News on your favorite shows, specials & more!

A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum Revival 1996

Opened: April 18, 1996
Closing: January 04, 1998

A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum - 1996 Broadway History , Info & More

St. James Theatre (Broadway)
246 West 44th St. New York, NY

Based on the plays Miles Gloriosus, Pseudolus, and Mostellaria by Plautus (251-183 B.C.)

This hysterical musical features a beloved score by Stephen Sondheim and an uproarious book by Burt Shevelove and Larry Gelbart. The musical's original Broadway production won several Tony Awards, including Best Musical and Best Book. Forum has also enjoyed several Broadway and West End revivals.



A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum tells the bawdy story of Pseudolus, a slave in ancient Rome, who goes to great lengths to gain his freedom by securing a courtesan for his young master, Hero. Scheming slaves, mistaken identities and courtesans each with their own gimmick deliver on the promise of the famous opening number, that there will be comedy tonight.


A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum - 1996 - Broadway Cast

Get A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum Email Alerts

Be the first to get ticket offers, news, photos & more.

Video: Nathan Lane Will Join the Cast of Season 2 of ELSBETH
by Stephi Wild - Aug 28, 2024


The CBS series Elsbeth has revealed the first special guest for its second season, and it is none other than Broadway's own Nathan Lane! Check out a teaser video here!

Broadway Theatres to Dim Lights for Arthur 'Artie' Gaffin 9/18
by Julie Musbach - Sep 17, 2019


The Broadway community mourns the loss of beloved Production Stage Manager, Arthur a?oeArtiea?? Gaffin, who passed away on September 13, 2019. To commemorate his life and work, the Committee of Theatre Owners will dim the lights of the American Airlines, Marquis, New Amsterdam, St. James, and Broadhurst Theatres in New York for one minute on Wednesday, September 18 at exactly 7:45pm.

They're Already Winners... Counting Off the Tony Awards Already Won by the 2018 Nominees!
by Danielle Gutierrez - Jun 9, 2018


The 2018 Tony nominees are already winners... literally. For some, this marks their first nomination, but others have already won Tony Awards in seasons past. We took a look at which nominees have won at least a Tony or two (or nine) - amongst them, they've gathered a total of 88 awards!

Photo Throwback: Nathan Lane Stars in A FUNNY THING HAPPENED ON THE WAY TO THE FORUM in 1996
by Walter McBride - Mar 13, 2018


Take a look back into BroadwayWorld's archives with this throwback from when Nathan Lane starred in Forum in 1996! Check out the photos below!

Member Tickets On Sale For Public Theater's Sondheim/Kushner Forum 1/17
by Gabrielle Sierra - Dec 6, 2011


The Public Theater has announced the return of Stephen Sondheim and Tony Kushner to The Public Forum on Tuesday, January 17 at 8:00 p.m.

Public Theater Hosts Sondheim/Kushner Talk at Skirball Center, 11/29
by BWW News Desk - Nov 29, 2010


The Public Theater will present the third Public Forum event, 'The Public Forum: Sondheim/Kushner,' held at the New York University's Skirball Center on Monday, November 29 at 8 p.m. Curated by Jeremy McCarter, The Public Forum is an exciting new series of lectures, debates and conversations that showcase leading voices in the arts, politics and the media. Tickets are $25 and currently on sale to Public Theater members. Any remaining single tickets will go on sale on Wednesday, November 17.

The Public Theater Dissects Art and Life with The Public Forum: Sondheim/Kushner
by Gabrielle Sierra - Nov 12, 2010


The Public Theater (Oskar Eustis, Artistic Director; Andrew D. Hamingson, Executive Director) announced ticket information today for the third Public Forum event, "The Public Forum: Sondheim/Kushner," held at the New York University's Skirball Center on Monday, November 29 at 8 p.m. Curated by Jeremy McCarter, The Public Forum is an exciting new series of lectures, debates and conversations that showcase leading voices in the arts, politics and the media.

