Emma_Pillsbury said: "Would this show still even be open without Lea Michele?
Doubtful. As Julie's stint in August showed, she is not a draw. For anyone interested there is a boot of her from the show singing DROMP on YouTube. Not what I expected. I found it strange. Not sure I liked her interpretation; she looked like she was a) angry (lots of close ups) and/or b) on something and was not in sync with the music. Maybe just the quality but was honestly surprised at how much I didn't like her.
CindersGolightly said: "It's astonishing how dead behind the eyes Julie is in this role. I really don't understand the appeal at all."
Glad it isn't just me. She is promoting herself like crazy, including trying to get a Grammy nomination for her CD. She has lined up a number of gigs, most importantly the Harmony role, but it must be frustrating for her.
Penna2 said: "CindersGolightly said: "It's astonishing how dead behind the eyes Julie is in this role. I really don't understand the appeal at all."
Glad it isn't just me. She is promoting herself like crazy, including trying to get a Grammy nomination for her CD. She has lined up a number of gigs, most importantly the Harmony role, but it must be frustrating for her."
Highland Guy said: "Penna2 said: "CindersGolightly said: "It's astonishing how dead behind the eyes Julie is in this role. I really don't understand the appeal at all."
Glad it isn't just me. She is promoting herself like crazy, including trying to get a Grammy nomination for her CD. She has lined up a number of gigs, most importantly the Harmony role, but it must be frustrating for her."
Such unpleasant and unnecessary comments. Truly.
Curious when the truth became unpleasant and unnecessary - this is a chat page. For the record, I follow her on IG and every day she has something posted about her new gigs, including asked for referrals to get a Grammy nod. Which is terrific for her. She's a hustler. You can't tell me, though, she isn't frustrated about FG and not getting the lead. That said, did you watch the video?
I think Julie is talented as a musician. I found her album interesting (having checked it out after she posted it on the Funny Girl IG). But I also don't see anything special in the boots. Her renditions of the FG songs are forgettable to me and I don't feel anything from her acting.
I do wonder how much of the Julie support is genuinely because they believe she is a rare talent. Or how many of them are within the context of being compared to Beanie.
Or, and this is what I've seen a lot, it's because those who dislike Lea want to root for someone vs Lea but they know Beanie is hard to root for (she wasn't the best singer) so.. enter Julie.
I think we'll get more of an idea where she falls and what her capability is once she plays a role outside of this production.
I wonder why the Funny Girl powers that be are being so secretive about the cast album. The Music Man and Into the Woods casts were very active on Twitter and Insta when they were recording their's. I wonder if there's some kind of legal issues involved. I'm very intrigued.
The Pesky Pescatarian said: "Can we please not, guys? Please.
I wonder why the Funny Girl powers that be are being so secretive about the cast album. The Music Man and Into the Woods casts were very active on Twitter and Insta when they were recording their's. I wonder if there's some kind of legal issues involved. I'm very intrigued."
My thought on the album is they want it up and ready to promote/sell while the show is still open - just in time for Christmas, etc. Judging from what the young man said in his tweet, I got the sense they have been working on it for a while. Also looking forward to the results of the Lea/Ramin photo shoot and where the photos are going to show up.
The Pesky Pescatarian said: "Can we please not, guys? Please.
I wonder why the Funny Girl powers that be are being so secretive about the cast album. The Music Man and Into the Woods casts were very active on Twitter and Insta when they were recording their's. I wonder if there's some kind of legal issues involved. I'm very intrigued."
My guess is they're deciding when it's strategic to bring it up. The show is at the height of its hype now, so maybe they'll talk about it when hype dies down a bit so it reignites interest in the show.
I have not seen Julie's performance (only the mentioned video clips and audios), but I have to wonder how much of the "hype" she received was from being juxtaposed to Beanie Feldstein, who was so woefully miscast that almost ANYONE would be a vast improvement over her...
Now that there's a true bona fide star in the picture, I think it may put Benko's performance into perspective a little more... (I am in no way suggesting that Julie isn't talented, by the way, but when stacked against Beanie... well... I don't really need to say more).
"There’s nothing quite like the power and the passion of Broadway music. "
I’m slated to see Michele Sunday, but I saw Julie when Beanie had COVID (purposely because of the hype) and I was beyond impressed. It was a true star turn, both vocally and acting wise. It’s certainly possible that Michele is better, and I think it’s fair to say Julie’s popularity partially came from people realizing what they could have had, but her performance is really something special.
