Funny Girl at Lincoln Center?
Funny Girl at Lincoln Center?
#1Funny Girl at Lincoln Center?
Posted: 4/5/07 at 5:36pmHas anyone else heard this rumor about Marty Bell producing a revival of FUNNY GIRL at the State Theater this summer? If so- any idea who's playing Fanny?
#2re: Funny Girl at Lincoln Center?
Posted: 4/5/07 at 5:43pm
Well they need a replacement for Ragtime.
Updated On: 4/5/07 at 05:43 PM
#2re: Funny Girl at Lincoln Center?
Posted: 4/5/07 at 5:45pmI thought that Candide was chosen to replace Ragtime.
Going to a musical late in its run is like going to a prostitute late in her shift.
#3re: Funny Girl at Lincoln Center?
Posted: 4/5/07 at 5:51pm
What I heard is that FUNNY GIRL is being considered for City Center as part of this new "Stars in roles they were born to play" thing they are starting with LuPone in GYPSY.
Frankly, I can think of no current star "born" to play this role - otherwise we probably would have had a full scale revival- though it would be fun to see someone like Sandra Bernhard or Ana Gasteyer do it.
#4re: Funny Girl at Lincoln Center?
Posted: 4/5/07 at 5:51pm
Hopefully not Shoshana Bean who says its her dream role.
She'll have to keep dreaming. She'd be a horrible Fanny.
#5re: Funny Girl at Lincoln Center?
Posted: 4/5/07 at 5:53pmGasteyer would be a great Fanny. I could also see Julia Murney in the role.
"You travel alone because other people are only there to remind you how much that hook hurts that we all bit down on. Wait for that one day we can bite free and get back out there in space where we belong, sail back over water, over skies, into space, the hook finally out of our mouths and we wander back out there in space spawning to other planets never to return hurrah to earth and we'll look back and can't even see these lives here anymore. Only the taste of blood to remind us we ever existed. The earth is small. We're gone. We're dead. We're safe."
-John Guare, Landscape of the Body
#6re: Funny Girl at Lincoln Center?
Posted: 4/5/07 at 6:00pmJulia Murney would be an amazing Fanny Brice. It's the one role I have been saying for two years that she should do.
#8re: Funny Girl at Lincoln Center?
Posted: 4/5/07 at 6:02pmSo basically, any Jewish girl who was played Elphaba should take on the role.
#9re: Funny Girl at Lincoln Center?
Posted: 4/5/07 at 6:04pmOf course they could always bring back PIA ZADORA...
#10re: Funny Girl at Lincoln Center?
Posted: 4/5/07 at 6:04pm
Murney as Fanny? No way.
How about Nancy Anderson?
Musical Director
Understudy Joined: 10/5/05
#11re: Funny Girl at Lincoln Center?
Posted: 4/5/07 at 6:08pmLeslie Kritzer did it at Paper Mill and she was excellent....Years and years ago before his death, Jule Styne said that he wanted Bette Midler to do it. She's a little mature for it now, but she would be fabulous!
#12re: Funny Girl at Lincoln Center?
Posted: 4/5/07 at 6:09pm
"Murney as Fanny? No way."
Yes way! Did you see her sing "People" at the Funny Girl benefit? She totally managed to channel Fanny Brice without channeling "Barbara Streisand as Fanny Brice."
#13re: Funny Girl at Lincoln Center?
Posted: 4/5/07 at 6:11pm
Styne was also the one who first wanted Sandra Bernhard (a closer fit to the real Brice) and later an actress named Alicia Irving.
They'll probably end up being the over the top hilarious Idina Menzel.
#14re: Funny Girl at Lincoln Center?
Posted: 4/5/07 at 6:12pmMichael Bennett, Murney was a hoot when she played Fastrada in "Pippin" a few years back. I have no doubt she could carry off the comedic moments required of her in "Funny Girl" (she certainly has the voice and personality already.)
Tonya Pinkins: Then we had a "Lot's Wife" last June that was my personal favorite. I'm still trying to get them to let me sing it at some performance where we get to sing an excerpt that's gone.
Tony Kushner: You can sing it at my funeral.
