FUNNY GIRL on Broadway - Reviews & News Thread- Page 3

[jacobsnchz14]

Posted: 1/28/22 at 6:18pm

Michael Rafter was previously announced as the MD, unless that has changed. 

https://www.broadwayworld.com/article/FUNNY-GIRL-Broadway-Revival-is-Aiming-to-Begin-Performances-in-April-2022-20210807

[BCfitasafiddle]

Posted: 1/28/22 at 6:27pm

Hope we get a full announcement with cast and designers.

[EDSOSLO858]

Posted: 1/28/22 at 6:35pm

jacobsnchz14 said: "Michael Rafter was previously announced as the MD, unless that has changed.

https://www.broadwayworld.com/article/FUNNY-GIRL-Broadway-Revival-is-Aiming-to-Begin-Performances-in-April-2022-20210807"

It has not changed. Meg just messaged me to confirm

[jacobsnchz14]

Posted: 1/28/22 at 7:37pm

BCfitasafiddle said: "Hope we get a full announcement with cast and designers."

David Zinn is doing the set, Susan Hilferty is costumes, and Kevin Adams is doing the lighting design.  

[BrodyFosse123]

Posted: 1/28/22 at 8:28pm

jacobsnchz14 said: "BCfitasafiddle said: "Hope we get a full announcement with cast and designers."

David Zinn is doing the set, Susan Hilferty is costumes, and Kevin Adams is doing the lighting design. "

Did Meg confirm this?  Until she does, any info is just heresay.   

[adotburr]

Posted: 2/7/22 at 9:26am

Casting update: 

FUNNY GIRL Announces Complete Cast and Creative Team 

 

FUNNY GIRL begins performances March 26, 2022 at the August Wilson Theatre.

by Marissa Tomeo Feb. 7, 2022  

 Sonia Friedman, Scott Landis and David Babani have just announced the complete cast and creative team for the highly anticipated new Broadway production of Funny Girl. Previously announced Beanie Feldstein, Tony and Olivier Award nominee Ramin Karimloo, Jeff Award winner Jared Grimes, and five-time Emmy Award winner Jane Lynch will be joined by Peter Francis James as Florenz Ziegfeld, Ephie Aardema as Emma/Mrs. Nadler, Debra Cardona as Mrs. Meeker, Toni DiBuono as Mrs. Strakosh, Martin Moran as Tom Keeney, Julie Benko as Fanny Brice Standby.

The musical is set to feature an acting company that includes Amber Ardolino, Daniel Beeman, Colin Bradbury, Kurt Thomas Csolak, Leslie Donna Flesner, Afra Hines, Masumi Iwai, Aliah James, Jeremiah James, Danielle Kelsey, Stephen Mark Lukas, Alicia Hadiya Lundgren, John Thomas Manzari, Liz McCartney, Katie Mitchell, Justin Prescott, Mariah Reives, and Leslie Blake Walker.

Tony Award winner Michael Mayer will direct this brand-new Funny Girl, featuring the classic score by Tony, Grammy and Academy Award winner Jule Styne and lyrics by Tony Award nominee and Grammy Award winner Bob Merrill, (comprising additional songs from Styne & Merrill). The original book by Isobel Lennart, from an original story by Miss Lennart, is revised by Tony Award winner Harvey Fierstein.

FUNNY GIRL will feature choreography by Ellenore Scott, tap choreography by Ayodele Casel, scenic design by Tony Award winner David Zinn, costume design by Tony Award winner Susan Hilferty, lighting design by Tony Award winner Kevin Adams, sound design by Tony Award winner Brian Ronan, hair & wig design by Campbell Young Associates, orchestrations by Chris Walker, music direction and supervision by Emmy Award winner Michael Rafter, casting by Jim Carnahan, CSA and Jason Thinger, orchestrations by Chris Walker, dance, vocal and incidental music arrangements by Alan Williams, and additional arrangements by David Dabbon and Carmel Dean.

