Posted: 5/29/22 at 2:16pm
Agreed. I think the bar got lowered when producers thought audiences only wanted to see celebs in musicals. But, I think, given Funny Girl's success that's not true. They want to see the iconic show. And preferably sung/acted well.
Posted: 5/29/22 at 3:17pm
Broadway: “Funny Girl” Star Beanie Feldstein Keeps Missing Shows, Giving Understudy Julie Benko a Surprise Showcase
https://www.showbiz411.com/2022/05/28/broadway-funny-girl-star-beanie-feldstein-keeps-missing-shows-giving-understudy-julie-benko-a-surprise-showcase
Posted: 5/29/22 at 3:37pm
Robbie2 said: "Broadway: “Funny Girl” Star Beanie Feldstein Keeps Missing Shows, Giving Understudy Julie Benko a Surprise Showcase
https://www.showbiz411.com/2022/05/28/broadway-funny-girl-star-beanie-feldstein-keeps-missing-shows-giving-understudy-julie-benko-a-surprise-showcase"
The article lost me at... "The fact that Beanie was ignored is really criminal: she’s excellent and deserved the nomination."
Posted: 5/29/22 at 4:32pm
He replied said: "Funny Girl is a musical. It’s not a musical comedy. To have a lead (of essentially a one woman show) who excels at the comedy yet falters musically is unfortunately miscast. Feldstein is a very capable comedienne. Fantastic. Cast her in a comedy.
When did we collectively decide to lower the bar? Theatre is art. Singing is art. Dancing is art. Acting is art. When did entertainment become paramount to technique and talent?
Broadway should be the pinnacle of performance art. Young artists should see performing on a Broadway stage as the holy grail. A goal earned by mastering and honing a craft.
I sat in the seat and sighed. It’s less. Just less. All kinda.
McKechnie in A Chorus Line was thrilling.
Murphy in Passion was spellbinding.
Lupone in Evita was electric.
McDonald in Lady Day was breathtaking.
ART.
Feldstein is meh.
Ouch.
Posted: 5/29/22 at 5:51pm
He replied said: "Funny Girl is a musical. It’s not a musical comedy. To have a lead (of essentially a one woman show) who excels at the comedy yet falters musically is unfortunately miscast. Feldstein is a very capable comedienne. Fantastic. Cast her in a comedy."
This comment particularly struck me, because I was, yes, up for awhile last night thinking about how this show was being promoted. It IS a musical. Fanny Brice was a comedienne, but her life was not a comedy - in real life she was a quiet, determined strong woman who could make people laugh when she wanted to (Lucille Ball is another case in point) - which was the point of the show being written initially. Everyone complains about the 2nd Act. I thought the 2nd Act was what her life was ultimately about. Madly in love with a man, who loved her, but were wrong for each other. It showed while her believe she was the greatest star and made that happen through pure will - she couldn't control her love life. That's where the acting becomes so important. This is where the songs (with the exception of DROMP) actually do drive the story.
So, yes, Beanie may be a "funny girl" in her own right, that isn't what this show is about.
Great comment.
Posted: 5/29/22 at 8:23pm
Even one of the producers called Jullie ''luminous''!
You were luminous! Bravo
@JujujulieBee
@FunnyGirlBwy
for a wonderful afternoon. Audience went nuts!
Posted: 5/29/22 at 8:29pm
Robbie2 said: "Even one of the producers called Jullie ''luminous''!
What would you expect them to say? She sucks???
Posted: 5/29/22 at 9:02pm
The production wisely realizes: failing to acknowledge 11 successful performances only makes them look inept. And dismissive about 11 happy audiences. Had the show opened with an Evita, Saigon, or Phantom schedule -- even the Murphy on one night for Midler -- this might've been spared. Or not. Hindsight is 20/40, not 20/20.
Posted: 5/29/22 at 9:36pm
Posted: 5/29/22 at 11:14pm
That article makes a good point: most people have paid to see her, not the understudy. I'm still 8 weeks away from the performance I bought tickets for in January. If she decides to just not show up that weekend, I'll still see it because my only other option will be to not see it at all. By the time I travel I should have 9 days of shows all planned out, so won't be able to easily exchange. But it will be a disappointment. I care about seeing Beanie foremost. That it is in Funny Girl is just a bonus. If she is less than stellar, it will give me something to gossip about when I return home - but at least I will be able to say I saw her & not the understudy.
