desk, Outer Critics Circle, Drama League, and Lucille Lortel Awards. Forbidden Broadway is produced by John Freedson, Harriet Yellin and Jon B. Platt.

The playing schedule for Forbidden Broadway: Rude Awakening is as follows: Mondays, Tuesdays, Fridays and Saturdays at 8:15PM and Sundays at 7:30PM, with matinees on Wednesdays at 2:30PM, Saturdays at 4PM, and Sundays at 3:30PM

Tickets are $65 on Saturdays, at 8:15PM, Sundays at 7:30PM and Mondays at 8:15PM and are $60 for all other performances.  For tickets and information call Telecharge at 212-239-6200.  For Group Sales call 212-840-5564.