Lea Michele … Fanny Replacement.

[Malinda5000]

Posted: 11/7/22 at 12:52pm

So I finally gave in and saw Lea Michele in Funny Girl and she was GREAT.

I started to wonder who on earth can replace her and still keep the show going strong when her run ends.

Micaela Diamond may have the pipes to keep it going I suppose but I’m sure there are many other beautiful young jewish women who can step in and do something  amazing and new to the role.

please share your thoughts.

[hearthemsing22]

Posted: 11/7/22 at 12:55pm

Well that also brings up the question-who would replace Ramin? I think he's going to London to do...something. Maybe they'll bump up understudies for Nick? In regards to Lea...no idea. Her contract is through March, right? Maybe if they're still doing well they'd consider a replacement...I honestly have no clue who could replace her and keep the show going. What if Parade transfers and Michaela goes with it?

[Sutton Ross]

Posted: 11/7/22 at 12:56pm

There aren't many women who were born to play this role, Lea happens to be one of them. I can't imagine anyone being better. I don't think the woman you mentioned has any name recognition, so she wouldn't sell tickets. It may close in March. 

Also, the actress does not need to be Jewish to play the part. 

[EDSOSLO858]

Posted: 11/7/22 at 12:57pm

Nobody. The show will probably close on a high at the end of Michele's contract. 

[darquegk]

Posted: 11/7/22 at 1:16pm

I don’t know if she has the right skill set for the role, and she certainly isn’t a Big Broadway Star like Lea Michele, and she’s probably too old, but I’d buy a ticket for a Kristen Schaal Funny Girl. It would at least be… unusual.

[lightsarebrightonbroadway]

Posted: 11/7/22 at 1:25pm

She's nowhere near as famous as Michele and I doubt she would be able to pull the same numbers but Annelise Van Der Pol? She has a stunning, and powerful voice, with Broadway experience and relative star power. 

[NOWaWarning]

Posted: 11/7/22 at 1:30pm

I think it’ll probably just end on a high note with Lea, but boy would I love to see Jessie Mueller play this role.

[Call_me_jorge]

Posted: 11/7/22 at 1:36pm

I agree that I don’t think they end up casting anyone after Lea. She has become the show. Almost as much as Hugh is to The Music Man. Who knows how much money the production lost during the Beanie fiasco… they’re probably hoping they can recover that amount and at least break even while Lea is still there.

I wonder if they might send it out on tour and who they would get for that. 

Updated On: 11/7/22 at 01:36 PM

[hearthemsing22]

Posted: 11/7/22 at 4:34pm

Call_me_jorge said: "I agree that I don’t think they end up casting anyone after Lea. She has become the show. Almost as much as Hugh is to The Music Man. Who knows how much money the production lost during the Beanie fiasco… they’re probably hoping they can recover that amount and at least break even while Lea is still there.

I wonder if they might send it out on tour and who they would get for that."

Do you honestly think they'd do a tour??

[George in DC]

Posted: 11/7/22 at 5:02pm

It's too bad Christina Bianco doesn't have a "biigger name" because she apparently was wonderful when she did the role in Paris a couple years ago.

[ACL2006]

Posted: 11/7/22 at 5:41pm

There's no way this continues into the Winter without a big name.

[Jarethan]

Posted: 11/7/22 at 5:46pm

There is not a doubt in my mind that they will close it.  It is a crummy production of a flawed musical, but it has a set of songs for the leading lady and a dramatic arc that provides the right actor a chance to really show her chops.  Lea came in with a built-in fan base AND she is spectacular in the role.  I cannot think of anyone with the chops, the right age, who is Jewish or capable of playing a Jewish character convincingly, and the name recognition, of which are required to have a chance.

IMO the producers should thank God if LM extends long enough for them to return the investors' funds, and stay in their good graces.

[EDSOSLO858]

Posted: 11/7/22 at 5:47pm

If Lea does not extend her contract, this will be one of the rare musicals to close in late March. Just my two cents

[Jarethan]

Posted: 11/7/22 at 6:33pm

But imagine how much it'd lose per week, if it tried to run with a mere mortal who's not well known.  Better to close in March than risk losing some of the money that was made when Lea joined.

