BREAKING NEWS: Bobby Cannavale to Star Opposite Lauren Ambrose in FUNNY GIRL

[Rob]

Posted: 9/13/11 at 1:52pm

Click Here to Read BREAKING NEWS: Bobby Cannavale to Star Opposite Lauren Ambrose in FUNNY GIRL

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 9/13/11 at 1:53pm

I'm not mad at this.

[dreaming]

Posted: 9/13/11 at 1:54pm

Yay! This sounds even better now!

[ljay889]

Posted: 9/13/11 at 1:56pm

Wow!

[Blockhead24]

Posted: 9/13/11 at 2:01pm

Exciting!!

[AC126748]

Posted: 9/13/11 at 2:02pm

Bobby Cannavale as Bobby Cannavale as Nicky Arnstein

[Ed_Mottershead]

Posted: 9/13/11 at 2:07pm

Fortunately, Nick Arnstein doesn't have a major solo in the show. His performance in Mother*** this year was one of the best that I've seen by anyone on the Broadway stage in almost 60 years of NY theatre-going -- ever!! But I was somewhat surprised earlier to learn that he was opting to try out his vocal chops. Anyway, I'll be amongst the first to applaud -- God knows neither Omar Sharif nor Sydney Chaplin were great singers and they pulled it off, more or less.

[Gothampc]

Posted: 9/13/11 at 2:18pm

Great. So Bobby as Nicky, Lauren as the mother, all we need is a great Fanny Brice and it will be a good show.

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 9/13/11 at 2:20pm

K.

[bwayfan7000]

Posted: 9/13/11 at 2:30pm

Great casting! I am pretty unfamiliar with the non-Fanny songs in this show, but it sounds like Cannavale will be able to sing the score. So I guess he isn't doing NICE WORK...

[Kad]

Posted: 9/13/11 at 2:37pm

Better work if you can get it.

[Ed_Mottershead]

Posted: 9/13/11 at 2:38pm

As I recall, Nick does the "You are Woman" duet with Fanny in the seduction scene and a brief reprise of "Don't Rain on My Parade" in the Second Act. I THINK that's about it -- someone correct me if I'm wrong.

[madbrian]

Posted: 9/13/11 at 2:42pm

Nick and Fanny also have the duet I Want To Be Seen With You Tonight.

[Michael Bennett]

Posted: 9/13/11 at 2:43pm

He also sings "I want to be seen with you" with Fanny

[Ed_Mottershead]

Posted: 9/13/11 at 2:46pm

Was I Want to Be Seen with You added for the film version? I don't recall it being in the stage version and I'm pretty sure it's not on the OBC recording. Again, I may be wrong, not having thought a lot about the show since 1968 when the movie came out.

[Michael Bennett]

Posted: 9/13/11 at 2:47pm

On the OBCR not in the film

[Smaxie]

Posted: 9/13/11 at 2:47pm

"I Want to Be Seen With You" was in the Broadway show and is on the cast recording. It's not in the movie.

[ray-andallthatjazz86]

Posted: 9/13/11 at 2:47pm

I have a soft spot for "I Want to Be Seen with You," I think there's something incredibly sweet about the song. I'm so so excited about this news, he's quite a surprising choice (like Ambrose) but a great one. I really love the way they are casting this production (despite the clear amount of hate Sher is getting for his choices), it sounds like it's going to be an incredibly exciting evening at the theatre, at least IMO.

[Ed_Mottershead]

Posted: 9/13/11 at 2:54pm

Thirty lashes for me. I double-checked and, yes, I Want to Be Seen with You is on the OBC recording. Senility, I guess.

[madlibrarian]

Posted: 9/13/11 at 3:08pm

Good news, but does Funny Girl offer any opportunity for its leading man to take off his shirt?

[CurtainPullDowner]

Posted: 9/13/11 at 3:10pm

Interesting choice, I hope SF is OK with her man and his new leading lady, it didn't work out so well for her before.

[fflagg]

Posted: 9/13/11 at 3:16pm

Good actor miscast in a boring role. The poor guy is going to be bored to death; what you are not realizing is that the book is not good. Did Sutton talk him into this? :)

If you want to see him in something good, check out the film WIN WIN. You also get to see his ass for a few seconds.

[landryjames2]

Posted: 9/13/11 at 4:06pm

I guess I don't get why people think the book is so horrific (and if people aren't claiming it's horrific, then very mediocre). I actually think it's just fine and as good as many classics (not on the same calibre as Gypsy, Guys and Dolls, or South Pacific of course--but also not worth all the slamming it gets).
Updated On: 9/13/11 at 04:06 PM

[Gaveston2]

Posted: 9/13/11 at 5:56pm

The book is mediocre because:

The first half of Act I is about how Fanny Brice became a star. Great songs, but not exactly what you'd call suspense. We know she became a star.

The second half of Act I is about how Fanny and Nicky keep bumping into one another, but never really connect. It's a story about a couple in need of a date planner. Still no suspense: we know they'll get together.

Act II is about how Nicky can't support them consistently, so Fanny goes back to work while Nicky sulks. And sulks. And sulks. Fanny pops in now and then to sing another great song. Our fierce heroine who willed herself to stardom despite her lack of conventional beauty is now reduced to secret attempts to boost the ego of her Debbie Downer of a husband.

Finally HE's had enough. She's become such a doormat she's still willing to do anything to keep him, but he won't have it. So she reprises one of her great songs.

[Astrid2]

Posted: 9/13/11 at 7:22pm

Swoooon. What a babe.

I kind of love that Sutton is throwing her man into musicals, but I'm generally curious to see if he can sing. I saw him in Mother With The Hat and I'm shocked that he never blew his voice out, he was always getting hoarse.