Funny Girl?

Have they revived Funny Girl since the 1st production with Barbara? If not, they should I'd love to see this done. But whoever would play Fanny would have big shoes to fill. Maybe thats why they haven't revived it. I think Sutton would make a good Fanny but it would be cool to find someone new to play the part just like Barbara was. I don't knwo I think it would be cool to have it revived, it has great music.

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I think it's time for a Funny Girl revival too! I think people might be scared of Funny Girl with Barbra, though...maybe that's what's prevented it from happening.

Sutton would indeed be a great choice for it. I'd also like to see (and hear) Julia Murney have a shot at it -- for a totally different take.

Linda Eder singing that score would be unbelievable. She already sings "Parade" better than Barbra, in my opinion. She'd probably never touch the show however.

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There was talk about 10 years ago that Taylor Dayne was going to do the revival. Jule Styne was involved and then passed away and that ended that.

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There has been talk over the years about a revival -- featuring any number of people from Taylor Dane to Sandra Bernhard (who I think would have been fascinating in the role) but its never happened.

There was also the touring company with Debbie Gibson that quickly folded -- perhaps one of our posters can share stories on that one

The problem is that as much as people talk about the vocal demands of the part -- more importantly the role really needs the kind of quirky, unique Jewish personality that you don't see in many leading ladies in order to really work.

I just can't see someone as waspy as Sutton Foster being completely effective in the part.

Maybe in a couple of years they'll revive it with that chick on American Idol everyone says reminds them of Streisand, ha!

Updated On: 3/21/05 at 04:37 PM

haha yeah that girl on Idol reminds me of streisand so much! lol!

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wow....thats really interesting about nick arnstein! thats sad.

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I don't know what she was like in the role, but I like Darcie Robert's recordings from when she played the role at TUTS in Houston (available for listening on her website).

Updated On: 3/21/05 at 04:42 PM

thats what I think too. I think finding an unknown who is worthy of the role would be smart to do.

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But it was romanticized for the movie. The real Arnstein was not a class act. Also Fran Stark didn't want her father portrayed as badly as he truly was and the real Nick threatened to sue the producers of the musical play so his role kept being whitewashed.

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Updated On: 3/21/05 at 04:51 PM

Please remember that Streisand was NOT an unknown at the time of FUNNY GIRL. I believe she had already won a Grammy and, before the show opened, made her iconic appearance on the Judy Garland Show.

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Streisand was only known on the coasts, she was hardly a household name when cast in the role. Additionally, the role became iconic after Streisand transitioned to "legend". It was not an iconic role at the time it was being cast or performed in the 60's.

In fact, the show continued on for another year after Streisand left with Mimi Hines in the role.

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Updated On: 3/21/05 at 04:54 PM

The "Revival" tour with Deborah Gibson was supposed to go to B'way, but alas did not. The Isobel Lennart Estate had given Sammie Dallas Bayes, the director full reign to change the book. which he tried and failed miserably. The show was horribly directed and the design looked like a bad summer stock production. Deb sang the hell out of it and she was starting to "get" Fanny under her belt when it closed.

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