By Jen Barraza
Publicity photo shoots at The Phoenix Theatre Company are never just about snapping a few cast pics—they’re about setting the tone, delivering the vibe, and in the case of Forbidden Broadway, letting audiences know they’re in for a gleefully outrageous ride.
This satirical revue takes aim at Broadway’s most iconic shows, characters, and stars, so the goal of this shoot was clear: create visual chaos with polish. Think high drama meets inside joke. Every pose, costume piece, and lighting choice was exaggerated just enough to tip our hat while not giving away every surprise audiences will get to experience each show.
The Look: Because Forbidden Broadway parodies so many musicals, our shoot had to reflect range. We pulled costumes inspired by Les Misérables, Annie, Wicked, Chicago, Phantom, and more—raided from our costume stock, with a few hilarious tweaks we did a whirlwind of costume changes and poses in an hour long shoot.
The Props & Setting: The cast struck poses that channeled both diva-level drama and self-aware silliness. We kept the backdrop clean to mimic the blue of the show art and give hints to the set design. This also allows our designer to layer in show-specific artwork later. Props ranged from the dog from the 2008/2009 production to retro microphones to a very questionable broom for an Elphaba look.
The Vibe: The final images are theatrical satire at its finest—sharp, smart, and absolutely unhinged in the best way. They wink at Broadway’s biggest spectacles while celebrating the craft and chaos behind every curtain rise.
Forbidden Broadway may spoof the greats, but the heart behind it is pure Broadway love. Get ready to laugh, gasp, and say, “Wait… did they really just go there?” (Yes. Yes, we did.)
Stay tuned for more backstage peeks—and don’t forget to snag your tickets for this no-holds-barred musical roast.
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Watch the Forbidden Broadway: The Next Generation BTS: Publicity Photos video here on YouTube.
