The second revival of A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum is scheduled to run in Mexico City, early 1998.

According to producer Ruben Lara, who holds the rights for the Sondheim/Shevelove/Gelbart musical comedy, midget comedian Maria Elena Saldana has already been cast in the role of a female Pseudolus.The idea to cast a female lead in a part originated by Zero Mostel was born when the recent Broadway revival featured Whoopi Goldberg as Pseudolus. Saldana is a very popular TV and theatre comedian in Mexico.

Other leads confirmed in the Funny cast are; Amparito Arozamena (Moon Over Buffalo, Cabaret) and Miguel Pizarro (The Most Happy Fella, The Woman of the Year).

Lara told Playbill On-Line that he has not yet chosen a theatre for this production. Lara would like to open this show at the Teatro de los Insurgentes, current home of the Mexican production of Fame, which has been announced to close April 1998 in order to begin its Latin American tour. It seems that Funny Thing . . . will probably search for another theatre or will wait until Fame closes.

Funny Forum's previous Mexican productions played with the title of Amor al Reves Es Roma, which means Love Spelled Backwards is Rome (this title only works in Spanish), but this time the hilarious "ancient Roman" musical will be back with a new Spanish title: Camino al Forum which literally means "On the Way to the Forum". Directing Forum will be Raul Zermeno, former director of the Centro Universitario de Teatro (CUT) of the Universidad Nacional Autonoma de Mexico (UNAM). The set designer will be Enrique Reyes, while the always-busy Mitzy (Fame, the up-coming Crazy for You) will be the costume designer. Willy Gutierrez will be the musical director.

Other cast members, venue and opening date for Camino al Forum will be announced in upcoming weeks.