Bianco Joins Cast Of FORBIDDEN BROADWAY, Transferring To Vaudeville Theatre From Sep 2014!

Following a sold-out and critically acclaimed run at the Menier Chocolate Factory, the theatre is delighted to announce its "breathtakingly funny" (Guardian) production of FORBIDDEN BROADWAY will transfer to the West End's Vaudeville Theatre on Tuesday 9th September - 22nd November, with press night on Monday 15th September at 7 pm.

Joining the cast is YouTube sensation Christina Bianco, who has played in Forbidden Broadway: Goes to Rehab in New York (Drama Desk nomination for Best Supporting Actress in a Musical) and will shortly be seen in Divallusion with Christina Bianco and Velma Celli at the Edinburgh Festival. To date, her latest YouTube video of Let It Go has received over 5 million views.

The cast includes Anna-Jane Casey (Billy Elliot at the Victoria Palace, Spamalot at the Playhouse, Companyat the Crucible, Sheffield, and Sunday in the Park with George and the 2009 production of Forbidden Broadwayat the Chocolate Factory); Damian Humbley (Charley Kringas in the Chocolate Factory's Olivier Award winning production of Merrily We Roll Along, Seymour in the UK tour of the Chocolate Factory's production ofLittle Shop of Horrors, Company at the Crucible, Sheffield, Lend Me a Tenor - the Musical at the Gielgud Theatre, and The Last Five Years at the Chocolate Factory); and Ben Lewis (Candide at the Chocolate Factory, Therese Raquin at the Finborough, the Australian productions of Love Never Dies, A Little Night Music, Spamalot and Priscilla -- Queen of the Desert).

This updated version of the show showcases some of the best productions from both Broadway and the West End, including The Book of Mormon, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Once, Matilda, Wicked, Miss Saigon,and brand new material added for the West End.

Menier Chocolate Factory Artistic Director David Babani says: I am delighted and overwhelmed by the critical response and the speed at which tickets have sold out for Forbidden Broadway at the Menier Chocolate Factory. I can't think of a more fitting way to celebrate our 10th anniversary year than to transfer our wonderful production to the Vaudeville Theatre in the West End so that many more people will get to the opportunity to enjoy it!

FORBIDDEN BROADWAY has been an unstoppable force in theatre since 1982, when Gerard Alessandrinicreated the first edition that lampooned the Broadway shows and stars of the day. It has been a favourite among theatre lovers, as well as the Broadway stars themselves (Angela Lansbury, Kathleen Turner, Bernadette Peters, Andrew Lloyd Webber, Elaine Paige, Stephen Sondheim, Cameron Mackintosh, and Hal Prince among others), who often stop by to laugh at themselves alongside the public.

FORBIDDEN BROADWAY has won numerous awards in its history including the 2008 Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Musical Revue, the Special Tony Honor for Excellence in the Theatre, six additional Drama Desk Awards, Outer Critics Circle, Drama League, Obie and Lucille Lortel Awards. A theatrical institution,Forbidden Broadway has received national and international notoriety, racking up over 9,000 performances in more than 200 US cities as well as engagements in London (including the Chocolate Factory in 2009), Tokyo,Singapore and Sydney.

FORBIDDEN BROADWAY is created and written by Gerard Alessandrini; direction and choreography by Phillip George; musical supervision and direction by Joel Fram; design by Morgan Large; lighting design by Nick Richings and sound design by Gareth Owen.

FORBIDDEN BROADWAY is presented by Chocolate Factory Productions Ltd, Thelma Holt Ltd, Tanya Link Productions and Glass Half Full / Just For Laughs Theatricals in association with John Freedson and Harriet Yellin.