Forbidden Broadway, Vols. 1-4 [Box set] [Cast Recording] [Soundtrack]

Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com
The legendary off-Broadway revue Forbidden Broadway collects 15 years of its hilarious parodies (called "unoriginal cast recordings") into this four-CD box. No institution is safe from this astonishingly talented (and believable!) troupe of mimics led by Gerard Alessandrini, as they poke fun at the biggest shows and the biggest stars. Some examples: Patti LuPone's "I Get a Kick Out of You" becomes the self-adulating "I Get a Kick Out of Me" ("Some snort cocaine when they're low / I need no sniff 'cause I think, 'What's the diff? / I'm already terrific to see' / And I get a kick out of me."), and "I've Never Been in Love Before" from the often-revived Guys and Dolls becomes "I Know I've Seen This Show Before" ("Why take a chance on something new and bold / The better shows are old / And Sondheim is a chore."). Since it tends to skewer specific performers or productions, Forbidden Broadway can become dated quickly, but thanks to the miracle of cast recordings, not to mention interminable runs and tours--no names, please--the targets are still familiar, and the more you know, the more you'll laugh. It's like taking a very warped tour of the history of Broadway in the 1980s and '90s, and the Great White Way may never recover. --David Horiuchi

Tracks:

Forbidden Broadway - Original Casts
Amadeus (Non Piu Andrai) - Bill Carmichael
Evita (Don't Cry For Me, Argentina) - Nora Mae Lyng
Annie's Favorite Show Tune (Tomorrow) - Chloe Webb
Pirates Of Penzance Sequence - Gerard Alessandrini, Bill Carmichael, Nora Mae Lyng
Be A Catholic (Be Itallian) - Chloe Webb, Bill Carmichael, Gerard Alessandrini
Triplets (Triplets) - Bill Carmichael, Gerard Alessandrini, Chloe Webb
Bankable Stars (Beautiful Girls)/I'm Entertainment (That's Entertainment) - Bill Carmichael/Nora Mae Lyng
Angela Lansbury Sequence (Mame & If He Walked Into My Life) - Chloe Webb
I'm Sick Of Playing Their Songs (Audition Sequence: Soliloquy From 'Carousel' (Excerpts)/They're...) - Gerard Alessandrini, Fred Barton
Merman & Martin Sequence (It's De-Lovely, My Heart Belongs To Daddy, Mutual Admiration Society) - Nora Mae Lyng, Chloe Webb
Carol Channing Sequence (Call On Dolly, Diamonds Are A Girl's Best Friend, Hello, Dolly!) - Chloe Webb
Ambition (Tradition: Climb Ev'ry Mountain (Excerpt)) - Gerard Alessandrini & Original Casts
Forbidden Broadway (Reprise) - Original Casts

Tracks:

Opening & Who Do They Know - Michael McGrath & Toni DiBuono, Gerard Alessandrini
Forbidden Broadway Volume 2: The Company - Gerard Alessandrini, Toni DiBuono, Michael McGrath, Roxie Lucas, Phillip George, Linda Strasser, ...
Fugue For Tinhorns (Fugue For Scalpers) - Phillip George, Michael McGrath, John Freedson
Anything Goes & I Get A Kick Out Of You (Patti LuPone & I Get A Kick Out Of Me) - Patti LuPone & I Get A Kick Out Of Me, Toni DiBuono, Gerard Alessandrini, Michael McGrath, John...
Into The Woods & Weekend In The Country - Karen Murphy, Michael McGrath, Roxie Lucas, Phillip George
Tomorrow - Toni DiBuono
Poor Butterfly: (M. Butterfly (Un Bel Di & Poor Butterfly)) - Michael McGrath
The Rain In Spain (Madonna's Brain) - Michael McGrath, Toni DiBuono, Phillip George, Roxie Lucas
Never Never Land (Never, Never Panned) - Roxie Lucas
Over The Rainbow (Somewhat Overindulgent) - Kevin Ligon
America (Chita & Rita) - Dorothy Kiara, Toni DiBuono
I Am What I Am (I Ham What I Ham) - Gerard Alessandrini, Karen Murphy
Hey, Big Spender (Hey, Bob Fosse) - Roxie Lucas, Michael McGrath, John Freedson
Almost Like Being In Love (Almost Like Vegas In New York) - Gerard Alessandrini, Michael McGrath
Ballad Of Sweeney Todd (Teeny Todd) - Gerard Alessandrini, John Freedson, William Selby, Linda Strasser, Karen Murphy
Liza --One-Note (Johnny One-Note) - Karen Murphy
The Ladies Who Lunch (The Ladies Who Screech) - Roxie Lucas
Phantom Of The Musical (Goldfinger) - Kevin Ligon, Toni DiBuono, John Freedson, Phillip George, Linda Strasser
Give My Regards To Broadway & Yankee Doodle Dandy (George M) - Michael McGrath, John Freedson, Phillip George, Toni DiBuono, Karen Murphy, Linda Strasser, Roxie...
More Miserable Sequence: (C'est Magnifique/ End Of The Day/I Dreamed A Dream/Bring Him Home/...) - Toni DiBuono/Phillip George, John Freedson, Karen Murphy, Roxie Lucas, Linda Strasser/Karen Murphy
Finale - Original Casts

