A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum 1962

Opened: May 8, 1962

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

Alvin Theatre
250 W. 52nd 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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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).

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

Comedy Tonight
Love, I Hear
Free
The House of Marcus Lycus [i]
Lovely
Pretty Little Picture
Everybody Ought to Have a Maid
I'm Calm
Impossible
Bring Me My Bride
That Dirty Old Man
That'll Show Him
Funeral Sequence and Dance
Love Is in the Air
Your Eyes Are Blue
Echo Song
Invocation
I Do Like You
The House of Marcus Lycus [ii]
Something About a War
The Gaggle of Geese
Window Across the Way
Miles Gloriosus
Farewell
That Dirty Old Man
That'll Show Him
Funeral
Overture
Comedy Tonight
Love, I Hear
Free
Lovely
Pretty Little Picture
Everybody Ought to Have a Maid
I'm Calm
Bring Me My Bride
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.
Best Musical , , Best Direction of a Musical for Burt SheveloveBest Direction of a Musical for George Abbott and Producer (Musical) for Harold Prince.
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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