Lea Michele to Star as Fanny Brice in FUNNY GIRL Starting 9/6; Beanie Feldstein Departing 7/31 — Page 38

Sally Durant Plummer said: "I'm sure Beanie would be great in a show that was tailored specifically to her strengths and weaknesses. Gertrude Lawrence starred in shows that were written for her and she introduced. She set the bar for those roles.

Similar to Alexis Smith in Follies, though I will note a story I'm sure you're familiar with:

"Losing My Mind" was originally to be Phyllis' song. Then it was redone as a duet between Phyllis and Sally. Alexis, who knew her strengths better than anyone, asked for Dorthy Collins, the trained recording artist, to have the ballad. In its place, Alexis asked for a dancing number that would allow her to sing a bit and strut a lot. The song was tailored to her, both she and Dorthy got a moment to shine, and critics and audiences were so taken with "The Story of Lucy and Jesse" (not the most challenging vocal number) that Alexis got the Tony.

With Funny Girl, the bar was set with Barbra Streisand. Not only on Broadway, but on film. The role was made for a genuine glorious star the world needs to see. Someone who can sing nearly the entire score and act a storm up, and make the audience weepy over the sentimentality-laden second act. The songs should be sung well, obviously. Because they were written for an actress who could sing the sh!t out of them. But they also require that magic of storytelling - the transcendence of artist and character becoming one with the music and bearing their soul with their voice. Beanie tries to hit the notes, but doesn't tell the story. She doesn't hold the character in her bones because the music isn't in her bones. And without a supernova in the role of Fanny, Funny Girl has absolutely no reason to exist. The other characters are beefed up, which is a detriment to the already flawed show. The show is Fanny. There's no escaping that, even if Ramin comes in to sing "Who Are You Now?'" and a reprise of "People" for no reason.

As a side note, I never saw Glenn Close in Sunset Boulevard. Patti's vocals on the original cast recording - and the thrilling blend of acting and singing in her closing performance soundboard - make it so I could never want more from another Norma.

Now THIS Is Telling a Story Through Song"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Y-hmaltmxs   I love this video of Glenn Close at Royal Albert Hall

the original reply that i didn't think worked, did work and by that time I posted a link to the same video lol, sorry for being so "not tech savvy" this morning.

Beanie has tonsilitis.

And the 2020 election was stolen.

I bet some day we will see Lea Michele and Beanie starring in a revival of  FOLLIES. Can't wait for Beanie's rendition of "Losing My Mind". 

Penna2 said: "While I haven't seen Julie - nor did I see Mimi Hines, nor Marilyn Michaels, nor Sheridan Smith (who I understand didn't have the voice, but had the acting chops) - I don't think Streisand is the only one who can play this part.

Many here have seen Julie and love her interpretation of the entire piece - primarily because she isn't an imitation and shows that someone else can sing the songs and act the role wonderfully well. I suspect Lea will have a more Babs element to her performance because she has a similar voice, but all things being equal, I have a feeling the audiences who see her will be more than happy with her efforts.

I said from the beginning no one is (or should be) expecting Streisand, but one expects a wonderful performance from a talented actress/singer/comedian. The show doesn't have to be scrapped because Streisand is not doing it anymore. The show is getting another chance, which I, personally think it deserves."

Holy ****. You mean after all your posts on the subject and the star charts you did, you didn't even see Julie? Lol.

Updated On: 7/16/22 at 11:56 AM

Robbie2 said: "Only 38 seats showing left for the 1st night of Performances on Sept 6 for Lea & Tova!

After Beanie Feldstein's departure, can Lea Michele really save 'Funny Girl'?

https://www.npr.org/2022/07/16/1111702958/after-beanie-feldsteins-departure-can-lea-michele-really-save-funny-girl"

No doubt, Lea will sell tickets right through the Christmas season. However, it's the winter doldrums which start in early January and continue through mid-April which would be the true barometer to see if she's still selling tickets to tourists.

And that gives her six months on the stage - will the revival close after a year's run ? 

