Broadway and Glee fans, have we got some news for you! Glee star Lea Michele is set to play Fanny Brice for Funny Girl on Broadway, starting September 6.
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This comes after Beanie Feldstein announced her exit from the show via Instagram. She will be leaving on July 31.
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What is Funny Girl about?
Funny Girl is a semi-autobiographical story on the life of Broadway star Fanny Brice and her tumultuous relationship with her husband, entrepreneur, and gambler Nicky Arnstein. The show is set in New York City before and after World War I, as Fanny reflects on her life with Nick, which is told in a series of flashbacks.
Ray Stark, Fanny Brice’s son-in-law, produced the 1964 musical. It starred Barbra Streisand as Fanny, Sydney Chaplin as Nicky, Kay Medford as Fanny’s mother, Mrs. Brice, and Danny Meehan as vaudeville dancer Eddie Ryan.
The show was nominated for 8 Tony Awards, and the soundtrack was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 2004. Barbra Streisand went on to star in the movie musical adaptation in 1968 with Omar Sharif. William Wyler directed the film. In 1975, Barbra once again played Fanny Brice in a sequel to the called Funny Lady. This movie followed a fictional account of Fanny in her later years of life and her marriage to songwriter Billy Rose (played by James Caan).
Funny Girl has performed on National Tours, the West End, and Australia. This is the second time the musical has been on the Broadway stage since 1968.
Who is starring in Funny Girl on Broadway?
Reports surfaced in August 2021 that Booksmart and Impeachment: American Crime Story star Beanie Feldstein will be playing Fanny Brice. Now that she is leaving the show, Lea Michele will be playing the role of Fanny.
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Ramin Karimloo is currently playing the role of Nicky Arnstein. The Broadway and West End actor has starred as the Phantom in Phantom of the Opera, Jean Valjean in Les Miserables, and Bolshevik General Gleb Vaganov in Anastasia, among others.
Jane Lynch is currently playing Mrs. Brice, but Tovah Feldshuh will replace her on September 6. Jared Grimes plays the role of Eddie Ryan. Michael Mayer is directing the revival with a revised script by Broadway star Harvey Fierstein.
Fans react to Lea Michele’s casting
As the news dropped about the new cast, people had plenty of opinions to share about Lea Michele.
Glee fans can’t forget Lea’s character Rachel Berry and her dreams of becoming Fanny Brice coming true. Does it seem like Glee is predicting the future? If so, we can’t complain.
— out of context glee (@oocglee) July 11, 2022
Lea Michele actually landed the part of Fanny Brice in Funny Girl on Broadway. Really starting to think Glee was a documentary. https://t.co/CgSQoAQmPz
— Stephen Patterson (@mr_sjpatterson) July 11, 2022
lea michele as fanny brice ! 🤍
i’m so proud her, she deserves this role more than anyone else and i’m sure that at the day of her opening night stars will shine the brightest but she will shine more cause she’s the greatest star 🤍✨
pic.twitter.com/ZSM48tbI5j— irene🌺 LEA IS FANNY BRICE (@dejaatellevar) July 11, 2022
Lea Michele being cast in Funny Girl is single-handedly curing the depressive episode I have been stuck in for the past two weeks oh my GOD this is hilarious
— bess ophelia (@bessophelia) July 11, 2022
When to see Funny Girl on Broadway
Funny Girl is currently on Broadway, but Lea Michele and Tovah Feldshuh will begin their runs on September 6.
Don’t rain on the parade, and find tickets to see Funny Girl on Broadway today!
