A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum 1962 - Articles Page 1.8

Opened: May 8, 1962

A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum - 1962 - Broadway History , Info & More

Majestic Theatre (Broadway)
245 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.

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Alexandra Billings & Jane Kaczmarek to be Featured in INTO THE WOODS Presented by Pasadena Playhouse & P.U.S.D.
by Chloe Rabinowitz - Jan 6, 2023


In a landmark partnership, Pasadena Playhouse has been collaborating with all of the high schools of Pasadena Unified School District (PUSD) over the past 6 months to realize the students’ vision of Into the Woods.

Larry Owens' SONDHEIMIA, Bernadette Peters & More Announced for Pasadena Playhouse's Sondheim Celebration
by Chloe Rabinowitz - Nov 15, 2022


Pasadena Playhouse Producing Artistic Director Danny Feldman announced the latest news for the theater’s upcoming six-month-long celebration of the works and impact of Stephen Sondheim January 26 through June 11, 2023. 

Review: Celebrating Sondheim with The Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra at Kleinhans Musical Hall
by Michael Rabice - Oct 24, 2022


What did our critic think of Celebrating Sondheim with The Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra at Kleinhans Musical Hall?

Review: SONDHEIM ON SONDHEIM at Cain Park--Alma Theatre
by Roy Berko - Aug 7, 2022


What did our critic think of SONDHEIM ON SONDHEIM at Cain Park--Alma Theatre?

New Line Theatre Announces 31st Season
by Marissa Tomeo - May 21, 2022


New Line Theatre, “the bad boy of musical theatre,” has announced its 31st season of adult, alternative musical theatre, including the wild musical comedy SOMETHING ROTTEN, running Sept. 22-Oct. 15, 2022; followed by the electrifying concept musical, NINE, based on Federico Fellini's iconic film 8 1/2, running March 2-25, 2023; and the season closes with one of the great Stephen Sondheim's earliest works, the hilarious farce, A FUNNY THING HAPPENED ON THE WAY TO THE FORUM, based on the Roman comedies of Plautus, running June 1-24, 2023.

San Francisco Playhouse Announces Cast For FOLLIES Opening June 30
by A.A. Cristi - May 19, 2022


San Francisco Playhouse announced casting for Follies by James Goldman and Stephen Sondheim. The musical will run on the San Francisco Playhouse Mainstage from June 30 through September 10, 2022. Bill English will direct, with music direction by Dave Dobrusky and choreography by Nicole Helfer. This marks the first fully staged professional production of Follies in San Francisco.

Pasadena Playhouse Announces 2022/2023 Season Featuring Six-Month Sondheim Celebration
by Chloe Rabinowitz - May 19, 2022


Pasadena Playhouse has announced the 2022/2023 Season featuring a six-month-long celebration of the works and impact of Stephen Sondheim.  The State Theater of California’s Sondheim Celebration will begin in January 2023 and extend into June.  Find out what shows are included and the full schedule.

Natascia Diaz, Ryan Drummond & More to Star in FOLLIES at San Francisco Playhouse
by Chloe Rabinowitz - May 18, 2022


San Francisco Playhouse announced casting for Follies by James Goldman and Stephen Sondheim. The musical will run on the San Francisco Playhouse Mainstage from June 30 through September 10, 2022.

BWW Review: A FUNNY THING HAPPENED ON THE WAY TO THE FORUM at Desert Theatricals At Rancho Mirage Amphitheater
by Kay Kudukis - Apr 19, 2022


Ah, the old musicals, when PC didn't exist and, as the Cole Porter song says, Anything Goes. And so it went with the final production (with presenting partner The City of Rancho Mirage) of Desert Theatrical's 2021/2022 season A Funny Thing Happened On The Way To The Forum, a tale about a slave named Pseudolus (Gilmore Rizzo) trying to win his freedom by helping his young master Hero (Matthew Tucker) be with the young woman he loves, Philia (Emily Unnasch), who he has only seen through the window of the brothel next door. Yes, she is a courtesan, but she's a virgin (of course she is).

Porchlight Announces Cast of CHICAGO SINGS STEPHEN SONDHEIM, May 23
by A.A. Cristi - Apr 14, 2022


Porchlight Music Theatre has announced the current roster of music theatre and cabaret talent performing in this year’s annual Chicago Sings fundraising concert, Chicago Sings Stephen Sondheim, Monday, May 23, at the Museum of Contemporary Art.

VIDEO: Cynthia Erivo, Rachel Zegler, Ben Platt & Leslie Odom Jr. Sing Sondheim For the GRAMMYs In Memoriam
by Michael Major - Apr 4, 2022


Cynthia Erivo, Rachel Zegler, Ben Platt, and Leslie Odom Jr. took to the stage at the 64th Annual GRAMMY Awards to sing the music of Stephen Sondheim for the In Memoriam. The medley performance included 'Not a Day Goes By,' 'Send in the Clowns,' and 'Somewhere.' Watch the complete performance now!

Cynthia Erivo, Leslie Odom Jr., Ben Platt and Rachel Zegler Will Honor Stephen Sondheim at the Grammys
by Stephi Wild - Mar 24, 2022


A special tribute to Stephen Sondheim will take place during this year's Grammy Awards, Variety reports. Sung by Cynthia Erivo, Leslie Odom Jr., Ben Platt and Rachel Zegler, the performance will be part of the show's traditional In Memoriam segment, which honors those we have lost in the past year.

