Lea Michele to Star as Fanny Brice in FUNNY GIRL Starting 9/6; Beanie Feldstein Departing 7/31 — Page 42

Was totally wondering the same thing --- if Beanie is on tonight or not? 

Robbie2 said: "The Distinctive Baritone said: "Since we haven’t heard otherwise I’m assuming Beanie is on tonight and that she has recovered from her “tonsillitis?”"

One does not recover from Tonsillitis over the weekend..."

He was being sarcastic, Virginia.  We ALL know no one recovers in a couple of days but Beanie’s IG post made it sound like she ate bad sushi and would be back to finish her “last 2 weeks.” 

From friends that attended, she was on tonight!

Midnight Radio said: "I wonder if between this debacle and the reception to Ben Platt in the Dear Evan Hansen move, there is any implication on the Merrily We Roll Along film."

Ya know, not to mention Blake Jenners scandals.

Jarethan said: "Does anyone know exactly how many performances she would have performed in and how many she would have missed, if she misses no further performances? It must be a record ratio for missed performances, not to mention the brevity of her run. Re her quick exit after opening, I can only think of Madelyn Kahn (20th Century) and Dean Jones (Company) who left quicker than she did for a big budget musical, and that covers 50+ years. Re missed performances, I don’t have a sense, although I do not recall either of them having bad attendance records while in the shows."

Sarah Brightman only did 5 months of the Phantom run on Broadway. She had her last performance the night before the Tonys that year.

This is a fascinating question, so I just did some quick math.

In 1970, Dean Jones performed in Company from April 15, 1970 through May 28, 1970. This includes 12 previews and five weeks of regular performances (8 x 5 = 40), so Dean Jones performed approximately 52 total performances.

In 1978, Madeline Kahn performed in On the Twentieth Century from February 9, 1978 through April 22, 1978. This includes 11 previews and nine weeks of regular performances (8 x 9 = 72), so Madeline Kahn performed approximately 83 total performances.

According to IBDB, by July 31, Funny Girl will have played 30 previews and 113 performances. Beanie Feldstein performed at all preview performances, so if she missed approximately 25% of the regular performances, she performed in 85 of the 113. This would bring her grand total of performances to approximately 115. This, of course, is provided that she performs all 16 for the next two weeks.

https://youtu.be/KCx3-n5UhpA   This is a Paris production of Funny Girl from March 2020.  Christina Bianco has a lovely voice.

Updated On: 7/20/22 at 07:31 PM

Patti LuPone FANatic said: "https://youtu.be/KCx3-n5UhpA This is a Paris production of Funny Girl from March 2020. Christina Bianco has a lovely voice."

Wow, she sounded great!  Yes there should've been more applause for her.

"And if she lied and had a doctor friend write her a note or whatever because she psychologically needed a break from the show after the massive publicity about her being replaced, I guess I wouldn’t really blame her. I would be friggin’ traumatized if I were in her position. She should never have taken the role, but I still feel bad for her."

Is this going to be the norm for Broadway leads now?

Signed,

A Disgruntled Wombat

The Distinctive Baritone said: "You know, having finally watched her entire Instagram video and done a little research about tonsillitis, I think Beanie might have been telling the truth. If it was a bacterial infection and not a viral one, then yes, she could theoretically not be contagious and have only minor symptoms symptoms after a few days of anti-biotics.

And if she lied and had a doctor friend write her a note or whatever because she psychologically needed a break from the show after the massive publicity about her being replaced, I guess I wouldn’t really blame her. I would be friggin’ traumatized if I were in her position. She should never have taken the role, but I still feel bad for her."

Agreed. But also She doesn’t have the  Wherewithal of someone who has the training and been working and living in the industry. Just that rich girl mind set of I want to do this so I’ll do this. 

Here's Lea singing "My Man" last night at one of her City Winery concerts:

https://www.tiktok.com/@suesxxcorner/video/7122860800225594670

 

Brody Fosse nails this:

"Really Lea?  You can’t do your own interpretation?  She’s literally doing Streisand’s version - inflections and all.  I hope she finds her own and doesn’t do Streisand’s versions of the FUNNY GIRL score once she’s on stage."

100% agree. Pale, dull Streisand mash-up. Yuck. But apparently Lea has her woo-hoo fans.

The only way Lea will find her own interpretation appears to be if she decides to channel Sam Harris or Kanye.

I'll pass. FG has outlived its sell date.