FUNNY GIRL begins performances Saturday, March 26, 2022 and officially opens on Sunday, April 24, 2022 at Broadway's August Wilson Theatre (245 West 52nd Street). Tickets to Funny Girl are available here. Prices start at $39.00.

This bittersweet comedy is the story of the indomitable Fanny Brice, a girl from the Lower East Side who dreamed of a life on the stage. Everyone told her she'd never be a star, but then something funny happened-she became one of the most beloved performers in history, shining brighter than the brightest lights of Broadway.

Featuring some of the most iconic songs in theatre history including "Don't Rain On My Parade," "I'm the Greatest Star," and "People," Michael Mayer's bold new production marks the first time Funny Girl will return to Broadway since its debut 58 years ago. The original production of Funny Girl premiered on Broadway in 1964 starring Barbra Streisand as 'Fanny Brice' and was nominated for eight Tony Awards including Best Musical.

FUNNY GIRL is produced by Sonia Friedman Productions, Scott Landis, David Babani, Roy Furman, No Guarantees, Adam Blanshay, Daryl Roth, Stephanie P. McClelland, Lang Entertainment Group, Playing Field, Gavin Kalin, Nicolas Talar, Fakston Productions, Sanford Robertson, Craig Balsam, Cue to Cue Productions, LenoffFedermanWolofsky Productions, Judith Ann Abrams / Peter May, Hunter Arnold, Creative Partners Productions, Elizabeth Armstrong, Jane Bergère, Jean Doumanian, Larry Magid, Rosalind Productions, Iris Smith, Kevin & Trudy Sullivan, Julie Boardman / Kate Cannova, Heni Koenigsberg / Michelle Riley, Mira Road Productions / Seaview, In Fine Company, Elie Landau, Brian Moreland, A Mach 5 Production / Brian & Dayna Lee.

[hearthemsing22]

Posted: 2/7/22 at 9:53am

Finally!! So glad they finally announced this! Some familiar names..

Julie Benko was also the understudy for several roles in the most recent revival of Fiddler On The Roof. I don’t think I ever saw her but only heard great things when she was on.

 

Wasn’t Afra Hines in Hadestown? I guess she left it for this? 
 

And Amber was in Hamilton-or Moulin Rouge!…or both? Cool to see her moving on to this! 
 

YAY COMPLETE CASTING!! 

[EDSOSLO858]

Posted: 2/7/22 at 9:55am

hearthemsing22 said: "Finally!! So glad they finally announced this! Some familiar names..

Julie Benko was also the understudy for several roles in the most recent revival of Fiddler On The Roof. I don’t think I ever saw her but only heard great things when she was on.

Wasn’t Afra Hines in Hadestown? I guess she left it for this?


And Amber was in Hamilton-or Moulin Rouge!…or both? Cool to see her moving on to this!


YAY COMPLETE CASTING!!"

I got to see Benko as Hodel when I saw the most recent Fiddler revival. She’ll do Fanny justice. And yes, Afra left Hadestown for this.

Solid cast!

 

[everythingtaboo]

Posted: 2/7/22 at 10:05am

Nice looking cast, props to them for filling it out with a good number of POC. 

[hearthemsing22]

Posted: 2/7/22 at 10:20am

everythingtaboo said: "Nice looking cast, props to them for filling it out with a good number of POC."

I noticed that too and was very happy. 

[JBroadway]

Posted: 2/7/22 at 10:35am

The announcement of the design team is the last bit of solid evidence confirming that this will not, in any way, be a remount of the London production. I know this was already basically confirmed, but I still wondered if there might be a few holdovers from the London design team. I wondered if it might be kind of a hybrid situation, where we have a soft remount with lots of differences. But nope! It'll truly be an all-new production! 

It'll be one of the rare examples of someone directing two different major productions of the same material. And even more rare for it to happen within such a short span of time.

