Posted: 10/13/22 at 5:38pm
That Joe character really does their best to ruin every thread they comment in, huh?
Posted: 10/13/22 at 6:37pm
"The idea that Colfer is only bandwagoning is sort of ridiculous. This woman has been in the business for decades and the only supporter she's gained is Jonathan Groff. That's....kind of telling, no?"
Darren Criss came to see her in "Funny Girl" and if my memory is correct they did a tour together years ago.
Updated On: 10/13/22 at 06:37 PM
Posted: 10/13/22 at 7:05pm
JMO. By all accounts, Lea Michele is absolutely fantastic in "Funny Girl". Let's celebrate that people now get to see incredible performance and this show has been kept alive after a tough start. Also, it seems everyone in the show loves working with her. Why drudge up the past and not focus on the present? If the "Glee" cast does not want to forgive her, that is fine. I believe that Corey Monteith's death, finding love again and becoming a Mother made a profound difference in her from her "Glee" days.
Posted: 10/13/22 at 8:30pm
Olivia Rodrigo & 8 More Celebs Who Saw Funny Girl To Support Lea Michele
https://www.bustle.com/entertainment/celebs-who-supported-lea-michele-in-funny-girl-on-broadway
Lea has far more support from friends-celebs than Beanie did! Even Beanie's BFF Ben Platt never saw the show now that's telling and I wonder why?
Lea w/ Olivia Rodrigo
Posted: 10/13/22 at 9:18pm
Robbie2 said: "Olivia Rodrigo & 8 More Celebs Who SawFunny GirlTo Support Lea Michele
https://www.bustle.com/entertainment/celebs-who-supported-lea-michele-in-funny-girl-on-broadway
Lea has far more support from friends-celebs than Beanie did! Even Beanie's BFF Ben Platt never saw the show now that's telling and I wonder why?
Lea w/ Olivia Rodrigo"
Robbie, usually you are right. But this time you are wrong. He went during previews. He tweeted about it. So did Sarah Paulson. She went twice. But you are right. Other than that not much celebrity support. Even from her past Broadway coworkers in Dolly.
Updated On: 10/13/22 at 09:18 PM
Posted: 10/13/22 at 9:48pm
Penna2 said: "What I've been saying all along. Ramin is the star of this show IMO.
Ramin Karimloo Is Funny Girl’s Secret Weapon (gawker.com)"
He was so good as the Phanton opposite Sierra. No doubt he is good here as well.
So excited to finally see him and Lea on Sat.
Posted: 10/13/22 at 9:52pm
We have now reached the stage of comparing Beanie's and Lea's celebrity popularity which is so utterly childish and silly (and speaks volumes about how so many here sadly view the world), but is also HILARIOUS since Lea Michele is literally FAMOUS for how unliked she is by her peers and coworkers. Which is TOTALLY IRRELEVANT TO HER TALENT or ability to play this role (just as Beanie's being so adored by so many Hollywood big names is irrelevant to hers), but OH MAN the "look! Lea Michele is more popular than Beanie!" is just the next inane rung on the lunacy here.
Posted: 10/13/22 at 11:27pm
Sutton Ross said: "God, I love you Carlos.
"
I love you more bb
Posted: 10/13/22 at 11:34pm
I've been thinking about it - and I've come to the conclusion that it doesn't really matter how disliked one is for personal (but not criminal) behavior. What matters is people's respect for the person's talent. It is what really gets people to watch an overall mediocre story. You can be the nicest person in the business and sure, you'd get friends and maybe supportive words like they're happy for you and other kind statements. However, if you're talented, you'd get awe and even adoration for your talent and people will want to see you not only to support, but because they know you were made for that stage and you're going to blow them away.
For an entertainer, that's probably very fulfilling. For a human? I don't know. She seems happy enough and has people who genuinely love her.
