Forbidden Broadway's Satirical Masterpiece: A Hilarious Celebration of Musical Theater

Calling all theater enthusiasts! The iconic satirical series "Forbidden Broadway" has returned with a brand-new installment, "Merrily We Stole a Song," delivering a hilarious and insightful take on the world of musical theater. Featuring a talented cast of four, the show promises a non-stop barrage of witty spoofs, spot-on impersonations, and infectious energy that will delight both seasoned theatergoers and newcomers alike.

Unleash Your Inner Theater Nerd with Forbidden Broadway's Latest Masterpiece

Curtain Call: A Meta-Theatrical Delight

The show opens with a meta-theatrical curtain speech, where an irritable usher (played by Jenny Lee Stern) forcefully insists that an audience member (Chris Collins-Pisano) take his seat. This sets the tone for the evening, as the audience is immediately drawn into the world of the theater, with the performers breaking the fourth wall and engaging the audience in a playful and interactive manner.The opening number, "Sit Down You're Blocking the Aisle," set to the tune of "Sit Down You're Rocking the Boat" from the classic musical "Guys and Dolls," sets the stage for the riotous performances to come. Even before the cast takes the stage, the audience is already immersed in the world of theater, with the set design (by Glenn Bassett) and the backdrop of a silver mylar curtain creating a sense of anticipation and excitement.

Traveling Through Time and Saving Sondheim

One of the standout segments of the show is a two-part take-off on "Back to the Future," featuring Danny Hayward as Casey Likes' Marty McFly and Collins-Pisano as Roger Bart's Doc Brown. The duo travel through time, from 1945 to the 23rd century, in a hilarious attempt to save the young Stephen Sondheim from pursuing a career in car design and instead, return him to the path of becoming an icon of musical theater.This segment seamlessly transitions into the "Sondheim Revival Intro" and the "Old Friends" number from the show's titular inspiration, "Merrily We Roll Along." The cast's impersonations of Jonathan Groff, Lindsay Mendez, and Daniel Radcliffe (as Harry Potter) are both spot-on and side-splitting, showcasing the ensemble's impressive range and comedic chops.

Powerhouse Vocals and Impersonations

The show is filled with standout performances, including Nicole Vanessa Ortiz's powerhouse vocals and amazing range as "Audra in Gypsy," where she competes with the legendary Ethel Merman. Hayward, Collins-Pisano, and Stern also shine in "The Outsiders," a hilarious number that pokes fun at the idea of being "in" and "out" in the theater world.One of the most impressive segments is Ortiz and Stern's "Hell's Kitchen and Alicia's Piano Lesson," where they sing "This Show's a Big Liar" to the melody of Keyes' "Girl on Fire," setting the record straight on the true identity of Alicia's piano teacher. The attention to detail and the cast's ability to seamlessly transition between characters and musical styles is truly remarkable.

Satirizing the Broadway Landscape

The show also takes aim at the snob appeal of "Lincoln Center" and the lack of originality in many jukebox musicals and adaptations of old books and films. In the "Power of Math" number, a take-off on "The Power of Love" from "Back to the Future," the cast suggests various "Broadway Rip-off Combinations" that have been mashed together to create a "new" show, such as "Hamilton" plus "Annie" equals "Suffs."The cast's hilarious take on "Jellicle Cat Ball" from "Cats" is another standout, as they voguing, camping it up, and snapping their fans while asking the tongue-in-cheek question, "What the hell is a jellicle cat?"

Tracing the Evolution of "Cabaret"

One of the most memorable segments is Hayward and Stern's take on "Cabaret," where they trace the history of the Emcees and Sally Bowles from the show's 1966 Broadway debut with Joel Grey and Liza Minnelli to its present revival with over-the-top crazed performances by Eddie Redmayne and Gayle Rankin. This segment is not only hilarious but also a testament to the cast's ability to capture the essence of these iconic characters and performances.Throughout the show, the cast's energy, comedic timing, and vocal prowess are on full display, keeping the audience in stitches from start to finish. The creative costumes, wigs, and props by the design team further enhance the experience, transporting the audience to the world of musical theater and its many quirks and idiosyncrasies.