"Forbidden Broadway: Merrily We Stole a Song" - by Gerard Alessandrini - Emerson Colonial Theatre (Boston, MA.) - REVIEW
(Cover Photo: Danny Hayward and Chris Collins-Pisano go "Back in Time" in the Broadway musical spoof, "FORBIDDEN BROADWAY: MERRILY WE STOLE A SONG" now playing at the Emerson Colonial Theatre in Boston, MA. through February 9, 2025. Photo Courtesy Emerson Colonial Theatre)
By Kevin T. Baldwin
METRMAG Reviewer
# 774-242-6724
"Ethel Merman sneered. Mary Martin Cheered"
- Gerard Alessandrini
The Emerson Colonial Theatre
Presents Direct from Smash New York Engagement
"FORBIDDEN BROADWAY: MERRILY WE STOLE A SONG!"
Two Performances Only!
Written and Directed by Gerard Alessandrini
Music Director Fred Barton
Choreographer Gerry McIntyre
Cast Includes: Chris Collins-Pisano, Danny Hayward, Jenny Lee Stern, and Nicole Vanessa Ortiz
Additional Creative Team:
Producers - John Freedson and Harriet Yellin; Set Design - Glenn Bassett; Costume Design - Dustin Cross; Hair and Wig Design - Ian Joseph.
Performances:
February 8, 2025 through February 9,2025
(Contact Box Office for Exact Times)
EMERSON COLONIAL THEATRE, 106 Boylston St, Boston, MA. 02116
TICKETS:
By phone # 888-616-0272 Box Office Hours: Monday-Friday: 9am - 8pm (EST); Saturday-Sunday: 10am - 8pm (EST).
THE EMERSON COLONIAL THEATRE Box Office is located at 106 Boylston Street, Boston, MA. 02116.
THE EMERSON COLONIAL THEATRE website is the official source for tickets: http://www.emersoncolonialtheatre.com/
BUY TICKETS
(Please note: the following review is for a performance already passed).
Emerson Colonial Theatre hosts the fabulously funny "FORBIDDEN BROADWAY: MERRILY WE STOLE A SONG" a revue parodying musical theatre, particularly Broadway musicals.
The show is the latest in the "FORBIDDEN BROADWAY" series which has had a long, prolific legacy and for decades has been a theatre fan favorite.
The original "FORBIDDEN BROADWAY" revue was conceived, written and directed by Gerard Alessandrini.
The 90-minute show is performed by a cast of four (Chris Collins-Pisano, Danny Hayward, Jenny Lee Stern, and Nicole Vanessa Ortiz) with Fred Barton serving piano accompanist.
(Photo: Jenny Lee Stern, Chris Collins-Pisano and Danny Hayward spoof the musical "The Outsiders" in the Broadway parody revue, "FORBIDDEN BROADWAY: MERRILY WE STOLE A SONG" now playing at the Emerson Colonial Theatre in Boston, MA. through February 9, 2025. Photo Courtesy Emerson Colonial Theatre)
The intent of the revue is to skewer new musicals and productions and this latest versatile touring cast impresses greatly with vocal highlights including:
- * Danny Hayward giving us a history of "Cabaret" impersonating past "emcees" Joel Grey, Alan Cummings and Eddie Redmayne;
- * Chris Collins-Pisano paying a marvelous vocal homage to singers Jeremy Jordan and Ben Platt;
- * Jenny Lee Stern doing likewise with a spot-on vocal impersonation of the "Queen Mother of Sondheim
- Musicals" Bernadette Peters, and;
- * Nicole Vanessa Ortiz sending up Audra McDonald as "Mama Rose" in the musical "Gypsy."
"FORBIDDEN BROADWAY" has been seen in more than 200 cities in the U.S. and has been performed all around the world.
The original "FORBIDDEN BROADWAY" debuted in 1982, at a supper club in New York City and ran for 2,332 performances.
(Photo: Chris Collins-Pisano and Jenny Lee Stern examine the shows "Oh, Mary" and "Suffs" in a moment from the Broadway parody revue, "FORBIDDEN BROADWAY: MERRILY WE STOLE A SONG" now playing at the Emerson Colonial Theatre in Boston, MA. through February 9, 2025. Photo Courtesy Emerson Colonial Theatre)
"FORBIDDEN BROADWAY," in its combined editions, to date has celebrated at least a whopping 9,000 performances.