No doubt, Lea will sell tickets right through the Christmas season. However, it's the winter doldrums which start in early January and continue through mid-April which would be the true barometer to see if she's still selling tickets to tourists.

And that gives her six months on the stage - will the revival close after a year's run ?"

I think these questions will be answered shortly after September 6. Because of the drama that’s gone down at the show and the drama that’s gone done with Lea’s reputation, I don’t think she can afford to give anything less than a performance that brings down the house. The audience needs to be screaming and leaping to their feet and the critics need to write her love letters, because anything less than that will be considered a failure just because of those circumstances. I can’t recall the stakes being higher or the consequences being more dire for another actor going into a show. 

Dollypop said: "Can we get Michael Riedel to do a book about the 2021-22 Broadway season. Working title: TONSILITIS"     Speaking of Michael Riedel, where is he....in Witness Protection?

 

Patti LuPone FANatic said: "Speaking of Michael Riedel, where is he....in Witness Protection?"

I can only vouch for his whereabouts between 6-10 AM M-F but perhaps the woman he married a month ago can help you with the rest. That said, both of those things could be done in Witness Protection. 

David 10086: "Has Michael Musto weighed in on any of this yet ? "

Not that I'm aware of, but I'm sure that if and when he does it will be hilarious, esp. after the ol' Bean's most recent rainy parade pronouncement.

I miss the Village Voice as well.

Jordan Catalano said: "Has Musto been back to the theater yet? He said he wouldn’t see a show until the mask mandate was gone."

 

He's missing out on some good drama ! A fiasco like this comes around every 28 years ( Cough Sunset Boulevard Cough)...

 

Robbie2 said: "Only 38 seats showing left for the 1st night of Performances on Sept 6 for Lea & Tova!

After Beanie Feldstein's departure, can Lea Michele really save 'Funny Girl'?

https://www.npr.org/2022/07/16/1111702958/after-beanie-feldsteins-departure-can-lea-michele-really-save-funny-girl"

As someone who has been following this saga, and who did some research on this revival last month when my daughter was headed to New York City (including asking people here for their opinions), I am wondering when something like this has ever worked.

Aside from the uncertainty over how much of a draw Michele is at this point, I have read plenty about the show’s non-Feldstein problems. Are any of those going to be fixed? Can Lea Michele save the show all by herself? That’s an awfully big ask, even if we assume that most big people ignore the negatives that are fairly or unfairly associated with her. Are people who saw this production once going to rush out to see it again? Will it draw big new audiences who have heard all the drama and want to see how Michele pulls it off? Or will most people just read the re-reviews and consume more gossip without actually buying a ticket? Has a recast ever saved a dying show? In its way, this is stunt casting, but in an unusual way. Lea Michele would not draw this level of interest in anything but this role, because of her connection to it due to Glee.

I have noticed the boffo ticket sales for Sept. 6. But ticket sales after that don’t seem spectacular after that. It may change, but it seems reasonable to wonder if this isn’t sustainable unless Michele is great (and widely perceived as such) and the production is a lot better.

 

FUNNY GIRL works IF the actress playing Fanny has the stage presence and powerhouse voice to showcase the score.  The original Broadway production was restructured to showcase the actress playing Fanny.  In that case, it was Streisand and then Mimi Hines and all future actresses who have played Fanny in their respective productions, either regionally, community, high school production, etc.  The book has always been criticized, most notably its Act 2.  This was the case with the film as well.  FUNNY GIRL was and is a hit even with this book flaw - as long as whoever is playing Fanny has the talent to do the aforementioned: have a presence on stage AND can showcase the songs.  Lea Michele can do both so those alone will override the book hiccups.  They did for Streisand and even Mimi Hines, who kept the show running longer than Streisand.  The FUNNY GIRL we’ll be seeing on Broadway starting September 6 will be quite different one than what’s currently being performed.  The producers have made it quite clear they are somewhat going back to the drawing board and doing some restructuring.  The Beanie Feldstein version was their out-of-town tryout and now they’re making the tweaks (in the costumes, set design, etc) for the Broadway version.  And yes, I think it’s safe to assume this incarnation will get the cast recording.