If Funny Girl Came Back To Broadway...?- Page 3

[PottstownTeacher]

Posted: 3/25/09 at 12:13pm

I'm still stuck on the image of Leslie Kritzer being kicked out of someone's bed. Before or afer!??!?!!

I have to say my vote is for Leslie! I saw her at Papermill and she absolutely blew me away! I had hoped that production would transfer. The girl is amazing. Check out her Saturday Night Live audition on that site I don't think we're allowed to mention. "I punched that pigeon in the face!!!"

[somethingwicked]

Posted: 3/25/09 at 12:27pm

Leslie Kritzer is the only talent today who would be able to completely erase all memories of Barbra Streisand (which is the reason we haven't seen a revival.)

If the show ever comes back, she is the star who deserves to headline it.

Updated On: 3/25/09 at 12:27 PM

[madame_no]

Posted: 3/26/09 at 11:15am

I think this could be a star-making role for Emma Zaks.

[bwaycomposer]

Posted: 3/26/09 at 1:29pm

Jenn Furman...she IS this character!!! Check her out on youtube!

Updated On: 3/26/09 at 01:29 PM

[ben8787]

Posted: 3/26/09 at 3:25pm

do you have any links?

[Sauja]

Posted: 3/26/09 at 7:18pm

I've never been able to get over Lillias White's rendition of "Don't Rain On My Parade" on YouTube. She's 1,004% wrong for the part, but I'd buy a ticket. :)

[bwaycomposer]

Posted: 3/27/09 at 2:21pm

http://www.youtube.com/results?search_type=&search_query=jenn+furman&aq=f

Jenn Furman

[Theatreboy49]

Posted: 3/27/09 at 2:56pm

sauja i agree with you. Her rendition of that song was phenominal.

[Mister Matt]

Posted: 3/27/09 at 3:24pm

Unless they find a truly bankable powerhouse star, I wouldn't expect to see a major Broadway revival. The show itself simply isn't strong enough without a guaranteed box office darling who can bring in a whopping advance. Perhaps a not-for-profit turn at the Roundabout with its subscriber base, but I'm not sure even they would consider it a wise venture.

[Marquise]

Posted: 3/27/09 at 3:37pm

Is it viable to even consider a revival of FUNNY GIRL? I wasn't even born when the show was on Broadway but from what I've researched on the show the success of the piece really hinged on the actress playing Fanny. Barbra Streisand was more than up to the challenge and of course succeeded and a worthy replacement was found in Mimi Hines who with her real life husband kept it running after Streisand left.

The book of the show I've read was the big problem. I remember reading that FUNNY GIRL was first conceived as a film but then turned into a stage show. Isobel Lennart then had to reconstruct her already existing screenplay into a cohesive stage book. The show was blessed with a rising star and an astounding score which more than made up for the show's shortcomings.

It wasn't until the 1968 film version that Lennart crafted and redid her original screenplay as she had originally intended and even then after the initial excitement, bounce and energy of the film's first act the second act is a little bit of a let down, it's slow in spots but Streisand's tour-de-force finale more than makes up for it.

For many who have seen both the film is a vast improvement over the original show.

[jejr]

Posted: 3/27/09 at 11:29pm

Something that is not common knowledge now is that there were problems with the original book as one of the producers was married to Brice's daughter and they would not approve a number of things in the original script. That changed with the film.(I couldn't believe what a _itch Striesand played Brice as in Funny Lady)

I saw Carol Lawrence in a summer tour of the show. It didn't work as she was just too beautiful for Brice. Her acting and singing were marvelous, but she could not pull off the look of Brice.

She's not a Broadway star yet, but Maggie Lakis in the tour of Ave Q might be able to do it. She certainly has the talent.
Updated On: 7/9/09 at 11:29 PM

[madbrian]

Posted: 3/27/09 at 11:33pm

I wonder if Nicole Parker could do it? I haven't seen her in Wicked, but she's has the comedic timing needed.

[faithzilla]

Posted: 3/28/09 at 1:22am

Bean or Block. I would kill to see either of them.

