Funny Girl Tour cast changes.- Page 3

[SmokeyLady]

Posted: 8/16/24 at 1:26pm

hearthemsing22 said: "I love how everyone says Katerina is leaving, but no one can point me towards information that confirms that. Nice."

It was answered when you first asked.  And then you went on to discuss it with a back and forth in this same thread which is not that long.  Not a big deal.  The show appears to  go on a one month hiatus after August.  I wonder how much of the cast will be different when it returns.  

[Azúcar!]

Posted: 8/17/24 at 1:02pm

Hannah just played her last performance as a standby.  Check out her insta.  Is Melissa leaving as well?

[hearthemsing22]

Posted: 8/19/24 at 9:18am

SmokeyLady said: "hearthemsing22 said: "I love how everyone says Katerina is leaving, but no one can point me towards information that confirms that. Nice."

It was answered when you first asked. And then you went on to discuss it with a back and forth in this same thread which is not that long. Not a big deal. The show appears to go on a one month hiatus after August. I wonder how much of the cast will be different when it returns."

Thank you. I'm curious too- Hannah Shankman has been teasing big news on her Instagram. Is it possible she could be full time Fanny, or do you think it's a different project entirely?

Updated On: 8/19/24 at 09:18 AM

[MatthewS1]

Posted: 8/19/24 at 9:24am

hearthemsing22 said: "SmokeyLady said: "hearthemsing22 said: "I love how everyone says Katerina is leaving, but no one can point me towards information that confirms that. Nice."

It was answered when you first asked. And then you went on to discuss it with a back and forth in this same thread which is not that long. Not a big deal. The show appears to go on a one month hiatus after August. I wonder how much of the cast will be different when it returns."

Thank you. I'm curious too- Hannah Shankman has been teasing big names on her Instagram. Is it possible she could be full time Fanny, or do you think it's a different project entirely?"

99% sure she is taking over full time.

[SmokeyLady]

Posted: 8/19/24 at 1:48pm

Is Melissa Manchester confirmed leaving as well?  I don't see her name in the ads from September on. 

[PabloJuan]

Posted: 8/21/24 at 7:02pm

Katerina announced on Instagram today that this is her final week as Fanny Brice. 

Updated On: 8/21/24 at 07:02 PM

[DAME]

Posted: 8/21/24 at 8:28pm

PabloJuan said: "Katerina announced on Instagram today that this is her final week as Fanny Brice."

What a great year run.  She is extraordinary in the role. Felicidades Katerina!  

Updated On: 8/21/24 at 08:28 PM

[MysteriousLady]

Posted: 8/22/24 at 8:12am

I'm sorry I missed Katerina; I didn't know she had Thursdays off when I bought the tickets; but I did enjoy Hannah Shankman. She has a strong voice and was impressive in the dramatic scenes; she's not bad in the comic aspects, especially the restaurant scene, I just don't think that's her strongest suit; I was surprised to find myself wondering what Beanie was like here. I was also surprised at how much I enjoyed the second act, since I've never cared for the second half of the movie. 

[PabloJuan]

Posted: 8/23/24 at 2:02pm

Many of the ensemble cast members left in June. Several cast members will leave at the end of this week. It will be interesting to see who stays. Some of the ensemble members have also said that this is their last week. I’m not sure why everyone seems to be silent about what will happen when the show reopens in September. 

Updated On: 8/25/24 at 02:02 PM

[alovingfan]

Posted: 8/23/24 at 3:47pm

PabloJuan said: "SETA Equity contracts can only last one year. That is why they have to shut the show down for one full week. It seems that many of the ensemble had nine month contracts and left in June. The rest of the remaining cast will have their contracts expire at the end of this week. It seems that they could continue through April with another Equity contract. If the show changed to non-equity, none of the current cast could stay. It will be interesting to see who stays. Some of the ensemble members have also said that thisis their last week. I’m not sure why everyone seems to be silent about what will happen when the show reopens in September."

It is closing for one month.  Not one week. 

[alovingfan]

Posted: 8/24/24 at 5:37pm

Interesting that Katerina did not really use that much of her social media to promote herself or develop her audience throughout the year.  Bits and pieces.. but not much.  Wondering if Melissa stays with the show a little longer since she missed a few months due to injury.

[PabloJuan]

Posted: 8/24/24 at 6:13pm

An online interview in the Jewish Herald Voice from a few days ago states that Eileen T’Kaye (Mrs. Strakosh) is leaving the show after this week to prepare for some production of fiddler on the roof. I wonder if anyone is staying with this tour. 

[The Distinctive Baritone]

Posted: 8/24/24 at 11:51pm

alovingfan said: "Interesting that Katerina did not really use that much of her social media to promote herself or develop her audience throughout the year. Bits and pieces.. but not much. Wondering if Melissa stays with the show a little longer since she missed a few months due to injury."

