BCfitasafiddle said: "The Funny Girl social medias have officially congratulated Julie Benko on her final performance today. Lea will be back tomorrow.
I can't believe this saga is wrapping up. What a moment in time."
The post congratulates Julie on her final THURSDAY performance. Still unclear whether Lea is back tomorrow.
TheatreFan4 said: "soxboy22 said: "Agreed, though actors have withdrawn from shows voluntarily if they felt they are not up to snuff. Especially with Broadway’s first revival of Funny Girl….fans are so “protective” of it."
It should not be on the actor to do the job of a producer. Especially when I'm sure they spent all the rehearsals gassing her up, why would she step down?"
Of course. Again, a perfectly sane take that should be the normal response to an actress' inability to sing a role. She spent months being told by directors and producers that she was doing great. Her reviews werent even bad---I remember the NYT hit the nail on the head: shes good not great, she cant save this creaky show, she doesnt have vocal power to carry it but does a fine job with what shes got--but this narrative unfolded that she was impossible to listen to (not at all), that she never came to work (wrong), that the whole cast hated her (demonstrably false), that she ruined the show (no, she was thrust center stage of an iconic role in a crappy show being given an even crappier revival).
i am not some huge beanie stan. the reaction to her was just so over the top hostile it turned comically ugly. and i dont dispute that Lea turned the show around in a role she was born to play! but even when re recognize that Lea can outsing Beanie, when we suggest that Beanie brought a warmth/humor to the role that Lea cant and doesnt-- out comes the mob to regale with tales about how Beanie ate live kittens on stage while lip synching the score.
I hope Lea feels better and gets to finish the run. I hope Lea gets another juicy role because her horrid personality should be irrelevant. I hope Beanie finds a way to return to the stage and wow in something better suited for her. i hope this is the end of trying to make Funny Girl into a classic- without Barbra, it aint.
PipingHotPiccolo said: "TheatreFan4 said: "soxboy22 said: "Agreed, though actors have withdrawn from shows voluntarily if they felt they are not up to snuff. Especially with Broadway’s first revival of Funny Girl….fans are so “protective” of it."
It should not be on the actor to do the job of a producer. Especially when I'm sure they spent all the rehearsals gassing her up, why would she step down?"
and i dont dispute that Lea turned the show around in a role she was born to play! but even when re recognize that Lea can outsing Beanie, when we suggest that Beanie brought a warmth/humor to the role that Lea cant and doesnt--
I hope Lea feels better and gets to finish the run. I hope Lea gets another juicy role because her horrid personality should be irrelevant.
Selectively edited because I don't want to get into the Beanie business again. Just wanted to add my 2 cents about Lea's warmth and humor. I found her incredibly warm and funny because it was part of the entirety of the character - especially after reading Fanny's bio. She was sharp, but not everything was played for a laugh. The "funny" wasn't the primary focus of her life, which is what I believe the producers were trying for, but it wasn't enough. Fanny was much more complex, and Lea was the whole package from beginning to end. As for her horrid personality - that isn't the take I've gotten from this production. I'm not particularly a fan of hers. Never heard of her before FG, but what I see someone in a happy marriage with a lovely baby and a lot of talent...who worked her butt off not only for her own dream, but for the entire cast. Some people are just jealous and can't let go of grudges. IMO. If she does Chess with Ramin, I'll be interested otherwise, l really don't care much about what she does next.
A beautiful final curtain call for Julie tonight. I know we've all said it before, but what a wonderful thing to have witnessed this moment for her. The cream always rises to the top.
Congratulations to Julie Benko. Talk about making the most of an opportunity. She was the only Fanny I got to see (happened to have tickets for one of the unexpected Beanie absences). I didn't love the show but adored Julie.
The whole Beanie thing was unfortunate. Lea was of course the reason the show ran as long as it did. But Julie was the glue of this production and got it through tough times whether it be individual performances or an entire month. I can't wait to see her career continue!
Is anyone planning on trying standing room for the final shows? I'm thinking of going and trying for the matinee tomorrow, but unsure of what time to get there.
I'd suggest earplugs for today's final performance. Can only imagine the amount of unnecessary screaming that will take place today.