VIDEO: Remembering Stephen Sondheim and Celebrating Andrew Lloyd Webber on Their Shared Birthday
by Stephi Wild - Mar 22, 2022


Today, BroadwayWorld is remembering Stephen Sondheim, and celebrating Andrew Lloyd Webber, both of whom share March 22nd as their birthday!

Rosalie Craig, Julian Ovenden, and More Join Sondheim at OLD FRIENDS Gala
by A.A. Cristi - Mar 17, 2022


This May 3, stars of the West End will gather to salute the legacy of the legendary Stephen Sondheim at a gala performance titled, Old Friends.

Stephen Sondheim Tribute Series Announced at Museum of the Moving Image
by Chloe Rabinowitz - Mar 15, 2022


 Museum of the Moving Image has announced See It Big: Sondheim, a ten-film series devoted to the celebrated composer, lyricist, author, artist, and all-around innovator Stephen Sondheim. When Sondheim died last November, he didn’t just leave behind an extraordinary corpus of work—he had exited a world that his art had forever changed.

Bernadette Peters, Judi Dench, Imelda Staunton, and More to Celebrate Stephen Sondheim at OLD FRIENDS Gala
by A.A. Cristi - Mar 3, 2022


This May 3, stars of the West End will gather to salute the legacy of the legendary Stephen Sondheim at a gala performance titled, Old Friends.

VIDEO: JEOPARDY Features 'Remembering Stephen Sondheim' Category
by Stephi Wild - Mar 2, 2022


Last night's episode of Jeopardy featured a category called 'Remembering Stephen Sondheim', featuring clues about some of the legendary composer's most notable work.

What Was the Golden Age of Broadway?
by Team BWW - Feb 19, 2022


Just last week, The Music Man marched back to Broadway- the latest revival of a show from musical theatre's most glorious time- the Golden Age. What was the Golden Age of Broadway all about and what years did it cover? Study up!

PEN America Announces Presenters And Performers For 2022 Pen America Literary Awards,
by A.A. Cristi - Feb 15, 2022


PEN America today announces the presenters introducing the 2022 Literary Awards' three career achievement honorees, and the performers who will take the stage at New York City's Town Hall (123 W. 43rd St.) for the momentous celebration of this year's most resonant literature, held on February 28 as an in-person event hosted by Emmy Award-winning late night host Seth Meyers.

WATCH: Library of Congress Releases Unseen Stephen Sondheim Interviews
by Chloe Rabinowitz - Feb 2, 2022


The Library of Congress has released hours of previously unseen interviews with late composer-lyricist Stephen Sondheim. Sondheim discusses Into the Woods, Assassins,  Sunday in the Park With George, Sweeney Todd and more. 

MOMENTS A Musical Celebration of Stephen Sondheim Announced at Trinity Street Playhouse
by A.A. Cristi - Jan 20, 2022


City Theatre Austin presents a special one-weekend performance event honoring Stephen Sondheim - the giant, the genius, who revolutionized musical theatre as its most influential writer and composer.

Ellen's Stardust Diner to Honor Stephen Sondheim
by Chloe Rabinowitz - Jan 20, 2022


Ellen’s Stardust Diner will honor the late Broadway legend, composer Stephen Sondheim, with Monday in the Diner with Sondheim on January 24th, from 7-11pm.

GOLFUS DE ROMA se despide de Madrid este domingo
by Juan-Jose Gonzalez - Jan 13, 2022


El 16 de enero la comedia musical de Stephen Sondheim con Carlos Latre baja el telón en el Teatro de La Latina.

Sondheim Songs Weave Tale Of Love In ICT's MARRY ME A LITTLE
by A.A. Cristi - Jan 4, 2022


International City Theatre pays tribute to the late, great Stephen Sondheim, kicking off its 37th season with Marry Me A Little. A must-see for Sondheim aficionados, this bittersweet musical two-hander, which weaves 17 of Sondheim's lesser-known songs into a tale of love and loneliness, was first conceived and developed by Craig Lucas and Norman René.

GOLFUS DE ROMA celebra 100 funciones con un homenaje a Sondheim
by Juan-Jose Gonzalez - Dec 22, 2021


El musical protagonizado por Carlos Latre se representa en el Teatro La Latina de Madrid hasta el 16 de enero.

A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

What productions of A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum have there been?
A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum has had 15 productions including Broadway which opened in 1962, Broadway which opened in 1962, West End which opened in 1963, US Tour which opened in 1963, Regional (US) which opened in 1971, Broadway which opened in 1972, Broadway which opened in 1972, West End which opened in 1986, US Tour which opened in 1987, Off-Broadway which opened in 1991, Off-Broadway which opened in 1991, Broadway which opened in 1996, Broadway which opened in 1996, West End which opened in 2004 and St. Louis, MO (Regional) which opened in 2017.
What Tony Awards has A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum been nominated for?
Best Musical , , Best Direction of a Musical for Burt SheveloveBest Direction of a Musical for George Abbott and Producer (Musical) for Harold Prince.
What Tony Awards has A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum won?
Best Musical, Best Direction of a Musical for Burt Shevelove, Best Direction of a Musical for George Abbott , Producer (Musical) for Harold Prince, .

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