‘FORBIDDEN SONDHEIM: Merrily We Stole A Song’ Begins October 27th
With three Stephen Sondheim landmark musicals currently playing in New York City, one might wonder, “what more can you ask for?”
Related post: “Two by Sondheim – Revival & Requiem”
The answer – a special new addition of the legendary Forbidden Broadway franchise parodying the incomparable composer/lyricist himself. After all, someone needs to make sure Uncle Steve’s work doesn’t become too exalted and venerated by his legions of fans. (not possible)
Starting October 27th, Forbidden Broadway creator, Gerard Alessandrini’s brand-new edition: FORBIDDEN SONDHEIM: Merrily we stole a Song, begins spoofing and paying tribute to his friend, the late Stephen Sondheim. Performances are Fridays and Saturdays at 8PM through November 25th with a special performance Monday, November 27th at 7:30PM,
The show inaugurates the new Green Fig Cabaret Theater at the Yotel (570 10th Avenue at 42nd Street -adjacent to The Green Room). Tickets are $49 and available by visiting thegreenroom42.venuetix.com. They are also available at the door beginning one hour before showtime. Drinks and dinner are available with no minimum.
Written and directed by Alessandrini, FORBIDDEN SONDHEIM: Merrily We Stole A Song includes many new parodies of Sondheim’s shows, and some classic favorites from Forbidden Broadway’s 40 years of spoofing Sondheim shows and stars. The cast includes Dayna Jarae Dantzler, Chris Collins-Pisano, Jenny Lee Stern, Michael West (as Stephen Sondheim), with Christine Pedi as special guest.
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Stephen Sondheim was a frequent visitor to Forbidden Broadway and was a friend, advisor and big supporter. He enjoyed laughing at himself, was a great sport, advising Alessandrini “The meaner the better!,” particularly in regard to parodies of his own shows. This special edition adds a new layer of humor to the Forbidden Broadway legacy.
“I feel like Forbidden Broadway and Stephen Sondheim have come full circle with this new Merrily We Stole a Song,” said Gerard Alessandrini.
“The very first Forbidden Broadway started previewing in late 1981, just as the original production of Merrily We Roll Along was opening on Broadway. In fact, our original show logo at that time, was a spoof on the real Merrily poster. And here we are again, re-opening the exact same time Merrily… has returned to Broadway. Both shows are now 42 years old. But this time Forbidden Sondheim has four decades of Sondheim spoofs to add to it!”
For anyone unfamiliar with Forbidden Broadway shows, thinking of them as mere parodies would be akin to thinking of a Lamborghini as just a car. They are part send up, part commentary, and part homage, all of which are crafted together with great brilliance by Alessandri. His musical re-writes are more than pointed word play. They ape the original shows’ style, creators, and performers in ways viciously cleaver, bitingly witty, and most of all absolutely hilarious. So much so, Forbidden Broadway and Gerard Alessandri received the Tony Honors for Excellence in the Theatre at the 2006 Tony Awards.
With the genius works of Stephen Sondheim as its genesis and the entire Forbidden Broadway show dedicated to the maestro himself, FORBIDDEN SONDHEIM promises to be a fitting, if not thoroughly irreverent, tribute to both.
FORBIDDEN SONDHEIM: Merrily We Stole A Song
Written and directed by Gerard Alessandrini
Musical Staging by Spamilton and Forbidden Broadway veteran, Gerry McIntyre.
With the original 1982 Forbidden Broadway Music Director, Fred Barton
Performances are Friday and Saturday evenings at 8PM through November 27th.
Monday, November 27th at 7:30PM.
Tickets are $49 and are available by visiting thegreenroom42.venuetix.com
And at the door one hour prior to curtain. No minimum, with drinks and dinner available.
Green Fig Cabaret Theater at the Yotel