Tony Kushner: You can sing it at my funeral.
Thesbijean
Broadway Legend Joined: 12/9/04
Musical Director
Understudy Joined: 10/5/05
#16re: Funny Girl at Lincoln Center?
Posted: 4/5/07 at 6:17pmI think it's interesting to note that before Barbra Streisand was found, the first choice was Anne Bancroft. If it happens, whoever does it will have a big mountain to climb.
#17re: Funny Girl at Lincoln Center?
Posted: 4/5/07 at 6:17pmI see the similarities between Fanny Brice and Sandra Bernhard, but can she sing?
Tonya Pinkins: Then we had a "Lot's Wife" last June that was my personal favorite. I'm still trying to get them to let me sing it at some performance where we get to sing an excerpt that's gone.
Tony Kushner: You can sing it at my funeral.
Tony Kushner: You can sing it at my funeral.
#18re: Funny Girl at Lincoln Center?
Posted: 4/5/07 at 6:19pm
Talent aside, I don't think Kritzer or Murney is a big enough name to sell out City Center. I don't think these are the kinds of stars they are talking about for this series.
They apparently are talking about things like REBA in WHOREHOUSE, Bernadette Peters in MAME, etc. --. stars who can commit to a one month run but not a year long Broadway contract...
That's the mission statement for now anyway - the series may end up just being a one-off-excuse for LuPone to do GYPSY in the city.
And yes, Bernhard sings.
Updated On: 4/5/07 at 06:19 PM
#19re: Funny Girl at Lincoln Center?
Posted: 4/5/07 at 6:22pm
"...REBA in WHOREHOUSE, Bernadette Peters in MAME"
Wow! Those prospects sound fantastic to me! Sign me up now!
Happy...Everything!
Kaye Thompson
#20re: Funny Girl at Lincoln Center?
Posted: 4/5/07 at 6:23pm
Oh I agree completely. Casting someone like a Murney or Kritzer would go against the whole nature of the series (bringing big stars in for big roles in theater,) but I was just saying that I don't think there's an actress out there today more perfect for this role than Julia.
Since they want someone with name recognition, the fact that "Funny Girl" has even been brought up preplexes me, as there certainly isn't anyone who could sell tickets capable of pulling Fanny off (at least none that I can think of.)
"And yes, Bernhard sings."
...well enough to pull of Styne's belt fest of a score?
Tonya Pinkins: Then we had a "Lot's Wife" last June that was my personal favorite. I'm still trying to get them to let me sing it at some performance where we get to sing an excerpt that's gone.
Tony Kushner: You can sing it at my funeral.
Updated On: 4/5/07 at 06:23 PM
Tony Kushner: You can sing it at my funeral.
#21re: Funny Girl at Lincoln Center?
Posted: 4/5/07 at 6:25pm
Well, I do think its a fascinating idea as there truly are a lot of names who want to do Broadway without the long time commitment.
And they absolutely would need a name of some kind to run a show at City Center for three weeks. Its absolutely huge.
Early in her career Bernhard had a somewhat small though effective voice - similar to Brice's own vocal instrument. But she's studied and sung a lot in the last twenty years and her voice is quite strong now. I think she'd be able to sing the score just fine - and more importantly - it would be a very different interpretation than Streisand's.
Updated On: 4/5/07 at 06:25 PM
#22re: Funny Girl at Lincoln Center?
Posted: 4/5/07 at 6:30pmA very interesting choice to say the least, but I don't see Bernhard being a big enough name to anchor something of this scale.
Tonya Pinkins: Then we had a "Lot's Wife" last June that was my personal favorite. I'm still trying to get them to let me sing it at some performance where we get to sing an excerpt that's gone.
Tony Kushner: You can sing it at my funeral.
Tony Kushner: You can sing it at my funeral.
#23re: Funny Girl at Lincoln Center?
Posted: 4/5/07 at 6:33pm
Well thats my original point: I dont think there is a bonafide box office name right for the role at the moment - except for maybe the above mentioned Bette Midler who surely would never touch the material...
At the end of the day - even in a limited run, it doesn't seem now is the right time for any FUNNY GIRL revival in NYC.
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