Gimme A Freak

My Favorite Flop

"Talk amongst yourselves" as hosts Bobby and Kristina discuss 2003's Taboo on episode two of My Favorite Flop.

ABOUT TABOO

Based on the lives of pop singer/songwriter Boy George and fashion designer/performance artist Leigh Bowery, Taboo tells the partly re-imagined story of a group of club “names” set in the location of what was the city’s most fashionable nightclub — the now-legendary Taboo. The musical features a book by Mark Davies Markham (extensively rewritten for Broadway by Charles Busch), lyrics by Boy George, and music by George, John Themis, Richie Stevens and Kevan Frost.

After premiering in London’s West End in a converted warehouse in 2002, comedian/talk show host Rosie O’Donnell decided to bring the show to Broadway the following year, investing over $10 million of her own money. Taboo‘s entire Broadway journey was subject to a lot of negative press, concerning both the show itself and Rosie’s personal life, and ultimately closed after only 100 performances. Despite its failure, Taboo continues to have an ardent and vocal cult following to this day.

An intimate revival was staged in London’s West End in 2012.

Original London Cast

• Luke Evans as Billy
• Dianne Pilkington as Kim
• Euan Morton as Boy George
• Matt Lucas as Leigh Bowery
• Paul Baker as Philip Sallon
• Gemma Craven as Josie James
• Mark McGee as Marilyn
• Michele Hooper as Janey
• Drew Jaymson as Steve Strange
• Mark White as Derek/Petal
• Gail MacKinnon as Big Sue
• Declan Bennett as Guru Dazzle
• Kay Cole as Zee Asha
• Joe Docherty as Jake
• Lucy Harris as Foxy
• Andy Morton as Policeman
• Lucy Newton as Virus

Original Broadway Cast

• Euan Morton as Boy George
• Boy George (Credited as George O’Dowd) as Leigh Bowery
• Liz McCartney as Big Sue
• Raúl Esparza as Philip Sallon
• Sarah Uriarte Barry as Nicola
• Cary Shields as Marcus
• Jeffrey Carlson as Marilyn
• Jennifer Cody, Dioni Michelle Collins, Brooke Elliott, Felice B. Gajda, William Robert Gaynor, Curtis Holbrook, Jennifer K. Mrozik, Nathan Peck, Alexander Quiroga, Asa Somers, Denise Summerford, and Gregory Treco as Ensemble
• Donnie R. Keshawarz as Standby for Philip Sallon and Leigh Bowery
• Lori Holmes, Jody Reynard, and James Tabeek as Swings