I can't help thinking that, as long as she is selling out or at least still doing really impressive business, Lea would probably extend unless she has a seriously better offer with a tight time window.  After all those years of saying that all she ever wanted to do was to play Fanny Brice on Broadway, I would think she'd want to play it longer, (a) to get it out of her system), (b) to continue to add new fans for future Broadway and film appearances, and to have ANY chance, however remote, of getting a special Tony. 

Re the latter, I only mention that because others have posed that question on this site.  I personally think that is a super-up-hill battle.  They really haven't given one of those in years and years (at least, that I can think of...I remember Pearl Bailey and Mary Tyler Moore getting special Tony's for roles they did not originate, but at least both of them were in shows in which the original leads previously received Tonys for their performances).  The fact that Streisand never got a Tony for playing Fanny could present an issue.  Even there, however, I guess one could argue that she did get a Tony for Funny Girl since there was no other reason to give her a special Tony, since the last time she was on a Broadway stage was when she left Funny Girl, and no one was going to give her one for I Can Get It for You Wholesale.

[babyjunegem]

Posted: 11/7/22 at 7:18pm

lightsarebrightonbroadway said: "She's nowhere near as famous as Michele and I doubt she would be able to pull the same numbers but Annelise Van Der Pol? She has a stunning, and powerful voice, with Broadway experience and relative star power."

This would be fantastic. Annelise could be a welcome surprise. 

[willep]

Posted: 11/7/22 at 7:23pm

ACL2006 said: "There's no way this continues into the Winter without a big name."

Well it’s playing through the winter with Michele, so…I guess that’s not a problem?

 

[BoringBoredBoard40]

Posted: 11/7/22 at 7:51pm

I would imagine Lea isn't in a hurry to leave, this is a part she has always wanted to play, the theater is sold out and I am sure she is being paid a premium 

[Robbie2]

Posted: 11/7/22 at 8:14pm

EDSOSLO858 said: "Nobody. The show will probably close on a high at the end of Michele's contract."

Heard from an industry friend that she may extend after her 6 month contract ends in March for another 3 months 

[The Distinctive Baritone]

Posted: 11/7/22 at 8:20pm

Interestingly, there was a rumor before this show opened that Michaela Diamond was asked to be Beanie’s alternate, which didn’t pan out after Beanie refused to “share” the role (ironic, I know).

[BCfitasafiddle]

Posted: 11/7/22 at 8:21pm

I could see this wrapping up in late June. Let Lea stay on the scene a bit longer, present at the Tonys, let ensure the show marks a year long run, etc.

[ErmengardeStopSniveling]

Posted: 11/7/22 at 8:25pm

I'll be interested to see how they do in January & February, if Lea continues to be a draw or if the numbers soften. I do not see this lasting past her engagement.

[singer234]

Posted: 11/7/22 at 9:29pm

Talia Suskauer is incredible and Jewish, but not a real name. If they can find someone to replace Michele, I’d love to see her replace Julie.

[CatLady3]

Posted: 11/7/22 at 9:31pm

I also heard she's staying until June, someone in the industry that Lea is close with mentioned this recently. She'll still be in the role once the Tony's come around (yes I know she's not eligible). 

[StylishCynic]

Posted: 11/8/22 at 12:33pm

Per a friend who works in the production, Lea's contract is actually open-ended. She has first right of refusal for any extension dates, and things look very positive for a Lea-led extension.

After her success, I don't see the production continuing after her run.

[bwayphreak234]

Posted: 11/8/22 at 12:43pm

I have to say that I underestimated Lea Michele's box office power when she was first announced. I thought the first few weeks of her run would do well and then it would taper off... Glad to have been proven wrong. The stakes were high as hell when Michele went into this production. There was no room for her to be anything but an absolute revelation in the role, and it sounds like she has more than delivered. I look forward to seeing her for myself next weekend.