Posted: 10/14/22 at 1:14am
PipingHotPiccolo said: "We have now reached the stage of comparing Beanie's and Lea's celebrity popularity which is so utterly childish and silly (and speaks volumes about how so many here sadly view the world), but is also HILARIOUS since Lea Michele is literally FAMOUS for how unliked she is by her peers and coworkers. Which is TOTALLY IRRELEVANT TO HER TALENT or ability to play this role (just as Beanie's being so adored by so many Hollywood big names is irrelevant to hers), but OH MAN the "look! Lea Michele is more popular than Beanie!" is just the next inane rung on the lunacy here."
Yep. However I do like the pictures of celebrities attending. I like them of any show. I guess that's coming back more now since the height of the pandemic.
Posted: 10/14/22 at 2:12am
PipingHotPiccolo said: "We have now reached the stage of comparing Beanie's and Lea's celebrity popularity which is so utterly childish and silly (and speaks volumes about how so many here sadly view the world), but is also HILARIOUS since Lea Michele is literally FAMOUS for how unliked she is by her peers and coworkers. Which is TOTALLY IRRELEVANT TO HER TALENT or ability to play this role (just as Beanie's being so adored by so many Hollywood big names is irrelevant to hers), but OH MAN the "look! Lea Michele is more popular than Beanie!" is just the next inane rung on the lunacy here."
Oh jeeze. The clutching of the pearls. I say..LET THE PEOPLE DISH!
Posted: 10/14/22 at 7:41am
It's funny, I seem to recall a post on this board, shortly after Beanie's last show, that rhapsodized on how beloved and admired she was by the cast, and how Lea Michele could never! Funny how that wasn't childish and...checks notes...silly. I guess people on the internet are just gonna do how people on the internet gonna do.
Anyway, I love listening to the finale, from the "Funny Girl" reprise to the end. Last night I ran across a vid of one of the UK Fannys doing it and thought she was good, but Lea just throws herself into it in a way that just gets me! That last gasp almost on "on my..." LOVE it! I also love how she kind of uses that oh so controversial dress (lol) almost as a prop. I don't know how to explain it better, just love it! Can't wait to see the show live!
Posted: 10/14/22 at 8:21am
I believe people CAN change...it seems as if Lea might have learned from all the fallout. People do need to be forgiven if change truly happens. Time will tell.
That being said, I don't think a terrific performance should be what changes opinion of what she's accused of doing - current behavior is what does that.
Am I willing to see her in this? Not really - but that's more about not wanting to give the PRODUCTION more of my money after feeling like is was such a waste the first time. (And I got really cheap seats for that!)
Updated On: 10/14/22 at 08:21 AM
Posted: 10/14/22 at 9:35am
CatLady3 said: "I've been thinking about it - and I've come to the conclusion that it doesn't really matter how disliked one is for personal (but not criminal) behavior. What matters is people's respect for the person's talent. It is what really gets people to watch an overall mediocre story. You can be the nicest person in the business and sure, you'd get friends and maybe supportive words like they're happy for you and other kind statements. However, if you're talented, you'd get awe and even adoration for your talent and people will want to see you not only to support, but because they know you were made for that stage and you're going to blow them away.
For an entertainer, that's probably very fulfilling. For a human? I don't know. She seems happy enough and has people who genuinely love her."
I think you are completely off the mark here. First the dislike for Lea comes from a few strong voices of people who previously worked with her and felt that they did not get the respect in a highly competitive entertainment business. Then people pile on. The internet loves a villain.
However, just as there are plenty of people who love to hate her for being a diva, I think there are plenty who are rooting for Lea to succeed because of all these over the top hatred. Calling her a racist is just not accurate and diminishes actual racism and accountability. And I think there are plenty of people who have matured and through introspection realize they were terrible to others when younger. I think it’s highly offensive to those to suggest that she should never work again because she was horrible in the past.
