Will Forbidden Broadway ever rise from the ashers, much like a phoenix? I can only imagine what they would do to "Spiderman". from RC in Austin, Texas (NYC: March 15-18, 2011)
"Noel [Coward] and I were in Paris once. Adjoining rooms, of course. One night, I felt mischievous, so I knocked on Noel's door, and he asked, 'Who is it?' I lowered my voice and said 'Hotel detective. Have you got a gentleman in your room?' He answered, 'Just a minute, I'll ask him.'" (Beatrice Lillie)
I was just thinking about this the other day. They could do half their show just on Spiderman material. It needs to return!!
A Chorus Line revival played its final Broadway performance on August 17, 2008. The tour played its final performance on August 21, 2011. A new non-equity tour started in October 2012 played its final performance on March 23, 2013. Another non-equity tour launched on January 20, 2018. The tour ended its US run in Kansas City and then toured throughout Japan August & September 2018.
"I like Forbidden Broadway. I got comps. I saw it many times. It was good each time. One time it was great. I think a lot of times it was great too. They are funny. I don't pay to see it. It is free. For me. Forbidden Broadway is love. Please come back Forbidden Broadway. I saw a puppet once in the street and gave it a hug. Hugs are like Forbidden Broadway. When I get comps."
When FORBIDDEN BWY was good, it was very good. I did, however, catch a few versions of it that fell flat. At one performance, Mayor Ed Koch was in the audience and we talked about the show during intermission. He agreed with me that many of the jokes were missing their marks.
I don't think I bothered going back after that one.
I always thought that it WAS a yearly event and it switched out premises every other Broadway season. When I lived there in 06, SVU was running and I know there have been two or three since. I hope it comes back.
Two years ago the local summer theater--The Gateway--brought in the touring company for a week. I didn't see it but I understand they added lots of regional jokes.
This is the second year (though not consecutive) that the Adrienne Arsht Center in Miami brings in Forbidden Broadway. I wasn't aware it was no longer playing in NYC. Like Dollypop said, they added a lot of regional jokes, playing only songs from shows that have played the Miami/Ft Lauderdale circuit, so a lot of Mamma Mia, Lion King, and Wicked jokes. I don't remember laughing too much this time, and was disappointed when they didn't sing "Chita-Rita"
Forbidden was suffering from too many OLD OLD OLD OLD OLD sketches. "I'm 30 years old Tomorrow" zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz
I think the best thing for the show is to take this hiatus like it did in the early 90's so it can come back with a nice array of new material ... I am sure Gerard is chomping at the bit to come back .. but why reopen it for the sake of one or two new numbers.
A yearly event would be great. Do it June-August, since most new shows (and source material) are released February-April, and high tourist time combined with the dedicated fans that only want to see it every time it's new would be enough to fill small theaters for a few months a year, rather than struggling to fill the theater for 400 performances a year.
In the meantime, for those who have the good fortune to visit San Francisco, there's the West Coast cousin of "Forbidden Broadway..... Beach Blanket Babylon. Every once in a while, I listen to FB's Patti LuPone's "Gypsy" on Sirius XM on Broadway. It's a scream! Is it available for download (I mean legally)? from RC in Austin, Texas... NYC: March 15-18, 2011
"Noel [Coward] and I were in Paris once. Adjoining rooms, of course. One night, I felt mischievous, so I knocked on Noel's door, and he asked, 'Who is it?' I lowered my voice and said 'Hotel detective. Have you got a gentleman in your room?' He answered, 'Just a minute, I'll ask him.'" (Beatrice Lillie)
I certainly hope it makes a comeback - it always was the best value for money compared to Broadway shows.
To illustrate just how much they kept up-to-date, I bought the cd of "Forbidden Broadway:Special Victims Unit" but by the time I saw the show it was pretty much a different show!