The show has also spawned at least 14 various cast recordings including: “FORBIDDEN BROADWAY, VOL. 1”; “FORBIDDEN BROADWAY, VOL. 2”; “FORBIDDEN BROADWAY, VOL. 3”; “FORBIDDEN HOLLYWOOD”; “FORBIDDEN BROADWAY STRIKES BACK”; “FORBIDDEN BROADWAY CLEANS UP ITS ACT”; “FORBIDDEN BROADWAY: 20TH ANNIVERSARY EDITION”; “FORBIDDEN BROADWAY 2001: A SPOOF ODYSSEY”; “FORBIDDEN BROADWAY: SPECIAL VICTIMS UNIT”; “FORBIDDEN BROADWAY: RUDE AWAKENING”; “FORBIDDEN BROADWAY GOES TO REHAB“; “FORBIDDEN BROADWAY: ALIVE & KICKING!”; “FORBIDDEN BROADWAY COMES OUT SWINGING!” and “FORBIDDEN BROADWAY: THE NEXT GENERATION!”
(Photo: Jenny Lee Stern and Danny Hayward during a 'serious' look at the history of "Cabaret" in the Broadway musical parody revue, "FORBIDDEN BROADWAY: MERRILY WE STOLE A SONG" now playing at the Emerson Colonial Theatre in Boston, MA. through February 9, 2025. Photo Courtesy Emerson Colonial Theatre)
The show’s creator Alessandrini has since updated the show over the years to include parodies of more recent shows.
Editions of “FORBIDDEN BROADWAY” include:“FORBIDDEN BROADWAY” (1982–1987)“FORBIDDEN BROADWAY 1988/1989” (1988–1989)“FORBIDDEN BROADWAY 1990” (1990–1991)“FORBIDDEN BROADWAY 1991½” (1991–1992)“FORBIDDEN BROADWAY 1992” (1992)“FORBIDDEN BROADWAY (FEATURING “FORBIDDEN CHRISTMAS”)” (1992)“FORBIDDEN BROADWAY 1993” (1993–1993)“FORBIDDEN BROADWAY 1994” (1993–1994)“FORBIDDEN BROADWAY STRIKES BACK” (1996–1998) “FORBIDDEN BROADWAY CLEANS UP ITS ACT” (1998–2000) “FORBIDDEN BROADWAY 2001: A SPOOF ODYSSEY” (2000–2001) “FORBIDDEN BROADWAY 20TH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION” (2001–2004)“FORBIDDEN BROADWAY SUMMER SHOCK!” (2004)“FORBIDDEN BROADWAY: SPECIAL VICTIMS UNIT” (2004–2007) “FORBIDDEN BROADWAY: THE ROAST OF UTOPIA” (2007)“FORBIDDEN BROADWAY: RUDE AWAKENING” (2007–2008) “FORBIDDEN BROADWAY DANCES WITH THE STARS!” (2008)“FORBIDDEN BROADWAY GOES TO REHAB” (2008–2009)“FORBIDDEN BROADWAY: ALIVE AND KICKING!” (2012–2013)“FORBIDDEN BROADWAY COMES OUT SWINGING” (2014)“FORBIDDEN BROADWAY: WEST END” (2014)“FORBIDDEN BROADWAY: THE NEXT GENERATION” (2019)
(Photo: Nicole Vanessa Ortiz satirizes Audra McDonald's take on Rose in "Gypsy" in the Broadway musical spoof, "FORBIDDEN BROADWAY: MERRILY WE STOLE A SONG" now playing at the Emerson Colonial Theatre in Boston, MA. through February 9, 2025. Photo Courtesy Emerson Colonial Theatre)
The "FORBIDDEN BROADWAY" series has been nominated five times for the Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Revue, winning three times (2001, 2005 and 2008).
It also won Drama Desk Special Awards in 1985 and 2009.
For this latest edition, "FORBIDDEN BROADWAY: MERRILY WE STOLE A SONG," the extremely talented quartet of performers has been directed by Alessandrini with choreography by Gerry McIntyre and music direction by accompanist Barton.
While performed on the vast Emerson Colonial Theatre stage, the revue retains its original and marvelously intimate cabaret feel.
(Photo: Danny Hayward and Chris Collins-Pisano go "Back in Time" in the Broadway musical spoof, "FORBIDDEN BROADWAY: MERRILY WE STOLE A SONG" now playing at the Emerson Colonial Theatre in Boston, MA. through February 9, 2025. Photo Courtesy Emerson Colonial Theatre)
"FORBIDDEN BROADWAY: MERRILY WE STOLE A SONG" looks at the world of Broadway, lampooning a plethora of highs and lows, trends and gimmicks, hits and flops, performers and plots of this past season of musicals.