Tracks:

Carol Channing Sequence: (Imitation Is The Sincerest Form Of Flattery) - Carol Channing, Susanne Blakeslee, Brad Oscar, Craig Wells, Christine Pedi, John Freedson, Gina...
Forbidden Broadway Volume 3 - Brad Oscar, Christine Pedi, Craig Wells, Susanne Blakeslee, Gerard Alessandrini
Ya Got Trouble: Trouble In New York City (We Got Trouble) - Herndon Lackey, Brad Oscar, Craig Wells, Christine Pedi, John Freedson, Brad Ellis
Guys & Dolls Sequence: (Guys And Dolls/I've Never Been In Love Before/A Bushel And A Peck/Sue Me) - Gerard Alessandrini, Brad Oscar/Craig Wells, Christine Pedi/Susanne Blakeslee/Susanne Blakeslee, ...
Topal: If I Were A Rich Man (If I Sing It Slower) - Gerard Alessandrini
Anna Karenina: The Musical, (Topeka And The Sante Fe, On The Atcheson) - Dorothy Kiara, Craig Wells, Brad Oscar, John Freedson, Gerard Alessandrini, Brad Ellis
Julie Andrews: I Couldn't Hit The Note (I Could Have Danced All Night) - Susanne Blakeslee
Grim Hotel (Grand Hotel) - Herndon Lackey, Marilyn Pasekoff, Dorothy Kiara, John Freedson/Marilyn Pasekoff/Marilyn Pasekoff
Barbra:The Broadway Album, Somewhere (Someday) - Barbara Walsh
Dustin Hoffman: The Merchant Of Hoffman (Mrs. Robinson/The Sounds Of Silence) - John Freedson
Return To Merman & Martin: (Everything's Coming up Roses/Old Fashioned Wedding/There's No...) - Nora Mae Lyng/Nora Mae Lyng, Roxie Lucas/Nora Mae Lyng, Roxie Lucas
Miss Saigon Sequence: (Tonight I Will Be Miss Saigon/You Are Sun, I Are Moon) - Craig Wells, Susanne Blakeslee, Christine Pedi, Brad Oscar/Brad Oscar, Susanne Blakeslee
Michael Crawford Sequence: (Michael Crawford/Put On Your Sunday Clothes/All I Ask Of You) - Craig Wells
Robert Goulet Sequence: Camelounge (Camelot) - Brad Oscar, Christine Pedi, Susanne Blakeslee
Mess Of The Spider Woman Sequence: (Prologue/Mess Of The Spider Woman/Dear One/Where You Are) - Susanne Blakeslee, Brad Oscar, Craig Wells, Christine Pedi/Susanne Blakeslee/Brad Oscar, Craig...
Back To Barbra (On A Clear Day) - Susanne Blakeslee
Mug Brothers: (Tell Me It's Not True/Marilyn Monroe/I Think I Love You/Downtown) - Susanne Blakeslee/Susanne Blakeslee, Christine Pedi/Brad Oscar, Christine Pedi, Susanne Blakeslee...
The Who's Tommy: Scenery, Fly Me, Amplifly Me (See Me, Heal Me, Touch Me, Feel Me/Listening To You) - Brad Oscar, Christine Pedi/Brad Oscar, Craig Wells, Susanne Blakeslee, Christine Pedi
Finale: You Gotta Have Heart (What Happened To Heart?) - Craig Wells, Susanne Blakeslee, Christine Pedi, Brad Oscar

Tracks:

