Forbidden Broadway
On February 10, 2007 at 7:30 PM, our group (Alexis, Tina, Teresa and Lauren) went to the Cabaret at Theater square in the theater district of downtown Pittsburgh to see the show "Forbidden Broadway". This show is an intimate performance that consists of a piano player (onstage with the piano) and four cast members (2 men and 2 women). There is no set on stage, but different props and costumes are used throughout the show. The show's objective is to poke fun at a number of award winning, big name broadway musicals, as well as famous broadway singers and actors. The lyrics of popular broadway tunes were changed for comedic effect. For example, Les Miserables' "God on High" was changed to "This Song's Too High" and Rent's "Seasons of Love" became "Seasons of Hype". They joked about Disney taking over the broadway stage as well as Robert Goulet never knowing the lyrics to the songs when he sings. There were many other parodies as well.
When you first walk into the lobby of the theater there is lots of Pittsburgh Theater paraphernalia and ads for upcoming shows and concerts. After giving the usher your ticket you walk into a dimly lit bar. You must walk through the bar to get into the theater. In the theater there was a small stage with just a piano and a "Forbidden Broadway" sign. There were rows of small four person tables, instead of conventional theater seats. There is a drink/light fare/dessert menu on the table and the waitress came almost immediately to ask us if we wanted anything. Our group sat in the first row and were about five feet away from the stage. The actors were very good and the show itself was hilarious. The only down side was that if you did not know some of the shows or actors that they madef un of, the jokes were a bit more difficult to understand. We enjoyed our food very much and we all loved the familiar, intimate atmosphere.
Reflection Questions:
* Is a show like this even more of a pop culture event because you have to be a broadway/theater junkie to get all of the jokes?
* Do you think eating and drinking during a show can impact your experience as an audience member? How? Positively or negatively?
* The only entrance to the theater was through a bar. Do you think this was a strategic way that the rhetors were appealing to the consumer's senses?
http://placesspacesandposers.pbwiki.com/Dreamgirls
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