Funny Girl engagements in L.A. and Broadway postponed

[beautywickedlover]

Posted: 11/3/11 at 8:09pm

The Broadway and Los Angeles engagements of 'Funny Girl' have been postponed.

Speaking on behalf of the FUNNY GIRL producing team, Bob Boyett said "We have made the extremely difficult decision today to postpone our production of Funny Girl. Given the current economic climate, many Broadway producing investors have found it impossible to maintain their standard level of financial commitment. Our desire to produce Funny Girl on the scale it deserves required a capitalization of $12 million making it one of the most expensive revivals in Broadway history."

Boyett continued, "I am deeply saddened by this decision, but I, along with the finest group of co-producers I have ever had the pleasure to work with, Sonia Friedman, Jean Doumanian, Stacey Mindich and Tim Levy, determined that this was not the right time to bring Funny Girl to the stage."

That's too bad I was looking forward to this show.

https://www.broadwayworld.com/article/FUNNY-GIRL-Postpones-Los-Angeles-and-Broadway-Engagements-20111103

Updated On: 4/2/12 at 08:09 PM

[steven22]

Posted: 11/3/11 at 8:10pm

I'm upset. Was really looking forward to this.

[Overkill]

Posted: 11/3/11 at 8:12pm

Oh, noooo. So upset about this. I was really looking forward to seeing Lauren as Fanny. I hope everything gets resolved fairly soon....

[binau]

Posted: 11/3/11 at 8:12pm

Wow. That sucks. I think it is going to be Evita's season..

[Producer2]

Posted: 11/3/11 at 8:15pm

Let's take bets on who gets the Imperial! Follies or Nice Work If You Can Get It????

[everythingtaboo]

Posted: 11/3/11 at 8:15pm

Just to get this out of the way...no matter how much anyone wants it to be so:

FOLLIES WILL NOT BE TRANSFERRING TO THE IMPERIAL.

As you were.

I was excited in seeing this on Broadway. But I do wonder if casting Lauren Ambrose was the key to this being postponed. In these economic times, who is going to want to invest $12 million in a B- or C-List star like her. I love her, but she's not going to get Hugh Jackman dollars into their coffers. It's a sad Broadway reality.

Updated On: 11/3/11 at 08:15 PM

[ggersten]

Posted: 11/3/11 at 8:15pm

This doesn't read like "postponed" - it reads like "cancelled". There's no indication of any future time for the revival. I feel bad for Lauren Ambrose and Bobby Cannavale.

(And now cue the endless Lea Michele gossip as the revival may now not happen until she's off Glee)

(Plus now cue the griping about whatever show CTG puts into the gap)

[binau]

Posted: 11/3/11 at 8:17pm

I wish, wish FOLLIES' business were stronger because it sounds like a perfect sized theatre to transfer to.

[ljay889]

Posted: 11/3/11 at 8:19pm

Why am I not surprised???

Anyway. Today a fan asked Danny Burstein on facebook if there's a chance that Follies will extend - and his responds was "There's always a chance..."

[Mr Roxy]

Posted: 11/3/11 at 8:21pm

I was looking forward to it.

I saw the original not with Streisand but Mimi Hines (remember her)

[Jonwo]

Posted: 11/3/11 at 8:22pm

It wouldn't surprise me if Rebecca moves from the Broadhurst to the Imperial but I think Nice Work if You Can Get It or the transfer of One Man Two Guvnors although OMTG isn't confirmed yet.

[binau]

Posted: 11/3/11 at 8:22pm

What if FOLLIES were to close in January and re-open in April again at the Imperial after BP's string of concerts in Feb?

Actually, I should stop this. These relentless pipe dreams must be relentless.

Updated On: 11/3/11 at 08:22 PM

[CurtainPullDowner]

Posted: 11/3/11 at 8:44pm

I wonder what the real story is?
Strike 2 for Sher after WOTVOANB, I hope he gets back on track soon. Maybe he should start working on that KING AND I revival.

[GlindatheGood22]

Posted: 11/3/11 at 8:48pm

For some reason this doesn't surprise me.

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 11/3/11 at 8:52pm

Thank God it's official. It's been killing me to sit on this information.

[BroadwayFan12]

Posted: 11/3/11 at 8:54pm

I hope this doesn't mean Lea Michele will somehow claw her way into the role when/if the revival does happen. She she does, I will puke.

[DaveyG]

Posted: 11/3/11 at 8:58pm

So sad - all of those jobs lost. I know offers went out to actors in the last few weeks. How heartbreaking.

[Dollypop]

Posted: 11/3/11 at 8:58pm

Who wants to bet that the FUNNY GIRL revival never sees the light of day?

[The Distinctive Baritone]

Posted: 11/3/11 at 9:05pm

Yeah, "postponed" is usually a euphemism for "cancelled" when it comes to Broadway-aimed productions, so I've noticed. I feel so bad for those who were to be involved.

[South Fl Marc]

Posted: 11/3/11 at 9:20pm

It was rumored that the revival of godspell would also never see the light of day and look what a disaster that turned out to be.

(Cant wait for the reviews)

[aasjb4ever]

Posted: 11/3/11 at 9:25pm

Lea Michele strikes again!

[inlovewithjerryherman]

Posted: 11/3/11 at 9:33pm

This is very upsetting. I was really looking forward to this.

I wonder if it's the lack of casting an "established star" that caused investors to back out.

[Gaveston2]

Posted: 11/3/11 at 9:36pm

Mr. Roxy, I worked with Mimi Hines a few years ago at The Fabulous Palm Springs Follies. She sings the FUNNY GIRL songs as if it were 1968! (She's also a lovely person who lives and works out of Las Vegas.)

You can find her sing "Broadway Baby" for ENCORES on You Tube. It's well worth it.

[RippedMan]

Posted: 11/3/11 at 9:40pm

Hm. What would make this so expensive? Why does it need $12 million dollars?

[Michael Bennett]

Posted: 11/3/11 at 9:44pm

FUNNY GIRL is a huge show calling for a huge cast, huge production values (thank you Mr. Ziegfield) and a large orchestra. That 12 million dollar price tag doesn't surprise me.

Still, Bob Boyett has deep pockets so there must be more to the story. Perhaps early sales in Los Angeles indicated there wasn't as much interest as originally hoped for.