Oh god. - Broadway Abridged

Forbidden Broadway Will Close in January 2009

Forbidden Broadway, the Gerard Alessandrini revue that has become an Off-Broadway institution since its premiere in 1982 at Palsson's Supper Club, will close in January 2009.

The latest edition of the revue, Forbidden Broadway Goes to Rehab, will play its final performance at the 47th Street Theatre Jan. 15, 2009. The production, which is currently in previews, is scheduled to officially open Sept. 17.

I just had a minor heart attack.

Mr. Alessandrini, you have always been a true inspiration to me, and you've given me self-confidence and a way down the path. Without you, I don't know that I'd be where I am today. You once said that "anybody could do your job". It's not so. You have a gift, a sense of the audience, the ability to craft lyrics that put you on a level that "parody lyricist" cannot effectively communicate. I hope your hiatus is a short one, and I hope that in the short absence Broadway notices that they didn't realize they'd miss you so much.

Rock on, Gerard.

3 Comments

Mike B. | September 12, 2008 3:12 PM

It's closed before and come back stronger. It needs to be stronger, frankly; the mixing of old and new sketches in recent years has resulted in pretty weak tea.If he stays away for a few years and comes back with all new material at a watershed moment in theatre history (as he did when RENT opened), he'll have a show that can run another two decades.

Gil | September 12, 2008 3:15 PM

It's closed before and come back stronger, yes, it's just been a long time. I hope it does exactly what you say.It's often about what's out to parody now. Weird Al usually waits for the right song to parody before releasing a new album. It's the same with Forbidden Broadway.

Tabes Bridges | September 13, 2008 3:07 AM

He detailed the problem in the liner notes of Rude Awakening. As made plain in the Spamalot parody, metamusicals are doing his job for him, but not nearly as well.I saw FB for the first time two weeks ago, and the orchestra was only about 2/3 full, the mezz empty. I can't imagine it's that expensive to run...I don't know, is that pretty standard for the show? I'm certainly going back at least once before the closing.