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By Josh Perry
Hometown Weekly Staff
The Needham Community Theatre is hard at work preparing its next performance, “Forbidden Broadway: The Farce Awakens,” which will be presented on Friday, April 1 and Saturday, April 2 at 8 p.m. and Sunday, April 3 at 2 p.m.
The comedic revue is directed by Marianne Phinney and is based on the original material written by Needham native Gerald Alessandrini, who has worked with the theater on the production, including additional material based on his hometown.
The production is a homecoming for Alessandrini, who has worked on and off Broadway for more than 30 years and has won awards for his writing, acting, and singing talents.
Alessandrini credited the Needham Community Theatre for giving him a chance to perform after he had graduated from Xaverian High in Westwood. He played the lead role of Tevye in “Fiddler on the Roof” (he joked it was because he looked “middle aged even as a 20-year-old”) and also in a production of “Kismet.”
“I was 20-21 and it was my intention to have a career in theater,” said Alessandrini last week. He moved to New York City in the early 1980s and took three years to create the material for “Forbidden Broadway.”
The revue was intended to be a highlight for Alessandrini and his friends. It opened on Jan. 15, 1982 at Palsson’s Supper Club and soon after received a rave review that turned it into a sensation.
“All the movie stars and Broadway stars came to this little club.” Alessandrini explained. “It was fun because it was topical humor and I changed the shows all the time.”
The new material has allowed the play to continue to evolve through the years and it continues to be relevant even three decades later. Humor was always a part of Alessandrini’s life, although he admitted that he had not considered the possibility of it being his career.
“I always wrote funny little plays and songs,” he said. “It was always there. I was a good singer so that was most of my work and I never thought I could make money off it.”
Alessandrini moved back to Needham for a few years but recently has made his way back to Broadway where he is working on a new revue that showcases the work of composer and writer Maury Yeston. He still had time before leaving to work with Needham Community Theatre to help plan the upcoming show.
“I was able to work with the director to get material that works with the talent,” said Alessandrini, who praised not only the NCT but also the Needham community for continuing to support theatrical endeavors and give actors and actresses of all ages an opportunity to take the stage.
He continued, “I love that there are so many people interested in theater and there is so much talent. These aren’t pros but they put so much more into every performance than pros.”
Alessandrini is planning on coming back to celebrate his revue being performed in his hometown. “I wouldn’t miss it,” he said. “I have a feeling that I’ll enjoy it immensely.”
As he reflected on how his passion for theater was developed while growing up in Needham, with its proximity to Boston and its local theater scene and even being close enough for trips to New York City, Alessandrini noted that the love for theater has not dipped over his 30-year career.
“I love seeing what’s new,” he explained. “It’s really interesting to see what has changed and what comes up and what is forgotten. It’s living theater; it’s constantly evolving.”
Needham Community Theatre will present its version of “Forbidden Broadway” in April. For show and ticket information, visit www.needhamtheatre.org.
Josh Perry is an Editor at Hometown Weekly. He can be reached at news@hometownweekly.net and followed on Twitter at @Josh_Perry10.
