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

[BrodyFosse123]

Posted: 7/1/22 at 5:00pm

JSquared2 said: "SydneyBristow said: "The only source I trust is the Animatronic Patti. Has it been yell-confirmed?"

Stop trying to make "Animatronic Patti" happen, Gretchen. "Animatronic Patti" is NOT a thing!"

The Animatronic Patti is her final touches.

[David10086]

Posted: 7/1/22 at 10:24pm

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 ! 

[joevitus]

Posted: 7/2/22 at 4:18am

TaffyDavenport said: "I've never found Lea Michele to be traditionally pretty. Much like Barbra, she has a distinctive nose that makes her beauty "quirky," so, physically, I think she's a great fit for Fanny."

No way, her facial structure isn't that far from Joan Crawford's. Same strong nose, wide mouth, firm jaw. She could have actually been a star at 1930's MGM. Barbara couldn't.

[Dollypop]

Posted: 7/2/22 at 4:26am

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]

Posted: 7/2/22 at 9:19am

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.  

[Dollypop]

Posted: 7/2/22 at 11:15am

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!

 

[Demitri2]

Posted: 7/2/22 at 12:09pm

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.

[BrodyFosse123]

Posted: 7/2/22 at 12:21pm

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.  

 

 

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 7/2/22 at 12:24pm

^OMG THAT VOICE!!!! <3

[The Distinctive Baritone]

Posted: 7/2/22 at 1:21pm

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]

Posted: 7/2/22 at 2:01pm

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? 

[BrodyFosse123]

Posted: 7/2/22 at 2:06pm

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.  

[Dollypop]

Posted: 7/2/22 at 2:22pm

Linda Mugleston is the only Broadway Dolly I ever missed since 1964.

[Auggie27]

Posted: 7/2/22 at 2:23pm

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. 

[BrodyFosse123]

Posted: 7/2/22 at 3:14pm

AND Midler was wise to play Dolly in her Divine Miss M persona, which is exactly what audiences expected and got at each performance.  She didn’t try to create some transformative character.  She gave us the Dolly WE wanted.  She gave us everything… and more.  You got every version of Bette Midler on that Shubert Theatre stage.  

[Bette's Turban]

Posted: 7/2/22 at 3:17pm

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]

Posted: 7/2/22 at 3:21pm

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.

[BrodyFosse123]

Posted: 7/2/22 at 3:31pm

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?!  

[ManOfLaMuncha]

Posted: 7/2/22 at 3:52pm

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."

 

You're thinking of Michelle Lee?

 

[ErmengardeStopSniveling]

Posted: 7/2/22 at 4:04pm

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).

[inception]

Posted: 7/2/22 at 5:08pm

ManOfLaMuncha said: "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."



You're thinking of Michelle Lee?

Michele Lee is 80 years old, and she would still be a better choice than Lea Michele 
 

 

[pmensky]

Posted: 7/2/22 at 6:16pm

I think Kathy Najimy would make a great Rose Brice. 

[UWS10023]

Posted: 7/2/22 at 8:20pm

inception said: "ManOfLaMuncha said: "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."



You're thinking of Michelle Lee?

Michele Lee is 80 years old, and she would still be a better choice than Lea Michele


"
Oh I know now. She was in Howard The Duck and Back To The Future. Still seems a little old to me.

 

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 7/2/22 at 8:26pm

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

[David10086]

Posted: 7/2/22 at 10:38pm

pmensky said: "I think Kathy Najimy would will gmake a great Rose Brice."

Now that would be an interesting choice! I still think it will go to Rosie O though.