Parody Tonight (Comedy Tonight) - Tom Plotkin & Company
Show Boat Medley - Tom Plotkin, Donna English/Bryan Batt
Cameron Mackintosh - My Souvenir Things (My Favorite Things) - Tom Plotkin
Elaine Stritch - Christine Pedi
Big (Fun) - Bryan Batt, Tom Plotkin
Kiss Me Kate - Bryan Batt, Christine Pedi
The King Is Her (The King And I) - Donna English, Tom Plotkin/Donna English Bryan Batt
Disney On Broadway - Be Depressed (Be Our Guest) - Company
Patti-Class (Patti Lu Pone In Master Class) - Christine Pedi, Donna English, Bryan Batt
Grease - Infomercial With Fran & Barry Weissler & Sally Struthers - Donna English, Bryan Batt, Christine Pedi
Stop Cats! - A Chorus Cat - Company
Ethel Merman And Sunset Boulevard - Bryan Batt, Christine Pedi
Ann Reinking In Chicago (Roxie Hart) - Donna English
Kiss Me Kate - Corrective Casting - Jerry & Liza (So Miscast) - Christine Ped i, Bryan Batt
Le Julie Hot (Le Jazz Hot) - Donna English & Company
A Spoonful Of Julie (A Spoonful Of Sugar) - Donna English & Company
The Tony Nominating Committee: Victor/Ignor-ee-ya (Victor/Victoria) - Donna English & Company
Crazy Girl (Crazy World) - Donna English & Company
Rant (Rent) - Tom Plotkin, Bryan Batt
Ouch! They're Too Tight (Out Tonight) - Donna English
Too Gay For You - Too Het'ro For Me (Today For You - Tomorrow For Me) - Bryan Batt
Pretty Voices Singing (Christmas Bells Are Ringing) - Christine Pedi & Company
Season Of Hype (Season Of Love) - Company
This Ain't Boheme (La Vie Boheme) - Donna English & Boys
Finale - Something Wonderful (Something Wonderful) - Christine Pedi & Company
Encore - Ta-Ta Folks (Forbidden Broadway) - Company
Bonus Track - Exit Music - Julie The Star! (Star!) - Donna English

Amazon.com

The legendary off-Broadway revue Forbidden Broadway collects 15 years of its hilarious parodies (called "unoriginal cast recordings") into this four-CD box. No institution is safe from this astonishingly talented (and believable!) troupe of mimics led by Gerard Alessandrini, as they poke fun at the biggest shows and the biggest stars. Some examples: Patti LuPone's "I Get a Kick Out of You" becomes the self-adulating "I Get a Kick Out of Me" ("Some snort cocaine when they're low / I need no sniff 'cause I think, 'What's the diff? / I'm already terrific to see' / And I get a kick out of me."), and "I've Never Been in Love Before" from the often-revived Guys and Dolls becomes "I Know I've Seen This Show Before" ("Why take a chance on something new and bold / The better shows are old / And Sondheim is a chore."). Since it tends to skewer specific performers or productions, Forbidden Broadway can become dated quickly, but thanks to the miracle of cast recordings, not to mention interminable runs and tours--no names, please--the targets are still familiar, and the more you know, the more you'll laugh. It's like taking a very warped tour of the history of Broadway in the 1980s and '90s, and the Great White Way may never recover. --David Horiuchi

Customer Reviews:

Spoofs spice up everything .........2006-04-17

I have this afternoon heard 'I Sleep with Everyone' on BBC Radio 2 in the UK, in the show presented by Elaine Paige.I was in my car at the time, and nearly caused a traffic incident.
I have ordered the CD on the back of one track - have to confess I had never heard of 'Forbidden Broadway', but I have now! Friends and I used to write spoofs of musicals we were either directing or writing as schoolteachers, for performance by our students.
I also do Community and Hospital broadcasting - I am sure that those customers will love a bit of spice in their lives!(Better listen first, though!)Expect another review when I have heard more ..
..Spoofs Spice up Everything!

Hilarious!.......2000-10-25

How come it took me so long to find out about Forbidden Broadway? A friend loaned me one CD, and I'm hooked. Got online and bought the boxed set. There's not a bad one in the bunch. I particularly love the impersonations of Ethel Merman, Mary Martin, Julie Andrews, Bernadette Peters and Mandy Patinkin. Even parodies of shows I haven't seen had me guffawing. Listen to Jonathan -- buy it!

A MUST HAVE!.......2000-01-14

You may have seen the show, in one of its many incarnations, or may have bought one of the five unoriginal cast recordings, but there is no way any Forbidden Broadway fan or musicals fan can go without buying this four volume boxed set. This is not only because there are so many songs to collect, but also, it is the only way you are likely to get to hear the majority of the songs you saw on stage (if you did so). Forbidden Broadway lampoons the musicals of Broadway from 1990-1996, and is absolutely hilarious. There REALLY is no point in buying just one CD, as you are likely to find that something you want on one is not on another an so on. It also come with a complete libretto to boost. There are some very fine performances and mimics, especially from the likes of Christine Pedi. I've said it once, I'll say it again... buy buy buy!

Music:

Music

Music