A Chorus Line revival played its final Broadway performance on August 17, 2008. The tour played its final performance on August 21, 2011. A new non-equity tour started in October 2012 played its final performance on March 23, 2013. Another non-equity tour launched on January 20, 2018. The tour ended its US run in Kansas City and then toured throughout Japan August & September 2018.
Beanie Fieldstone was cute but didn't have it vocally and what it takes and wasn’t the Funny Girl we wanted! It was Lea Michele's powerhouse voice and star presence that was needed to pull this show off. She lifted it to the heavens blowing the roof off the August Wilson and it made sense. Michele saved the show from closing. Credit must also be given to Julie Benko our Thursday night Fanny for the additional FG life support giving many, many additional performances - 178? A career embarrassment performance for Beanie but career making one for Julie.
Unfortunately, Barbra never did see the show with Lea Michele!
Harmony's next for Julie...As for Lea, Chess?
"Anything you do, let it it come from you--then it will be new."
Sunday in the Park with George
The wonderful revival of Funny Girl actually started on September 6th, 2022 for most. This gorgeous, beautiful show was incredibly special and the talent unmatched. Congratulations to all involved in the past year for making it a true event in New York. Lea saved an entire show and proved the haters (on this board and off) completely wrong. What a feeling.
Robbie2 said: "Beanie Fieldstone was cute but didn't have it vocally and what it takes and wasn’t theFunny Girlwe wanted! It was Lea Michele's powerhouse voice and star presence that was needed to pull this show off. She lifted it to the heavens blowing the roof off the August Wilson and it made sense. Michele saved the show from closing. Credit must also be given to Julie Benko our Thursday night Fanny for the additional FG life support giving many, many additional performances - 178? A career embarrassment performance for Beanie but career making one for Julie.
Unfortunately, Barbra never did see the show with Lea Michele!
Harmony's next for Julie...As for Lea, Chess? In the illustration, who is the other Fanny in the back?
soxboy22 said: "Robbie2 said: "Beanie Fieldstone was cute but didn't have it vocally and what it takes and wasn’t theFunny Girlwe wanted! It was Lea Michele's powerhouse voice and star presence that was needed to pull this show off. She lifted it to the heavens blowing the roof off the August Wilson and it made sense. Michele saved the show from closing. Credit must also be given to Julie Benko our Thursday night Fanny for the additional FG life support giving many, many additional performances - 178? A career embarrassment performance for Beanie but career making one for Julie.
Unfortunately, Barbra never did see the show with Lea Michele!
Harmony's next for Julie...As for Lea, Chess? In the illustration, who is the other Fanny in the back?"
Duh, Beanie
"Anything you do, let it it come from you--then it will be new."
Sunday in the Park with George
Robbie2 said: "soxboy22 said: "Robbie2 said: "Beanie Fieldstone was cute but didn't have it vocally and what it takes and wasn’t theFunny Girlwe wanted! It was Lea Michele's powerhouse voice and star presence that was needed to pull this show off. She lifted it to the heavens blowing the roof off the August Wilson and it made sense. Michele saved the show from closing. Credit must also be given to Julie Benko our Thursday night Fanny for the additional FG life support giving many, many additional performances - 178? A career embarrassment performance for Beanie but career making one for Julie.
Unfortunately, Barbra never did see the show with Lea Michele!
Harmony's next for Julie...As for Lea, Chess? In the illustration, who is the other Fanny in the back?"
Really brilliant show today. Nice short speech from Lea at the end followed by her singing “My Man” which was totally unexpected. She really left it all on that stage today so kudos to her for that. And the audience was SURPRISINGLY very respectful and didn’t scream for 3 hours straight - THAT was the biggest surprise to me.
mshalo18 said: "According to X (aka Twitter) Lea sang "My Man"- can anybody confirm?"
Yes. As an encore after bows, just watched an Instagram story of it!
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Also, the show opened with an announcement - "Good Afternoon. At this performance, the role of Fanny Brice will be played by...Lea Michele!" right before the overture started.
And I'm sure someone will correct me if I'm wrong but it really seemed like the longest applause of the whole show (curtain call aside) was for Ramin after "Temporary Arrangement".
That was an homage to Streisand’s final performance in FUNNY GIRL in December 1965: the “at this performance…” pre-show announcement. Streisand also sang “My Man” at her final curtain call.