Maybe they should have put her in a revival of A Funny Thing Happened...? If they can gender swap Company, why not that?
(a side note, I'm perfectly ready to take in stride any show having to cancel during my trip due to health reasons)
Posted: 5/29/22 at 11:21pm
Maybe they should have put her in a revival of A Funny Thing Happened...? If they can gender swap Company, why not that?
Where ya been, toots? It’s already been done:
Posted: 5/29/22 at 11:41pm
I was about to report that breaking news in case others hadn’t heard. Whoopi did a fine job!
Posted: 5/29/22 at 11:48pm
GingerSnaps2 said: "I was about to report that breaking news in case others hadn’t heard. Whoopi did a fine job!"
Posted: 5/29/22 at 11:58pm
Yes but they should do Forum with an entirely female/nb cast this time!
Posted: 5/30/22 at 12:54am
Auggie27 said: "The production wisely realizes: failing to acknowledge 11 successful performances only makes them look inept. And dismissive about 11 happy audiences. Had the show opened with an Evita, Saigon, or Phantom schedule -- even the Murphy on one night for Midler -- this might've been spared. Or not. Hindsight is 20/40, not 20/20."
This seems to imply audiences are unhappy when Beanie performs, yet even most of the people where who trash her have acknowledged the crowd at the performances they attended was loving her performance, very vocal in their support (loud applause, etc.).
Posted: 5/30/22 at 4:01am
joevitus said: "Auggie27 said: "The production wisely realizes: failing to acknowledge 11 successful performances only makes them look inept. And dismissive about 11 happy audiences. Had the show opened with an Evita, Saigon, or Phantom schedule -- even the Murphy on one night for Midler -- this might've been spared. Or not. Hindsight is 20/40, not 20/20."
This seems to imply audiences are unhappy when Beanie performs, yet even most of the people where who trash her have acknowledged the crowd at the performances they attended was loving her performance, very vocal in their support (loud applause, etc.)."
All Broadway musicals get loud applause and all their audiences are loud in their support, please...
Posted: 5/30/22 at 8:55am
1997? Wow, did Broadway shows exist that long ago?
BrodyFosse123 said: "Maybe they should have put her in a revival of A Funny Thing Happened...? If they can gender swap Company, why not that?
Where ya been, toots? It’s already been done:"
Posted: 5/30/22 at 10:01am
1997? Wow, did Broadway shows exist that long ago?
Apparently it didn’t to you, at least. Based on your suggestion that they should try doing a gender-swapped version of A FUNNY THING HAPPENED ON THE WAY TO THE FORUM when it had already been done and quite successfully, too. 
Posted: 5/30/22 at 10:07am
Are there confirmed dates this month when Julie will be on?
Posted: 5/30/22 at 10:43am
Jordan Catalano said: "Are there confirmed dates this month when Julie will be on?"
Her next scheduled performance block is the entire weekend - Friday August 26 to Sunday August 28, 2022. But based on how things have been going, it’s safe to assume she’ll be on at any time during each week. She posts on her Instagram the moment she gets word she’s going on to give folks the heads-up as far in advance as possible.
Posted: 5/30/22 at 2:48pm
Posted by Harvey Fierstein:
"Based on an actual pic, Julie Benko, our fabulous Fanny stand-by, & Jane Lynch, our inimitable Rosie Brice, created this photo. Look at the book they are reading. Thank you Julie, Jane and all the rest of you merry-makers at FUNNY GIRL. You are the best."
Posted: 5/30/22 at 3:19pm
ErmengardeStopSniveling said: "Yes but they should do Forum with anentirelyfemale/nb cast this time!"
Why??
Posted: 5/30/22 at 3:46pm
TaffyDavenport said: "Posted by Harvey Fierstein:
"Based on an actual pic, Julie Benko, our fabulous Fanny stand-by, & Jane Lynch, our inimitable Rosie Brice, created this photo. Look at the book they are reading. Thank you Julie, Jane and all the rest of you merry-makers at FUNNY GIRL. You are the best."
Posted: 5/30/22 at 3:53pm
Would love to see a replication of this photo with Ramin.
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