To mark the occasion of the show's opening, Mayor Michael Bloomberg's Office of Theatre, Film and Television named Oct. 2 "Forbidden Broadway Day." Prior to the show, two-time Tony winner Chita Rivera read a proclamation from the Mayor's office and unveiled a street sign renaming West 47th Street "Forbidden Broadway." Directed by creator Alessandrini and Phillip George, Rude Awakening offers spoofs of Spring Awakening, Curtains, A Chorus Line, Grease, Legally Blonde, Mary Poppins, Company and Grey Gardens, among others. The cast features Jared Thomas Bradshaw, Janet Dickinson, James Donegan and Valerie Fagan with Steve Saari on piano.

The design team includes Megan Halpern (set), Mark Janowitz (lights) and Alvin Colt (costumes).

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At left (from top): James Donegan, Valerie Fagan, Janet Dickinson, Jared Bradshaw; Gerard Alessandrini (l.) and Stephen Schwartz; Bryan Batt; Christine Pedi; Mo Rocca; Valerie Smaldone, Jamie DeRoy; Ashley Brown; Marni Nixon; the Forbidden Broadway sign. Below (from top): Cast members Valerie Fagan, James Donegan, Janet Dickinson and Jared Bradshaw with Chita Rivera and costume designer Alvin Colt before the unveiling of the Forbidden Broadway street sign; Chita Rivera reads the proclamation at the dedication of the Forbidden Broadway sign.

photos by Aubrey Reuben