[americanboy99]

Posted: 3/28/09 at 1:25am

I'd love to see Leighann Larkin in the role, although I do feel Kritzer would most likely be the best choice.

In what I have seen of Stephanie J. Block, she looks and sounds great- but she just seems like she is working too hard.

The actress should OWN this role and seem to play it effortlessly. It shouldn't seem like a challenge.

[duffny1]

Posted: 3/28/09 at 1:37pm

Octomom - Nadya Suleman


If she is too busy (being in the spotlight:) I think Nicole Parker, Sutton Foster or Ana Geyster.

[ray-andallthatjazz86]

Posted: 3/28/09 at 1:38pm

Leigh Ann Larkin is too beautiful.
I just saw the film last night. I hadn't seen it in years since I was a teenager really, and I had forgotten what a beautiful film it is and simply how tight the whole film is (though I was surprised by how few book songs there are, especially in "Act II"). Streisand is SO divine in this movie, you can't see her acting, she's just inhabiting Fanny. Pretty brilliant.
I definitely see Leslie Kritzer stealing the show with this one in ways that Shoshana "can't act" Bean, Stephanie J. Block, or some of the other people mentioned here just couldn't. Now what's sad is that I think Ana Gasteyer would have been wonderful, but I imagine she's just too old for the part now.

Updated On: 5/19/09 at 01:38 PM

[dapperchapper]

Posted: 3/28/09 at 1:49pm

BETSY WOLF



Watch this and you will see what I mean...

[somethingwicked]

Posted: 3/28/09 at 1:58pm

People, Fanny Brice cannot just be played by a dynamite singer.

The character is described as "a bagel on a plate full of onion rolls." A very unique, ethnic 'look' is almost as requisite for the role as an immense comedic presence and knock out voice.

People like Betsy Wolfe, Sutton Foster, and Leigh Ann Larkin all personify the term "shiksa." They couldn't pass for a Jewish girl struggling to make it because of her unconventional appearance in a million years.

Shoshana Bean can't act, nor does her voice have the appropriate richness required of the score (this is one show she couldn't riff her way through.)

I know people suggest her every time because of her experience with the show regionally, but Stephanie J. Block isn't anywhere near funny enough to pull a major Broadway revival off (there is a reason she never plays comedic roles; even in 9 TO 5 she's playing the "straight" character.)

I stand by my assertion that Leslie Kritzer is not only the best choice for a revival but the only choice. She has the voice, the look, the unique comedic sensibility, and the star quality to make the show soar in a way no one else can.

Updated On: 3/28/09 at 01:58 PM

[bwaylvsong]

Posted: 3/28/09 at 2:15pm

Or how about just an amazing unknown? There are plenty who I'm sure could do the role justice.
If we're going with somewhat-knowns, Marla Mindelle would be great!
www.youtube,com/watch?v=xAO_mle7a61
www.youtube.com/watch?v=m9JTI6r728A
www.youtube.com/watch?v=S5QHfoX_H4c

[BNN]

Posted: 3/28/09 at 4:39pm

I thoroughly second Marla Mindelle, I was lucky enough to see her in a few high school shows, and she has always been super talented and hilarious to boot.

They banked on a (relative) unknown with Streisand, I'm sure it could work again.

[VonTussleGirl]

Posted: 3/28/09 at 8:17pm

Here's another vote for Kritzer. I would love to see her do that.

To the person who suggested Kate Shindle - I'd like to hear her sing "I'm the Greatest Star," but isn't she a bit WASP-y looking for the role?

[provocation]

Posted: 5/19/09 at 3:31am

Shoshana Bean. And we bring it up-to-date.

[emilyfaye48]

Posted: 5/19/09 at 10:46am

Stephanie J. Block or no revival at all!!!!!!!!!!

[D2]

Posted: 5/19/09 at 11:08am

Well! There you have it. All settled then.

[doodlenyc]

Posted: 5/19/09 at 11:55am

I'm still waiting for Melissa Manchester or Debra Gibson.