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 has since become New York’s longest running musical comedy revue. Forbidden Broadway has won Drama Desk, Obie and Outer Critics Circle (see all awards). Most of its victims (stars and casts) make a point of stopping by to see what Gerard Alessandrini has done to them.

Updated regularly, Forbidden Broadway has 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 have gone on to stardom on Broadway, on television and in the movies. 

Looking back at Forbidden Broadway provides an informal and very funny history of the American musical theatre. It has remained one of the funniest evenings on or Off-Broadway. 

As long as Broadway and Hollywood exist, there will be a Forbidden, poking, prodding, teasing, pleasing, jeering and cheering, but always with love.