That might be due to the social media ****storm that occurred when her casting was initially announced. Angry unemployed Jewish musical theatre actresses and various keyboard warriors were straight up bullying her on her Instagram page. It was crazy.

[jakethesnake]

Posted: 8/25/24 at 12:01am

PabloJuan said: "SETA Equity contracts can only last one year. That is why they have to shut the show down for one month. It seems that many of the ensemble had nine month contracts and left in June. The rest of the remaining cast will have their contracts expire at the end of this week. It seems that they could continue through April with another Equity contract. If the show changed to non-equity, none of the current cast could stay. It will be interesting to see who stays. Some of the ensemble members have also said that thisis their last week. I’m not sure why everyone seems to be silent about what will happen when the show reopens in September."

This is not true.  Not sure where you came up with this.  First, they are no longer called SETA tours.  Tours are a level between 1 through 7.  And they can run for as long as they choose to run.  A principal contract can be a year, while chorus contracts are open ended.  Les Miserables has been on tour for 2 years straight and is under what used to be a SETA contract, for example.   

[MatthewS1]

Posted: 8/25/24 at 8:40am

PabloJuan said: "An online interview in the Jewish Herald Voice from a few days ago states that Eileen T’Kaye (Mrs. Strakosh) is leaving the show after this week to prepare for some production of fiddler on the roof. I wonder if anyone is staying with this tour."

Cheryl Stern is the new Strakosh, and she’s been actively promoting it on social media. She just played Yente in Fiddler at The Muny. The new cast will be announced soon- probably this week.

Updated On: 8/25/24 at 08:40 AM

[PabloJuan]

Posted: 8/25/24 at 12:21pm

https://www.broadwayworld.com/equity-audition/FUNNY-GIRL-Various-Producers-2023-38761
 

The original casting call for this tour stated that it would be under a SETA contract. Equity guidelines state that a SETA contract starts with a year run, but can be extended. I thought that was why the tour ended with an interruption and most people were leaving after a year. Did something change from the time this casting call was published in February 2023 for the tour to use something other than a SETA contract? The current IATSE page for this tour also indicates that it is a SETA contract tour.

[Call_me_jorge]

Posted: 8/25/24 at 12:49pm

The short engagement touring agreement(SETA) had expired in January of 2023. Equity had a big “unite the road” campaign bargaining for a new contract that spring. It’s possible that tours with fall 2023 launches had their contracts grandfathered in, but for the most part all equity tours are on the new contract.

[PabloJuan]

Posted: 8/25/24 at 1:41pm

Thanks for the information about the new unite the road actors equity contract. Apparently that was ratified in April 2023. It supersedes the old SETA contract. If you look at the old SETA contract, it appears that the producers had to negotiate the contract prior to beginning auditions. So I would be surprised if funny girl tour used the new touring contract because they began auditions in February 2023. During negotiations for the old SETA contract, the producers had to turn in a 52 week itinerary. So the show could initially be scheduled for only a year, but later extended. 

Updated On: 8/25/24 at 01:41 PM

[PabloJuan]

Posted: 8/25/24 at 2:07pm

https://iatse.net/shows/funny-girl-2/
 

Here is a link to the IATSE webpage for the touring company of funny girl. It refers to the SET contract for the show.

Updated On: 8/25/24 at 02:07 PM

[MatthewS1]

Posted: 8/25/24 at 4:36pm

You’re reading far too deep into it. The IATSE website rarely gets updated. They haven’t even added the Back To The Future tour yet. The Funny Girl page hasn’t been touched since the tour launched. All the verbiage has changed since then.

[PabloJuan]

Posted: 8/25/24 at 6:33pm

2 days ago on Facebook, Melissa Manchester stated that she is finishing her first year of the funny girl tour. Then she said, “onward to year 2.” 

Updated On: 8/25/24 at 06:33 PM

[MatthewS1]

Posted: 8/25/24 at 6:46pm

PabloJuan said: "A few hours ago on Facebook, Melissa Manchester stated that she is finishing her first year of the funny girl tour. Then she said, “onward to year 2.”"

That post is 2 days old. 
 

In the comments, she directly confirmed that she is staying for year 2.

[PabloJuan]

Posted: 9/6/24 at 11:24am

Hannah Shankman has been announced as the full-time Fanny for the funny girl tour. Is there any indication that she will do 8 shows a week or will there will be an alternate on Thursdays?

[hearthemsing22]

Posted: 9/6/24 at 11:26am

PabloJuan said: "HannahShankman has been announced as the full-time Fanny for the funny girl tour. Is there any indication that she will do 8 shows a week or will there will be an alternate on Thursdays?"

Nothing has been announced yet but maybe check the understudy social media, maybe they've mentioned something. If not, it will be announced closer to the shows starting up again. 

[Bette's Turban]

Posted: 9/6/24 at 8:50pm

Leah Platt will be doing Thursday nights.