Hunter: Your teeth need whitening./ Heidi: You sound weird./ Jeff: You taste funny.
-Jeff Bowen's worst onstage line flub.
The Pesky Pescatarian said: "Can we please not, guys? Please.
I wonder why the Funny Girl powers that be are being so secretive about the cast album. The Music Man and Into the Woods casts were very active on Twitter and Insta when they were recording their's. I wonder if there's some kind of legal issues involved. I'm very intrigued."
I don't think they're being any more secretive than the Music Man. After months of speculating, we only got confirmation that it was happening when someone from the cast/orchestra posted about it on Instagram, and the official confirmation came a few days later. We just now learned from social media that the Funny Girl recording is happening, so I assume we'll hear an official announcement soon enough.
CatLady3 said: "Is it possible for the show to go over $2 million despite the limited capacity of the theater?
And how long do you think the ticket prices/attendance can be sustained?"
I think if Lea was doing all 8 shows the revenues would be higher. Whether just one show could push the limits to $2 million, I don't know, but I suspect the reason it won't is the lower ticket prices and capacity on Thursday nights. The cast album is going to pull in more revenue, especially if they can get it out to sell at the theater.
Bette's Turban said: "How long before New York, New York begins rehearsals does Lea have to leave Funny Girl? Just saying.."
Sadly, this new musical NEW YORK, NEW YORK is not a musical adaptation of the 1977 Liza Minnelli/Robert De Niro film, so no Francine Evans or Jimmy Doyle. This new musical is inspired by the film’s song “New York, New York” and will use songs featured in the 1977 film but it will be a fully new story and characters. This will flop as bad as STEEL PIER did, which ironically had many of the same creative team. If you’re implying Lea for Francine, there ain’t no Francine in this new show.
BrodyFosse123 said: "Bette's Turban said: "How long before New York, New York begins rehearsals does Lea have to leave Funny Girl? Just saying.."
Sadly, this new musical NEW YORK, NEW YORK is not a musical adaptation of the 1977 Liza Minnelli/Robert De Niro film, so no Francine Evans or Jimmy Doyle. This new musical is inspired by the film’s song “New York, New York” and will use songs featured in the 1977 film but it will be a fully new story and characters. This will flop as bad as STEEL PIER did, which ironically had many of the same creative team. If you’re implying Lea for Francine, there ain’t no Francine in this new show.
"
I don't know what the new New York, New York musical will be.. but why not be more positive and hopeful? I would love to hear Lea sing some Kander and Ebb. If not this.. she should do a Kander and Ebb concert / benefit of some sort. Or a evening of Funny Lady songs.
DAME said: "BrodyFosse123 said: "Bette's Turban said: "How long before New York, New York begins rehearsals does Lea have to leave Funny Girl? Just saying.."
Sadly, this new musical NEW YORK, NEW YORK is not a musical adaptation of the 1977 Liza Minnelli/Robert De Niro film, so no Francine Evans or Jimmy Doyle. This new musical is inspired by the film’s song “New York, New York” and will use songs featured in the 1977 film but it will be a fully new story and characters. This will flop as bad as STEEL PIER did, which ironically had many of the same creative team. If you’re implying Lea for Francine, there ain’t no Francine in this new show.
"
I don't know what the new New York, New York musical will be.. but why not be more positive and hopeful? I would love to hear Lea sing some Kander and Ebb. If not this.. she should do a Kander and Ebb concert / benefit of some sort. Or a evening of Funny Lady songs."
The Broadway musical takes place in New York in 1946 and follows a group of artists trying to make it in the city in the aftermath of World War II. Susan Stroman (The Producers) will direct and choreograph. The musical features a book by David Thompson and Sharon Washington. The score includes new songs as well as well-known standards such as “New York, New York.”
“In 1945, World War II ended. In the years that immediately followed, hundreds of thousands of ex-servicemen and women — myself included — descended on New York City, a tough, gritty, beautiful dream palace, filled with youthful energy and optimism. ‘The sadness is over! This is where I can become the person I was meant to become!’ And this is the New York of our story,” Kander said in the press release.
According to the casting call, the lead role of Francine Evans will be played by a Black actress, and Anna Uzele has been mentioned on this board before.
TaffyDavenport said: "According to the casting call, the lead role of Francine Evans will be played by a Black actress, and Anna Uzele has been mentioned on this board before."
Cool! I do like the idea of Lea doing a Funny Lady concert.