So I’m rooting for her to succeed. To prove that people can change and that she should’ve been given some benefit of the doubt when she’s accused of microaggressions. While not pleasant to be told by the star of a show that she’s going to **** in your wig, I believe there are far worse things that could happened in a highly competitive toxic work environment.
Posted: 10/14/22 at 1:14pm
...anyway. Here's Tovah talking about Lea in Variety.
What’s it like working with Lea Michele?
Lea never talks about herself. Never. The word diva doesn’t even apply to her. It doesn’t come close. She’s a working actress. She’s very good for the community.
What would surprise someone to know about her?
Her fans could enjoy the fact that her greatness of talent is coupled with her decency as a human being. And those who are not her fans, let me assure you, she is a dream to work with. She’s certainly wonderful to me. She calls me “mom.”
Posted: 10/14/22 at 1:19pm
A little sideline fly-on-the-wall glimpse of Lea and cast of FUNNY GIRL moments before performing live on GMA. Happy to see Lea enjoying the moment which is something we rarely do in our work. Many moments are forgotten because we’re so focused on the work (countless performers have zero memory of their Tony Award performances).
Posted: 10/14/22 at 8:39pm
I wouldn’t be surprised if Lea and the cast of FG performed at the Thanksgiving Day Parade.
Posted: 10/14/22 at 9:48pm
Bette's Turban said: "Robbie2 said: "Olivia Rodrigo & 8 More Celebs Who SawFunny GirlTo Support Lea Michele
https://www.bustle.com/entertainment/celebs-who-supported-lea-michele-in-funny-girl-on-broadway
Lea has far more support from friends-celebs than Beanie did! Even Beanie's BFF Ben Platt never saw the show now that's telling and I wonder why?
Lea w/ Olivia Rodrigo"
Robbie, usually you are right. But this time you are wrong. He went during previews. He tweeted about it. So did Sarah Paulson. She went twice. But you are right. Other than that not much celebrity support. Even from her past Broadway coworkers in Dolly."
Bette's Turban - Me bad, thanks for letting me know. Glad Ben saw Beanie and not sure how I missed that posting and yes knowing about Sarah seeing Beanie but still not many showed to support her in the show!
Posted: 10/15/22 at 6:29pm
Finally saw Funny Girl. Lea was perfect in the role as expected. She was funny, vulnerable, and relatable. You feel her emotions throughout the show. The entire cast was amazing, Tovah had so much energy and was perfectly motherly. Ramin and Jared were both great as expected.
What surprised me based on all the reviews, was how quickly the entire show went by. It never felt slow and all the numbers just flowed naturally from one to the other. Even Act 2 seemed to go by quickly. Sure Temporary Arrangement could’ve been better written, but it didn’t detract from the show because Ramin was so good.
The crowd was enthusiastic and the applause was better than described. There was only one standing ovation at the very end.
Even the staging and lighting weren’t as bothersome, because I was more focused on the cast and the singing. The confetti was fun as I was sitting right below it.
Overall, truly a great performance and I suspect this will run for as long as Lea wants to be in it. If it had been eligible, I think it would definitely be nominated for best revival, lead, and featured actress.
Updated On: 10/15/22 at 06:29 PM
Posted: 10/15/22 at 7:44pm
Phillyguy said: "Finally saw Funny Girl. Lea was perfect in the role as expected. She was funny, vulnerable, and relatable. You feel her emotions throughout the show. The entire cast was amazing, Tovah had so much energy and was perfectly motherly. Ramin and Jared were both great as expected.
What surprised me based on all the reviews, was how quickly the entire show went by. It never felt slow and all the numbers just flowed naturally from one to the other. Even Act 2 seemed to go by quickly. Sure Temporary Arrangement could’ve been better written, but it didn’t detract from the show because Ramin was so good.
The crowd was enthusiastic and the applause was better than described. There was only one standing ovation at the very end.
Even the staging and lighting weren’t as bothersome, because I was more focused on the cast and the singing. The confetti was fun as I was sitting right below it.
