Get your laugh on this summer at the SJ Rep! We just received word that two of Broadway’s guilty pleasures will roll into town this summer.

‘Forbidden Broadway – 25th Anniversary Tour’ is a Tony-award winner and New York’s longest running musical comedy revue — the equivalent of a Broadway roast.

The laughs will continue when one of my favorite comedy groups, ‘The Second City!’ of Chicago, follows mid-July.

I’m glad that Bay Area theater goers will have these additional summer choices. Especially with this economic cloud hanging over our collective heads, it seems perfectly fitting to getaway a bit… bust a gut, crack a smile, chuckle, laugh yourself to tears even. Here’s what new artistic director Rick Lombardo said:

“I’m so pleased that we’re able to offer these two delightful and different companies to our audience this summer,” comments Rep Artistic Director Rick Lombardo. “Both Forbidden Broadway and The Second City, while wildly different in their approaches and source material, provide a smart, irreverent and ridiculously entertaining evening of comedy and music – perfect for a summer night. Both of these companies are almost national institutions at this point, and in their time have spawned some of the leading lights of American comedy and musical theater.”

Full press release and details after the break.

San Jose Repertory Theatre Presents the Summer Blockbuster Series with

Forbidden Broadway – 25th Anniversary Tour

and

The Second City!

Tickets on sale June 10th!

SAN JOSE, CA (June 1, 2009) — San Jose Repertory Theatre’s summer blockbuster series includes Broadway’s guilty pleasure, Forbidden Broadway – 25th Anniversary Tour and Chicago’s legendary comedy theatre, The Second City!  These exclusive engagements begin with the most acclaimed musical comedy, Forbidden Broadway, which opens July 7 and runs through July 12. Press night is July 7th. This is followed by the comedy powerhouse of The Second City, from July 14 through July 19Press night is July 14th.  The national tour of Forbidden Broadway – 25th Anniversary Tour is presented by John Freedson and Harriet Yellin.

Tickets go on sale Wednesday, July 10 and are available at the San Jose Rep Box Office at 101 Paseo de San Antonio or can be purchased online.

“I’m so pleased that we’re able to offer these two delightful and different companies to our audience this summer,” comments Rep Artistic Director Rick Lombardo.  “Both Forbidden Broadway and The Second City, while wildly different in their approaches and source material, provide a smart, irreverent and ridiculously entertaining evening of comedy and music – perfect for a summer night.  Both of these companies are almost national institutions at this point, and in their time have spawned some of the leading lights of American comedy and musical theater.”

The 2006 Tony® award-winning Forbidden Broadway, New York’s longest running musical comedy revue that parodies, jeers and cheers American musical theatre, celebrates its record-breaking 25th year.  This year’s special victims include the puppets of “Avenue Q,” the witches of “Wicked,” “Billy Joel’s Movin Out” and new look at old favorites such as “La Cage aux Folles,” “Little Shop of Horrors,” “Les Miz,” “Beauty and the Beast,” and “Chicago.” Rounding out the laughs are Mel Brooks’ “The Producers,” Abba’s “Mamma Mia” and “Thoroughly Modern Millie;” with lots more Broadway past and present.

Forbidden Broadway is the recipient of an Obie award, the Outer Critics Circle Award, and the 2005 Drama Desk Award for Best Off Broadway Musical. In 2006, Forbidden Broadway took home a Tony honor for excellence in theatre.

“I’ve always loved Forbidden Broadway’s wicked take on the best, and worst, of Broadway and its divas – it’s a must for the lover of the musical theater,” Lombardo continues. “Second City has been so original, and really has been single-handedly responsible for much of American comedy for the last thirty years.  I love their ironic and often outrageous look at contemporary life, politics and media.”