[ErmengardeStopSniveling]

Posted: 2/7/22 at 10:54am

An issue with the London production were the orchestrations and arrangements. This utilizes the same two key people people (orchestrator Chris Walker and arranger Alan Williams), now with additional arrangements by David Dabbon and Carmel Dean and music direction by Michael Rafter.

I remain intrigued, but concerned about how big the orchestra will be!!! You'll never be better than Ralph Burns' original orchestrations, which are among the best in Broadway history.

[BCfitasafiddle]

Posted: 2/7/22 at 11:00am

Don't know anything about Julie Benko, but I'm happy for her! She already has some dates we know she'll be on for, so I hope to see her after Beanie. 

On a different note, happy to see the diversity. 

[Sutton Ross]

Posted: 2/7/22 at 11:17am

Great diverse cast, love to see it. Also, Julie can SANGGGG so I'm so excited to see her! 

[BrodyFosse123]

Posted: 2/7/22 at 11:19am

Already have my Orchestra Center, Row D tickets but aside from getting to see the very first Broadway revival of FUNNY GIRL, my excitement level just evaporated like a mist.  This Cast and Creative reveal is _______.

[Bettyboy72]

Posted: 2/7/22 at 12:45pm

So happy to have Martin Moran back on Broadway.  He was attached to Sing Street so who knows what is happening there. 

[hearthemsing22]

Posted: 2/7/22 at 1:08pm

BCfitasafiddle said: "Don't know anything about Julie Benko, but I'm happy for her! She already has some dates we know she'll be on for, so I hope to see her after Beanie.

On a different note, happy to see the diversity."< 
 

ooo where are Julies dates announced?? 

[BCfitasafiddle]

Posted: 2/7/22 at 1:29pm

I believe in another thread people got email's from SeatGeek saying Beanie would not be performing at the performances they had tickets for. It sounded like the weekend of April 29th-May 1st. 

[BrodyFosse123]

Posted: 2/7/22 at 1:31pm

Full bios & photos are now up on the official website: 

https://funnygirlonbroadway.com/cast-creative/

[hearthemsing22]

Posted: 2/7/22 at 1:46pm

BCfitasafiddle said: "I believe in another thread people got email's from SeatGeek saying Beanie would not be performing at the performances they had tickets for. It sounded like the weekend of April 29th-May 1st."

Thank you!! Yes I see the alert on SeatGeek 

[TBone]

Posted: 2/7/22 at 1:47pm

BrodyFosse123 said: "Already have my Orchestra Center, Row D tickets but aside from getting to see the very first Broadway revival of FUNNY GIRL, my excitement level just evaporated like a mist. This Cast and Creative reveal is _______."

I’m feeling the exact same way. Was excited and pulled the trigger, but now I’m hoping I don’t regret it. 

[adotburr]

Posted: 2/7/22 at 2:00pm

BrodyFosse123 said: "Full bios & photos are now up on the official website:

https://funnygirlonbroadway.com/cast-creative/"

I really hope they fix those photos. They're really bad Photoshop for some. 

[WldKingdomHM]

Posted: 2/7/22 at 2:05pm

Amber looks like she has a headache 

[Sutton Ross]

Posted: 2/7/22 at 2:12pm

Amber looks great, lovely photoshop. 

[JBroadway]

Posted: 2/7/22 at 2:27pm

TBone said: "BrodyFosse123 said: "Already have my Orchestra Center, Row D tickets but aside from getting to see the very first Broadway revival of FUNNY GIRL, my excitement level just evaporated like a mist. This Cast and Creative reveal is _______."

I’m feeling the exact same way. Was excited and pulled the trigger, but now I’m hoping I don’t regret it."

 

@Tbone and @BrodyFosse

I'd be curious to hear more about why you feel that way. It seems to me that most peoples' excitement level would hinge on Feldstein, Lynch, Karimloo, and/or Mayer. And we've known about them for months. What is it about this recent announcement that made you lose interest? Not judging, genuinely curious. I can't think which of these newly-announced cast/creative team members would elicit any kind of strong reaction - positive or negative.