Started in New York by author Gerard Alessandrini, Spamilton has now moved to Chicago in a cabaret space.
This hilarious production takes the popular Hamilton and lampoons it along with dozens of other musicals in 90 minutes. The story begins with Barack and Michelle Obama listening to the Hamilton soundtrack before they go to sleep, and the jokes keep coming through various other characters at a fast pace until the end.
The Boston-born funnyman grew up in Needham, Massachusetts. before graduating from the Boston Conservatory of Music. He started with Forbidden Broadway back in 1982 and created 25 versions of it over the years. Through the years this author has received an Obie Award, four Drama Desk Awards, an Outer Critics Circle Award, and two Lucille Lortel Awards. To top it off he took home the Drama League for Lifetime Achievement in Musical Theatre Award.
Judging from the success and reactions of Spamilton in the Windy City, more awards look to be in his future.
Windy City Times: What made you want to make musical parodies in the first place?
Gerard Alessandrini: I was working as a performer and always liked parodies. For myself and my friends, I invented Forbidden Broadway. That was a spoof of all of the musicals currently on Broadway then—much the way Spamilton is—except it was show by show. I would take one song per show and change the lyrics, then go to the next musical down the line.
That was my primary job for many years, just doing all the editions of Forbidden Broadway. I did 25 editions in 27 years. We ran it off-Broadway and tour. Chicago was on one of those tours.
WCT: Sounds like a lot of work.
GA: It was and I performed on the side, also. I did some writing for celebrities for TV specials, and helped with their records, like Angela Lansbury, Barbra Streisand, and Carol Burnett. Angela I worked with on a special with Bob Hope, I recently wrote a parody with Barbra for her new album, and Carol's special Men, Movies, and Carol I wrote some sketches for.
WCT: How did you decide on Hamilton?
GA: I was known for spoofing musicals and it was the biggest show in New York. I happen to love it, too. Nothing has changed or revolutionized theater as much. I felt I had to spoof it.
It was great fun to do and right up my alley. It was a good combination to do a mashup of those genres.
I think it is successful because of the great Chicago cast. They added so much to it and I am very happy with the outcome.
WCT: It has only been in New York before this?
GA: Yes; it was at the Triad Theater, which is similar to the Royal George, but it more of a cabaret style with tables and drinks. It is about the same size and number of seats.
WCT: You live in New York now?
GA: Actually, I live in Connecticut, as many New Englanders do. I still have family in Boston so I am there a lot. For many years, I was in New York. This may all change.
WCT: You have a longtime partner?
GA: Yes, I do. His name is Glenn Bassett and he is very sweet. He plays the King in the New York production of Spamilton. He is very good.
The reason he is in the show is because when we started off it was very low budget. We didn't know if it would work. We paid the cast but I asked him to do it for nothing. I told him we could pay him later if it is a hit. Who else but a longtime partner would do that?
WCT: Did you hear that Wayne Brady and many of the cast members of Chicago's Hamilton came to opening night of Spamilton?
GA: I did. Even before Spamilton existed someone told me to call Wayne Brady if I did a new Forbidden Broadway. They heard he would love to do it. I am glad he came to see it.
WCT: Has Lin-Manuel Miranda seen Spamilton in New York?
GA: He saw it twice. The first time he came was with the director. I only saw them from the back but they were going crazy laughing. He must have liked the show because he stayed for over an hour after and talked to us.
Then he came back with his family. Our cast album came out the same week so I asked him if we could use the quote on the sticker that he tweeted, "I laughed my brains out!"
He approved and mentioned that he went to the record store to buy the Forbidden Broadway Strikes Back album spoofing Rent in his youth. I guess he likes the idea that now he is the target.
WCT: How long did you do Forbidden Broadway?
GA: From 1982 to 2014. I did other shows, but Forbidden Broadway got all the publicity because it had such a following.
WCT: Why so many mentions about Stephen Sondheim in Spamilton?
GA: I always find him fun to spoof. Lin Manuel likes Sondheim because he mentioned him when he won the Tony for In the Heights. In the book Hamilton: The Revolution there is a chapter of Lin talking to Sondheim. I figured we had to go there.
WCT: Do you have a favorite musical?
GA: I will pick one from each century—of the old ones My Fair Lady, and the new ones Hamilton.
I think My Face Lady is the most perfect musical. It has tango, and waltzes among a variety of Broadway influences. There is all types of music in it. That is not dissimilar to Hamilton. People will say it's all rap but it isn't. He uses swing and Mozart style music, even influences from the '50s.
Maybe that is why I like those two musicals because they have such a big palette of music.
WCT: You have a section in Spamilton about the evolution of current musicals. Do you feel musicals are becoming more straight?
GA: With so many shows everyone is gay, all the writers and performers, but with Hamilton it seems like everyone is straight. Where are the gay men? Where is Bob Mackie doing the costumes? [Laughs]
Spamilton pokes fun until May 28 at Royal George Theatre, 1641 N. Halsted St. Tickets can be found atTheRoyalGeorgeTheatre.com .
