"Funny Girl 2064!" The Hundredth Anniversary Revival!
Broadway Legend Joined: 7/28/05
She's not really right for the role, but holy vocals!
Stephanie J Block Funny Girl Medley
One of the first songs, IF A GIRL ISN'T PRETTY, is obviously being cut. What are they thinking?
I really don't think they should attempt a revival unless they already have someone in mind for the part.
This is one of those shows where you wait patiently until the right person comes along for the revival. You don't plan the revival first and hope the right person comes along.
One of the first songs, IF A GIRL ISN'T PRETTY, is obviously being cut. What are they thinking?
Stand-by Joined: 12/27/08
What's the deal with Broadway musicals casting middle-aged women in ingenue parts and casting goddesses to play homely girls. There must be a young actress who would be credible as Fanny Brice—talented but not a Miss Atlantic City.
"There must be a young actress who would be credible as Fanny Brice—talented but not a Miss Atlantic City."
Stand-by Joined: 12/27/08
I was thinking Benanti and O'Hara. Goddesses.
"I think this is a lose-lose situation, which is probably why this show hasn't had a NY revival yet."
you're absolutely right best12bars. Benanti's all wrong look-wise and vocally. Factually, Michele doesn't have the vocal chops either. Her voice is cute, but doesn't sound very womanly.
They should do a public documented national search, ala legally blonde, that way attracting the public's interest in the show & guaranteeing ticket sales.
Who the hell put this in Sher's hands? Impending disaster.
Broadway Legend Joined: 3/28/09
"I've said it before and I'll say it again... based on her youtube videos, Marla Mindelle would be perfection in the role. How is she in Sister Act?"
In my opinion, pretty fantastic. She'd be interesting in the role as well.
Lord, this entire idea is nothing but a foolish bore.
No one is ever going to surpass (or even match) the original. The production will probably be scaled down to 1/2 the size of the original cast and 1/3 of the orchestra.
And no matter who is cast, they'll be compared, ultimately unfavorably, to Stresand. And no one will be made a star the way Streisand was made a star by this show.
The whole thing is a dull, pointless, Roundaboutian misconception.
Nicole Parker could never, ever sing this role.
O'Hara is completely wrong for the role.
Can Benanti belt the score well enough? She has the charisma, but I'm not sure if she could sing it properly.
Updated On: 5/6/11 at 10:42 AM
I love Benanti- but can she meet the demands of a role like Fanny Brice, physically? Night after night? She IS known to call out.
Oy! I can see these four as the poker ladies, but Fanny?!
Theyz all too old!!! Except Michelle, who I like, but seems to want it a little too much.
Is there some other Laura Benanti out there? Is this a bagel on plate full of onion rolls? Can Fanny be prettier than the other brides in His Love Makes Me Beautiful?
Benanti and especially O'Hara are so seemingly wrong for the role, I'm almost fascinated to see what they would do with it. I agree with Best12 that unless you have some incredibly perfect person for the role as everyone associates it, it's probably a wiser decision to cast the part with an actress completely different from Streisand.
I mean if Barbara Cook could play the role in the touring company...
Funny Girl is about a GIRL not a woman. Must find a new person, someone young. And she MUST be credible as someone from the Lower East Side. Bart Sher is a bore. Please God, let someone else do this show, or let Adam Guettel's next show miraculously write itself so Herr Sher has something else to occupy him.
The musical actually covers events in Fanny Brice's life that historically happened to her between the ages of 19 - 36, so while I agree you need somebody to capture the youth of the character, the actress does need to be able to play Brice convingly as an adult woman at the height of her career.
Laura Benanti is my idol, and even I think she's vocally wrong for Fanny. Acting wise, I think she'd be brilliant.
I think Anneliese van der Pol would be incredible.
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/15/03
I saw the young and pretty Barbara Cook play Fanny Brice and her looks were really at odds with her performance. Vocally, she was sublime though.
I hope they choose someone age appropriate...
My votes are for:
LEA MICHELE
or
MARLA MINDELLE
My vote is still for Stephanie J. Block. I think she could do a great job under Sher's direction.
Swing Joined: 5/6/11
Egan & Murney are two great choices. And LuPone would just rock it, if only she were a few decades younger. Although, that Grannie Bryce thing could actually work...
LESLIE LESLIE LESLIE
Miss Kritzner is the ONLY one to play this part.
Yes, many think Lea Michelle should do it but Leslie needs something finally to throw her into orbit.
Broadway Star Joined: 10/22/05
Lea Michele is NOT "in the running for FUNNY GIRL." And you can quote me on that. I know for a fact.
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