Founded in Chicago in 1959, The Second City has become the premier training ground for the comedy world’s best and brightest.  Their alumni list reads like a who’s who of American comedy, as it includes: Mike Nichols, Elaine May, Alan Arkin, Joan Rivers, Robert Klein, Peter Boyle, Harold Ramis, John Belushi, Dan Aykroyd, Bill Murray, Gilda Radner, George Wendt, Martin Short, John Candy, Bonnie Hunt, Tim Meadows, Chris Farley, Mike Myers, Tina Fey, Steve Carell, Stephen Colbert, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Horatio Sanz, Ryan Stiles and countless others.

Not only will an evening with The Second City provide audiences with the chance to see comedy stars in the making, but they will also have the opportunity to see absolutely hilarious satire and cutting-edge improvisation.  No topic or subject matter is off limits for The Second City.  If your parents asked you not to speak about it at the dinner table, chances are it will be made fun of in an evening with The Second City.

About the Rep

South Bay, presenting six main stage productions each year. As a major contributor to South Bay’s cultural community for 28 years, the Rep’s mission is to engage, entertain and inspire people.  The Rep produces innovative theatrical performances that offer fresh perspectives into the human condition, educational programs that promote life-long learning, and outreach initiatives that benefit our diverse community. 

# # #

Forbidden Broadway – 25th Anniversary Tour

FACT SHEET

WHO: Created, written and originally directed by Gerard Alessandrini

Directed and choreographed by Philip George

Designed by Alvin Colt (Costume Design) and Carol Sherry (Wig Design)

The national tour of Forbidden Broadway – 25th Anniversary Tour is presented by John Freedson and Harriet Yellin

WHAT: Forbidden Broadway-25th Anniversary Tour – the latest edition from the Tony® Award-winning musical comedy revue that parodies, jeers and cheers American musical theatre

WHERE: San Jose Repertory Theatre

101 Paseo de San Antonio, San Jose

Between South 2nd & 3rd Streets

WHEN:

When

HOW MUCH: $17.50-$60.00

Proscenium        Orchestra          Parterre            Balcony

All:

Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday

Friday, Saturday & Sunday                                    $60.00              $55. 00             $45. 00             $40. 00

No discounts for proscenium seating.

Discounts:

· Students (full-time, with valid ID) – 1/2 off tickets for all performances, all seats.

· Seniors (65 yrs +) and Teachers – $6 off tickets all performances, all seats.

· ADA or ASL discount – $6 off your ticket and your companion’s ticket.

 For group sales:  408.367.7295

The Second City

FACT SHEET

WHO: Directed by T.J. Shanoff

Musical direction by Chuck Malone

Stage Managed by *Kyle Anderson

The cast includes Cody Dove, Niki Lindgren, *Megan Hovde Wilkins, *Dana Quercioli, Mark Raterman and *Tim Robinson

* denotes a member of Actors’ Equity Association, the professional union for actors and stage managers

WHAT: The Second City absolutely hilarious satire and cutting-edge improvisation

WHERE: San Jose Repertory Theatre

101 Paseo de San Antonio, San Jose

Between South 2nd & 3rd Streets

WHEN:

When

HOW MUCH: $17.50-$60.00

Proscenium        Orchestra          Parterre            Balcony

All:

Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday

Friday, Saturday & Sunday                                    $60.00              $55. 00             $45. 00             $40. 00

No discounts for proscenium seating.

Discounts:

· Students (full-time, with valid ID) – 1/2 off tickets for all performances, all seats.

· Seniors (65 yrs +) and Teachers – $6 off tickets all performances, all seats.

· ADA or ASL discount – $6 off your ticket and your companion’s ticket.

TIX & INFO:   By phone: 408.367.7255
By mail: Rep Box Office, 101 Paseo de San Antonio, San Jose, CA 95113
By fax: 408.367.7236
In person: Rep Box Office, 101 Paseo de San Antonio, San Jose
Between South 2nd & 3rd Streets
For group sales:  408.367.7295

Monica Turner
Contributor to Stark Insider for tech, the arts and All Things West Coast for over 10 years.