FORBIDDEN BROADWAY: GREATEST HITS, VOLUME 2 Opens 4/14 at Musical Theatre West

Musical Theatre West has announced the opening of Forbidden Broadway: GREATEST HITS, VOLUME 2; previewing April 13th, with opening night April 14th and running for an additional 12 performances through April 29, 2012.

The cast of Musical Theatre West’s production of Forbidden Broadway: GREATEST HITS, VOLUME 2 are Larry Raben(Broadway: THE PRODUCERS; Off-Broadway: FOREVER PLAID Original Cast; MTW: Forbidden Broadway: GREATEST HITS, VOLUME 1, THE PRODUCERS, THE ANDREWS BROTHERS), David Engel (Broadway: SEUSSICAL, PUTTING IT TOGETHER, LA CAGE AUX FOLLES; Off- Broadway: FOREVER PLAID Original Cast; MTW: HAIRSPRAY, THE FULL MONTY,  THE PRODUCERS, THE ANDREWS BROTHERS, Forbidden Broadway: GREATEST HITS, VOLUME 1, CRAZY FOR YOU, LA CAGE AUX FOLLES), Susanne Blakeslee (Off-Broadway: Forbidden Broadway, MTW: Forbidden Broadway: GREATEST HITS, VOLUME 1) and Valerie Fagan (Broadway: The Addams Family; Off-Broadway: Forbidden Broadway, RUDE AWAKENING; National Tour: MAN OF LA MANCHA, LES MISERABLES).

Nothing is sacred to the sharp wit and barbed satire of Gerard Alessandrini. Forbidden Broadway, before closing in 2009, ran 26 years, making it one of the longest running Off-Broadway hits of all time. In an all-new edition, your favorite shows… BEAUTY AND THE BEAST, THE SOUND OF MUSIC, RENT, LES MISERABLES, ANNIE, CATS, THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA. Your favorite stars...Liza, Carol Channing, Ethel Merman, Michael Crawford. Forbidden Broadway: GREATEST HITS, VOLUME 2 is a hilarious musical that, in reality, is over 20 shows rolled into one – the big moments AND the big mistakes.

Forbidden Broadway was first seen at Palsson’s Supper Club on New York’s Upper West Side in January 1982. An unemployed actor, Gerard Alessandrini, wanted a showcase for his talents. He decided to assemble some of the musical parodies of Broadway shows he had written since childhood into a nightclub act. Critics and audiences were wowed, and it become New York’s longest running musical comedy revue. Forbidden Broadway won the Drama Desk, Obie and Outer Critics Circle awards. Most of its victims (stars and casts) made a point of stopping by to see what Gerard Alessandrini had done to them. Forbidden Broadwayhas had several editions, countless revisions, three New York City performance spaces, several national and international tours, and thousands of special performances. The show also became known for talented but as yet unknown actors, many of whom went on to stardom on Broadway, television and in the movies. Looking back at Forbidden Broadway provides an informal and very funny history of the American musical theater. As long as Broadway and Hollywood exist, there will be a Forbidden Broadway, poking, prodding, teasing, pleasing, jeering and cheering – but always with love. 

Forbidden Broadway: GREATEST HITS, VOLUME 2 will be directed and staged by William Selby (MTW: Forbidden Broadway GREATEST HITS, VOLUME 1), with musical director Matthew Smedal (MTW: MAN OF LA MANCHA, 1776; Regional: SINGIN’ IN THE RAIN, JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR, HELLO AGAIN). Forbidden Broadway: GREATEST HITS, VOLUME 2will run April 13-29, 2012 at the beautiful Carpenter Performing Arts Center. 

The performance schedule for Forbidden Broadway: GREATEST HITS, VOLUME 2 is Thursdays and Fridays at 8 p.m., Saturdays at 2 p.m. and 8 p.m. (no 2 p.m. show on April 14th) and Sundays at 2 p.m., with a 7 p.m. performance added on April 22. Tickets start at $20 with a $3 service charge per ticket. Prices are subject to change without notice. Group rates are available for 15 or more. Musical Theatre West performs at the Carpenter Performing Arts Center located at 6200 E. Atherton Street, Long Beach, CA 90815.

Tickets for Forbidden Broadway: GREATEST HITS, VOLUME 2 are on sale now and may be purchased online atwww.musical.org or by phone at 562-856-1999 x4. Tickets may also be purchased in person at the Musical Theatre West Box Office located at 4350 E. 7^th Street, Long Beach, CA 90804 from noon to 6 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday.

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