Some "targets" of the hilarious parodying quartet include shows "Cabaret," Back to the Future," "Gypsy," "Suffs," "The Outsiders," "Oh, Mary," "Bonnie and Clyde" and more; with attention paid to actors such as Jeremy Jordan, Audra McDonald, Eddie Redmayne, Bernadette Peters, among others.
While the intent may be to skewer and lambaste the above with unabashed abandon, "FORBIDDEN BROADWAY" never comes across as mean-spirited, which is probably the main reason it has successfully endured and may also be the reason why, in 2006, the show and Alessandrini were awarded Tony Honors for Excellence in Theatre.
There is also a surprising look at composer Stephen Sondheim and his musical theatre legacy which begins with a twisted laugh but ends with a surprising twist of unbridled sincerity.
The "FORBIDDEN BROADWAY: MERRILY WE STOLE A SONG" continues at the Emerson Colonial Theatre in Boston until February 9th and, after four decades and with the musical laughs coming every few seconds, it is still a Broadway treat that remains relevant.
For tickets and more information, phone # 888-616-0272.
THE EMERSON COLONIAL THEATRE Box Office is located at 106 Boylston Street, Boston, MA 02116.
THE EMERSON COLONIAL THEATRE website is the official source for tickets:
http://www.emersoncolonialtheatre.com/
BUY TICKETS
Approximately 90 minutes with no intermission
Kevin T. Baldwin is a member of the American Theatre Critics Association (ATCA)
@MetrmagReviews
@Theatre_Critics
ABOUT THE SHOW
Starring the acclaimed New York Cast, this “devastatingly funny!” musical revue is written & directed by Boston native Gerard Alessandrini and features up-to-the-minute spoofs of Broadway’s biggest shows.
THE EMERSON COLONIAL THEATRE, an ATG Entertainment venue, is pleased to announce that the Tony Award-winning "FORBIDDEN BROADWAY" Gerard Alessandrini’s hilarious musical spoof of Broadway’s biggest shows and brightest stars, will make a three-performance stop at THE EMERSON COLONIAL THEATRE on February 8 & 9, 2025.
The all-new edition "FORBIDDEN BROADWAY: MERRILY WE STOLE A SONG!" wowed critics when it opened off-Broadway this past September, with The Wall Street Journal calling it “DEVASTATINGLY FUNNY!
Merry musical larceny with flagrant and funny abandon” and Theatermania proclaiming “it’s GLORIOUS, as refreshing as it is HYSTERICAL!”
Feeling “completely inspired” by the latest crop of Broadway musicals, Boston native Alessandrini lampoons the biggest shows and stars in this edition, which he also directs.
Up to the minute spoofs include comic looks at Eddie Redmayne in "Cabaret,"Audra MacDonald in "Gypsy,""The Outsiders," "& Juliet," "Six" and "Back to the Future," plus parodies of Cynthia Erivo in the film version of "Wicked" and recent Sondheim hits "Merrily We Roll Along" and "Company."
Whether you are a seasoned theatre-goer or new to it all, the Tony Award-winning "FORBIDDEN BROADWAY" is your one-stop ticket to non-stop laughs: a hip and fresh view of theatre's tried and true that will leave you begging for more!
TICKETS available by phone # 888-616-0272
BUY TICKETS
ABOUT THE EMERSON COLONIAL THEATRE
In its storied history, THE EMERSON COLONIAL THEATRE has debuted such seminal Broadway shows as Anything Goes, Porgy and Bess, Oklahoma!, Born Yesterday, Follies, A Little Night Music, Grand Hotel and La Cage aux Folles, among others. Reviving a great theatrical tradition, Boston’s newly restored EMERSON COLONIAL THEATRE officially re-opened its doors in July 2018 with the pre-Broadway World Premiere of Moulin Rouge! The Musical. THE EMERSON COLONIAL THEATRE, which opened in 1900 with a production of Ben-Hur, is the oldest continuously operated theater in Boston; as well as being amongst the most magnificent, having retained most of its original period details. A theatre for the community, EMERSON COLONIAL THEATRE will once again contribute to the rich cultural landscape of Boston, with a new and varied program of Broadway shows, live music, comedy and events.
106 Boylston Street
Boston, MA. 02116
