Julie Benko as Fanny - Funny Girl — Page 6

I believe Feldstein is contracted thru the first week of January.


Will this hubbub around Benko pass? Somewhat. The show is selling well and once these 4 performances are in the rear view mirror, the Feldstein Fanny remains the one people debate. What disappears: the “so she’s not Streisand” defense. Benko isn’t either but her success has halted the narrative that the show has been reminted with a comedy forward interpretative frame. A talented triple threat has demonstrated that it was never a simple binary choice: megastar Barbra vs Beanie. Plenty of non-Streisands can ignite a still less than perfect musical. That will nip at the heels of this production. And the looming second set of absences - which will sell out, perhaps even soon - will not help the casting.

Let’s see how Feldstein manages the 8 shows a week load - which technically she’s only accomplished two weeks out of the run. It’s a helluva demanding role. It’s not impossible to imagine Benko moving to a Klausner or Donna Murphy position. The show could thus launch two young performers - resetting the post-Streisand narrative in entirely positive terms - give consumers an option, and everyone wins. But the star won’t quit and won’t be released.

Updated On: 5/1/22 at 04:28 PM

She would tell 'keep arnsteins name out yo fu$@in mouth'

JasonC3 said: "probably also worth noting that a very small percentage of people are doing such a deep dive into these narratives about the show's star"

You haven’t been on tiktok. But yeah.

Interesting take from All That Chat on Julie Benko's performance as it compares to Beanie Feldstein's:

https://www.talkinbroadway.com/allthatchat_new/d.php?id=2538507

I wouldn’t be surprised if the Broadway cover is one of the major themes of this year’s Tonys, woven throughout the show. It’s been discussed thus in several threads all season.

I haven’t seen it discussed here that Beanie was out to be a bridesmaid in her best friends wedding.

Now, I could be wrong, but if it were any other actress in no way would the production let them get the weekend off just for a wedding. I’m not saying Beanie shouldn’t have gone, but I just found it so peculiar that the show would let her out of the show for it. Especially in the run up the Tonys.

Think about all the weddings missed by Broadway performers or the amount of weddings that had to be scheduled on mondays due to the bride and grooms Broadway schedules? Seems like Beanie has a very lenient employer.

Considering the less than stunning reviews Beanie received. I would imagine the producers might be very interested. I also believe they were in the audience, so, unless they are deaf and blind, they can see the difference between the two actresses.

As an aside, there were two video/audios on YouTube this morning (His is the Only Music That Makes Me Dance and DROMP) and one (that I could find) on Twitter (People). All of them have been removed. YouTube noted copyright issues.

Updated On: 5/2/22 at 09:36 PM

Enjoy the brilliant Julie, babe!

soxboy22 said: "Sutton Ross said: "Ever have one of those perfect New York City evenings where you have an amazing dinner, watch a woman become a star right before your eyes, and then have delicious cocktails afterwards with your favorite people? Well, that happened to me last night and I feel incredibly grateful for all of it.

I adored this show! The audience was buzzing and super excited for all of it, lots of joyful noise so to speak. I loved the direction but I think this will forever have a weak book, even though Harvey did his best to make it a little better. And the choreo for the non tap numbers was a bit boring.

But everything else?!?! My GOD! Jared is the most talented tap dancer I have ever seen live. He is electric in the role and I wish they gave him more to do. I love Jane Lynch in everything and I think she's perfectly cast here. I love Ramin in everything so I missed him last night, but Jeremiah was strong in book scenes, good looking enough and he has a great voice. The lighting and sound were perfect as well.

Then there is Julie. This luminous, brilliant woman became a star last night. She was funny, charming, sharp and that voice? That is how the score is supposed to sound.Highlights for me (no suprise) were "People" and "Don't Rain on my Parade". I saw her become a DIVA as the show progresses and it was compeletely believable, authentic and thrilling. The audience just loved her and I think saw what I was seeing. How lucky were we all to witness this.

A star is born, you guys! And she is FABULOUS!!!!


OMG, Sutton, you and KitKatBoy are killing me. I can’t see Julie this weekend, but I believe I’m not going to have to wait until August for her to appear with Ramin.

Thank you for your review, I have chills!.

Somehow I missed this lovely comment. You're very welcome, I'm glad I could sum up what I was feeling. And no, you will definitely not have to wait until August to see her again. Hopefully, more and more people will be seeing Julie again soon!

I saw Julie Benko on 5/1 and she is far better and can sing. Actually, she sounded better live than the recorded youtube: solid acting if a bit scattered coupled with comedic chops if channeling Barbra from a trained singer that can pretty much handle the score but is was only her 4th performance. Enjoyed the show but did not love it! For the 1st revival of Funny Girl, I found nothing magical about it and charmless. I blame the Producers and Director for their choices from casting, staging to design. The direction is poor laking vigor, musical staging uninspiring other than the tap sequences with the terrific dancer Jared Grimes. Jane Lynch is playing Jane but it seems to work ok. Jared is one of the highlights along with Julie. Orchestrations sound terrific and credible for only 14 pieces.Set is ugly and having to stare at the center stage brick cylinder when closed becomes tiresome alongside with those glass panels - staircases in addition to the dull lighting design. As for the costumes, they are the biggest design disappointment except for a few dresses for Fannie are simply bland and hideous.Just look how gorgeous the costumes are for Music Man, and the past revivals of Hello Dolly, Kiss Me Kate, My Fair Lady, On The Town , On The 20th Century and especially Anything Goes - what happened Susan Hilferty? Ensemble is just average no one stands out. Julie also had great chemistry with the suave and handsome Jeremiah James as Nick also a great and powerful singer if a bit wooden in the acting scenes. Their duets: You Are Woman, I Am Man and Who Are You Now, were the highlights of the evening along with Julie's powerful DROMP and the beautifully sung People and especially The Music That Makes Me Dance...something she should record on her next album! Don't miss Julie when she's on again in August 26-28! Julie's DROMP: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uxhd71kvsVM&list=RD-YUBE-xzdZs&index=2 Seeing the show w/ Beanie and Ramin at the end of the month - excited for Ramin but no so much Beanie.

Updated On: 5/15/22 at 02:38 PM

Here is the fabulous Linda Gerard singing “I’m the Greatest Star.” She replaced Lainie Kazan in early 1965, who was Streisand’s original standby in FUNNY GIRL. She also was Mimi Hine’s standby for a large part of her run.

https://streamable.com/1066r7