Jim Behr’s favorite scene in “Forbidden Broadway Greatest Hits: Vol. 1? is when Annie, now 30, sings “Tomorrow,” but with different words than originally written. “She complains she hasn’t worked on stage since she was 10,” said Behr, who directs the show opening Jan. 20 at PM&L Theater in Antioch.
“It’s very funny … It speaks to typecasting. Once you play ‘Annie,’ you can’t do anything else,” said Zion resident Behr about the song.
That’s what the whole musical is about — satirizing Broadway — but with a bow to the beautiful and difficult melodies written by contemporary playwrights including Stephen Sondheim and Andrew Lloyd Webber. The original version of ‘Forbidden Broadway’ written by Gerard Allessandrini opened in 1982 in New York City and ran for more than 2,000 shows. Different versions have been staged since.
The musical will be shown in PM&L Theatre’s smaller, more intimate venue that seats 50. “There will be no microphones, four singers, a piano player, that’s it,” Behr said. “It’s meant to be very simple and yet the music is very challenging,” he said.
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“If you love Broadway musicals, you’ve got to see this thing,” Behr said. “If you’re a real fan, you’re really going to split a gut because you’re gonna get everything.”
Nicole Heyl of Antioch is working with the show’s four actors to perfect their singing. “It’s music everybody is aware of,” Behr said. “They’re all really big Broadway hits. Hopefully we bring across the really funny things done with the lyrics.”
He said the audience will laugh at the fun the show makes of the business side of theater.
“Merchandising is where the real money from the shows are made,” he said. For example, “My Souvenir Things” is sung to the tune of “My Favorite Things.”
Another satire is the words to “On My Own,” a song from “Les Miserables.”
Instead of “on my own,” the actress sings “on my phone” while she waits behind stage for her cue to enter the stage.
Behr said he’s stressing to the actors that every word must be enunciated clearly so the audience will get the humor.
He’s added his own touches to the show. For example, actors will wear plain outfits and throw costume pieces on and off that relate to the show they are portraying.
“We’ll make fun of that, too,” Behr said. “There’s one spot when the same actor has to do a sequence from ‘Cats,’ right next to a sequence from ‘Fiddler on the Roof.'” Knowing when to have the cat’s tail on and off could make for a funny scene, Behr said.
“The audience should see this as a low-budget thing,” he said. For example, two flying monkeys bring out an electric fan to blow the witch’s cape in a scene from “Wicked.” When the fan doesn’t work, they improvise. Plus, he’s got an idea for what they’ll bring out instead of the witch’s broom.
“These folks are hilarious,” Behr said of the actors. As for the challenging music, he added, “They are stepping up to it.”
‘Forbidden Broadway Greatest Hits: Vol. 1’
When: 8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays Jan. 20-28; 2:30 p.m. Jan. 22 and 29
Where: PM&L Theatre, 877 N. Main St., Antioch
Tickets: $18-$20
Information: 847-395-3055, pmltheatre.com
Sheryl DeVore is a freelance reporter for the News-Sun.
More things to do this week
Looking for more fun things to do this week in Lake County? Here are some suggestions.
Theatre workshop reading
The Meaningful Action Theatre Company presents a workshop reading of “Muffed” at 7:30 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays Jan. 20 through Feb. 25 at Three Brothers Theatre in Waukegan. Tickets are $15-$20. At 221 N. Genesee St. 224-419-4325; threebrotherstheatre.com.
Circus duo at CLC
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The Great DuBois, a comedic variety and circus act duo, will perform at 4 p.m. Jan. 22 at James Lumber Center in Grayslake. Tickets are $23. At 19351 Washington St 847-543-2300; jlcenter.clcillinois.edu.
Stand-up comedy
Improv Comedy shows will be held at 7 p.m. for families and 8:30 p.m. for adults Jan. 21 at Improv Playhouse in Libertyville. Tickets are $5-$15. At 735 N. Milwaukee Ave. 847-968-4529; Improvplayhouse.com.
— Sheryl DeVore