Overall, truly a great performance and I suspect this will run for as long as Lea wants to be in it. If it had been eligible, I think it would definitely be nominated for best revival, lead, and featured actress."
As I said in another thread.. Ramin would have received more recognition had it opened with Lea. I have seen him opposite all the Fanny's..the chemistry and elegance now is on fire.
Posted: 10/16/22 at 11:49am
Finally saw Funny Girl last night. I’ve had limited familiarity with the show through the years outside the bigger numbers. The reviews turned me off to seeing this production originally, but I took the bait after seeing some of the…footage…of Lea online and bought a ticket last night.
Lea, in brief, is stunning. Her voice fills the entire theatre in a way I haven’t heard since Cynthia Erivo in The Color Purple. She moved seamlessly between humor, pathos and exuberance. The final five minutes alone were Tony-worthy.
I am so glad I read reviews first and came to the show expecting terrible scenic and lighting design. The sets were better than I thought they’d be. The lights were great a handful of times, but knew no subtlety.
Ramin was very good but seemed to be holding back last night. Tovah was very funny. Jared was endearing and his tap sequences were incredible. I wish this production gave him more to do since I understand Harvey did some rewrites.
If you’re on the fence—and can get a moderately priced last-minute ticket like I did—go see it.
Posted: 10/16/22 at 1:51pm
HBP said: "Finally saw Funny Girl last night. I’ve had limited familiarity with the show through the years outside the bigger numbers. The reviews turned me off to seeing this production originally, but I took the bait after seeing some of the…footage…of Lea online and bought a ticket last night.
Lea, in brief, is stunning. Her voice fills the entire theatre in a way I haven’t heard since Cynthia Erivo in The Color Purple. She moved seamlessly between humor, pathos and exuberance. The final five minutes alone were Tony-worthy.
I am so glad I read reviews first and came to the show expecting terrible scenic and lighting design. The sets were better than I thought they’d be. The lights were great a handful of times, but knew no subtlety.
Ramin was very good but seemed to be holding back last night. Tovah was very funny. Jared was endearing and his tap sequences were incredible. I wish this production gave him more to do since I understand Harvey did some rewrites.
If you’re on the fence—and can get a moderately priced last-minute ticket like I did—go see it."
I saw the performance yesterday too and agree that the lighting and production were not as bad as the reviews. I assumed they dialed everything up to compensate for the lack of vocal prowess when it opened. Honestly, everything just faded into the background with such a good cast.
Posted: 10/16/22 at 3:17pm
I forget where I read it. Not sure if here or elsewhere. But Lea is apparently filming another late night show at the end of October.
Posted: 10/16/22 at 7:41pm
HBP said: "Finally saw Funny Girl last night. I’ve had limited familiarity with the show through the years outside the bigger numbers. The reviews turned me off to seeing this production originally, but I took the bait after seeing some of the…footage…of Lea online and bought a ticket last night.
Lea, in brief, is stunning. Her voice fills the entire theatre in a way I haven’t heard since Cynthia Erivo in The Color Purple. She moved seamlessly between humor, pathos and exuberance. The final five minutes alone were Tony-worthy.
I am so glad I read reviews first and came to the show expecting terrible scenic and lighting design. The sets were better than I thought they’d be. The lights were great a handful of times, but knew no subtlety.
Ramin was very good but seemed to be holding back last night. Tovah was very funny. Jared was endearing and his tap sequences were incredible. I wish this production gave him more to do since I understand Harvey did some rewrites.
If you’re on the fence—and can get a moderately priced last-minute ticket like I did—go see it."
For what it's worth, Ramin has been circulating photos and videos of rehearsing his sword fighting for Pirates of Penzance, so might be taking some of the wind out of his sails.
Posted: 10/17/22 at 3:41pm
Lea is performing tonight at the God's Love We Deliver gala.
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