Leah Michele to do 6 nights of FUNNY GIRL a week, starting Sept 30 - Benko to do the other 2 — Page 3

Call_me_jorge said: "If this is true, they absolutely have to bring in Idina Menzel to replace Jane Lynch."

Since COMPANY will be closed by then, they need to bring in Patti Lupone to replace Lynch ! 

What's this about only doing 6 performances a week? That Streisand Woman and Mimi Hines played all 8 performances weekly without any complaints.

Updated On: 7/2/22 at 04:26 AM

BrodyFosse123 said: "Dollypop said: "What's this about only doing 6bperformances a week? That Streisand Woman and Mimi Hines played all 8 performances weekly without any complaints."

They both also played an abridged version of the show for matinees (instigated by Streisand) so matinee audiences didn’t get the full version of FUNNY GIRL. It’s well documented (including by Bob Avian, who was a swing dancer in the show) that there were 3 different versions of FUNNY GIRL - Version A, B & C. At the places announcement, the version being performed would be announced. If it were offered back then to them, I’m sure the original FUNNY GIRL would have had matinee alternates. "

 

Well live and learn!

 

Holy Baby Jesus!  Here is Marilyn Michaels, who headlined the 1965 First National Tour of FUNNY GIRL while Barbra was still in the Broadway production.  This voice.  WTF?!  Marilyn later gained huge fame as a comedianne/impressionist, which is how I and many of us knew about her, so hearing this totally blew my mind.  I had no idea she had this voice in her.  She’s equaled to Streisand at that time.  

Demitri2 said: "I'd once read Streisand would instruct the conductor to agree to her "fast version" of the score if she wanted to get home an extra 10 or 15 minutes that day. And of course, it's well known Gwen Verdon would choose to cut entire songs from matinee performances of SWEET CHARITY such as "Where Am I Going" or "I'm A Brass Band." Producers should have had Helen Gallagher play matinees performing the entire show.

joevitus said, "She'll sing the hell out of the score, but I don't know that means she'll be a good Fanny Brice. She's frankly too traditionally pretty for the role."

Too pretty? Google the women who toured the show back in its time. Lanie Kazan was kind of an early Lea look-wise. And I think Barbara Cook, Marilyn Michaels, and Carol Lawrence, who all toured or did stock productions at the time were all as attractive as Lea if not more so. And as far as being too traditionally pretty, I don't see it. She looks more like Fanny than most other women who've played the role IMHO."

 

I personally have always found Lea Michele to be very attractive, although I also think young Barbra Streisand was gorgeous as well. But yes, during Fanny Brice’s time, the beauty standards in the U.S. were very Anglo-centric and anyone who wasn’t a dish-faced blonde was considered plain at best. Strange times.

Updated On: 7/2/22 at 01:21 PM

David10086 said: "Dollypop said: "What's this about only doing 6 performances a week? That Streisand Woman and Mimi Hines played all 8 performances weekly without any complaints."

Isn’t that what Midler agreed to do for “ Dolly” five years ago, and Donna Murphy did Tuesday nights and Sunday matinees?"

Donna Murphy only did the Tuesday night performances. Midler did all the rest only missing one Wednesday matinee performance during both of her runs in the show: original run and return run.  Linda Mugleston played Dolly Levi on that one performance Midler missed.  

Midler spaced her vacations and brought the discipline of her concert tours and long Vegas stint to performing a book show, noting how taxing it was. I’ve never heard anyone say she phoned it in, or gave less at a matinee. Notably, she always did both shows Wednesday and Saturday. I saw Dolly about 6 months in and she tore the place up. I’ve never seen an audience so thrilled to be exactly where they were. People left smiling. 

Auggie27 said: "Midler spaced her vacations and brought the discipline of her concert tours and long Vegas stint to performing a book show, noting how taxing it was. I’ve never heard anyone say she phoned it in, or gave less at a matinee. Notably, she always did both shows Wednesday and Saturday. I saw Dolly about 6 months in and she tore the place up. I’ve never seen an audience so thrilled to be exactly where they were. People left smiling."

Yes to all this.  I appreciated that Bette knew her limitations and agreed to only do 6 shows a week and include spaced vacations.  She knew that her audience deserved her at her best.. and she saw to it.  I saw her about 7 times in her run and she was always outstanding. 

UWS10023 said: "I loved her in Seesaw and How To Succeed In Business Without Really Trying. She seems a little long in the tooth for the role."

Huh?  Who the p**ck are you talking about?!  

Bette's Turban said: "Yes to all this. I appreciated that Bette knew her limitations and agreed to only do 6 shows a week and include spaced vacations. She knew that her audience deserved her at her best.. and she saw to it. I saw her about 7 times in her run and she was always outstanding."

Scott Rudin was also willing to make those accommodations over her 10-month run –– and actually strike a deal with her after so many other producers had tried and failed to do so throughout the years. It paid off (minimally financially, massively artistically).

I think Kathy Najimy would make a great Rose Brice. 

I think she was in the original cast of Anyone Can Whistle and then she was in The Omen.