Public Theater Hosts Sondheim/Kushner Talk at Skirball Center, 11/29
by Jessica Lewis - Nov 12, 2010


The Public Theater (Oskar Eustis, Artistic Director; Andrew D. Hamingson, Executive Director) announced ticket information today for the third Public Forum event, 'The Public Forum: Sondheim/Kushner,' held at the New York University's Skirball Center on Monday, November 29 at 8 p.m. Curated by Jeremy McCarter, The Public Forum is an exciting new series of lectures, debates and conversations that showcase leading voices in the arts, politics and the media. Tickets are $25 and currently on sale to Public Theater members. Any remaining single tickets will go on sale on Wednesday, November 17.

Jeremy McCarter to Host Public Forum Lecture Series at The Public this Season
by Jessica Lewis - Sep 27, 2010


This fall, The Public Theater (Oskar Eustis, Artistic Director; Andrew D. Hamingson, Executive Director) will launch The Public Forum, an exciting new series of lectures, debates and conversations that showcase leading voices in the arts, politics and the media. Curated by Jeremy McCarter, a senior writer at Newsweek, Public Forum events are open to the general public. Tickets for the inaugural event can be purchased for $25 beginning Tuesday, October 5. Member tickets are on sale Tuesday, September 28.

SOUND OFF: Sondheim Palooza Part 1
by Robert Diamond - Apr 19, 2010


Today we continue our critical appraisal of the entire English-language recorded canon of Stephen Sondheim - at the very least, all the major productions which were recorded - beginning where we have left off with the round-ups of GYPSY and WEST SIDE STORY, as well as the 2009 Revival Recording of A LITTLE NIGHT MUSIC, from the last few weeks. The last show for which Sondheim wrote lyrics-only, before he was quite able to get his own musical scores produced, was his collaboration with Richard Rodgers, DO I HEAR A WALTZ? Next, we continue with the first show for which he wrote music and lyrics, SATURDAY NIGHT, as well as the first show he wrote music and lyrics for that actually made it to Broadway, A FUNNY THING HAPPENED ON THE WAY TO THE FORUM.

A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum History

Other Productions of A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum

1962   Broadway Original Broadway Production
Broadway
1963   West End London Production
West End
1963   US Tour National Tour
US Tour
1971   Regional (US) Regional Revival
Regional (US)
1972   Broadway Broadway Revival
Broadway
1986   West End London Revival
West End
1987   US Tour National Tour
US Tour
1991   Off-Broadway Off-Broadway Production
Off-Broadway
1996   Broadway Broadway Revival
Broadway
2004   West End Royal National Theatre Production
West End
2017   St. Louis, MO (Regional) The Muny Revival
St. Louis, MO (Regional)

A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum - 1996 Broadway Awards and Nominations

Note: Award winners will appear on a background
Year Ceremony Category Nominee
1996 Drama Desk Awards Outstanding Actor - Musical Nathan Lane
1996 Outer Critics Circle Awards Best Actor - Musical Nathan Lane
1996 Outer Critics Circle Awards Best Director - Musical Jerry Zaks
1996 Tony Awards Best Direction of a Musical Jerry Zaks
1996 Tony Awards Best Performance by an Actor in a Featured Role in a Musical Lewis J. Stadlen
1996 Tony Awards Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Musical Nathan Lane
1996 Tony Awards Best Revival of a Musical Jujamcyn Theaters
1996 Tony Awards Best Revival of a Musical Scott Rudin
1996 Tony Awards Best Revival of a Musical Paramount Pictures
1996 Tony Awards Best Revival of a Musical The Viertel-Baruch-Frankel Group
1996 Tony Awards Best Revival of a Musical The Viertel-Baruch-Frankel Group
1996 Tony Awards Best Revival of a Musical Roger Berlind
1996 Tony Awards Best Revival of a Musical Dodger Theatricals

Videos