Funny Girl

Tams-Witmark controls the rights.


[click me]

Updated On: 5/16/06 at 11:01 PM

It's performed regionally all the time (I've read reviews of about three productions around the country in the past year or two -- one starring Anna Gasteyer and another starring Stephanie J Block). Papermill just did it with Leslie Kritzer a few years ago (there was brief talk of trying to move that production to Broadway, but it never got out of the talking stage). High schools and community theatres do it all it all the time.

The problem with a Broadway revival has always been that, in part, the shadow of Streisand still looms. It's an expensive show to mount (probably $10 million for Broadway) and you have to have a 20-something (or maybe early 30-something) actress who's Jewish (or at least looks it), has a gorgeous multi-octave voice (someone who can compete with Streisand's definitive renditions of that music), is a first-rate verbal and physical comedienne, AND also has something of a "name" (since few producers are will entrust such an expensive show to a total unknown). Not many names come to mind who have all the necessary qualities -- they're either too old, can't vocally handle the score, don't have the requisite comedic chops, look too gentile and/or are complete unknowns.

It'll probably come back one of these days, as soon as a first rate Fanny comes along.

---

Gasteyer has most of the necessary qualities, except that she's almost 40. I'd still like to see her take a crack at it.

Here's one review of her Funny Girl I found on Bob Cuccioli's website (he played Nick):

http://www.robertcuccioli.com/Media/FunnyGirlPTOPittsLIve.htm

---

The script for the stage production is in need of some work (It was heavily re-written for the screenplay. Notice only one of the six somgs in ACt II made it into the film!)

The show was re-written endlessly all through try-outs and previews. The final scene was rehearsed just before the start of the performance.

The seams show, although the score is very strong. Still, it could stand to lose "Henry Street", & "Find Yourself a Man."

---

Wasn't there also a story about Lainie Kazan getting herself fired as Barbra's understudy by buying newspaper ads announcing that she'd be going on as Fanny one night?

I used to own a bootleg audio tape of Laurie Beechman in the role at the Sacramento Music Circus. She handled the scenes okay, but her musical numbers were pretty spine tingling. Makes sense since supposedly Barbra herself told her after a performance of "Joseph," "Kid, you got nice pipes."

Phil - you had me until the American Idol comment. With all due respect to the Idols... throwing someone into a high stress, instant fame type situation may make them a star, but NOT an overnight Fanny!

Jimnysf - I just LOVE her version too! How great that you got to see her on her one huge day in SF! AND in BFO... 3X no less!

really Margo. so what do jewish girls look like? i think this is a very narrow minded comment and quite remarkably insulting to all actresses.

Margo's comment about the actress being or looking Jewish is by no means narrow minded or insulting at all. Fanny Brice is a Jewish girl from New York at the turn of the century. Kelli O'Hara she aint. Welcome to the real world if you take offense to that. Not to mention the fact that she is playing a real person.

---

phil-when Stephen SOndheim was originally planned to do the lyrics, Jule Styne presented the idea of Mary Martin as Fanny. To which Sondheim replied, "You need to have a Jewish girl. And if not Jewish, she needs to have the nose." Thought that was interesting.

---

The other thing about this show is that the actress playing Fanny really has to work her butt off. Onstage all the time, a gazillion costume changes, etc.

Anne Bancroft and Carol Burnett were also considered originally. Burnett said the same thing: You need a Jewish girl.

---

I would love to see Tari Kelly or Sutton Foster take a crack at Fanny. As amazing as they both are though I think that Barbra's shadow will always loom too large for any actress to have a fair shot at it and rightfully so.

---