Possibly Controversial Idea: Lady Gaga as Fanny Brice?

[Brave Sir Robin2]

Posted: 6/29/13 at 6:01pm

Okay, so I know she probably would not do this, especially as she is preparing two new albums, but does anyone else think that Gaga could play Fanny? She has experience in musical theatre, has a beautiful legit voice, has the unconventional beauty of a Fanny, and right she's at the perfect age for the role. Even if it's only a concert production, I would love to see this happen! Anyone else?

Updated On: 6/29/13 at 06:01 PM

[lupone76]

Posted: 6/29/13 at 6:05pm

I totally agree. I'd be first in line. She would be an amazing Fanny indeed.

[GavestonPS]

Posted: 6/29/13 at 7:06pm

Would Lady Gaga want to do a musical where the leading lady walks out on a tour and spends the entire evening worrying about whether she's pleasing some jerk of a man?

Much as we may like the score, the attitude of FUNNY GIRL is strictly pre-feminist 1950s. It's rather the opposite of the beliefs Gaga says she stands for.

[Kelly2]

Posted: 6/29/13 at 7:32pm

It would cause me physical pain if there was a FUNNY GIRL revival not starring Jessie Mueller, but I admit if it couldn't be her, I'd be intrigued by this.

[binau]

Posted: 6/29/13 at 7:33pm

Where would it cause you physical pain?

[ZiggyCringe]

Posted: 6/29/13 at 7:39pm

Why not? She went to NYU, she can act, why shouldn't she get a chance?

[Kelly2]

Posted: 6/29/13 at 7:39pm

In my HEART and my SOUL.

[broadway guy]

Posted: 6/29/13 at 7:45pm

It would be an inspired and scary choice but I would be down for it.

[PalJoey]

Posted: 6/29/13 at 8:14pm

"Possibly"?

[dramamama611]

Posted: 6/29/13 at 8:22pm

Does she WANT to act? Not everyone does, as hard as that may be to believe. (See the conversation about Adam Lambert.)

[ComingUpRoses2]

Posted: 6/29/13 at 8:28pm

Didn't Barbra mention her as a possible Louise in her Gypsy movie? I'd assume she's been tested as an actress to some extent.

She's in Machete Kill this fall, so I guess we'll see if she's ok. I doubt the role with give her much to do, but we'll at least be able to tell if she can at least say lines convincingly - after all, for some pop stars, that can be an issue.

[CurtainPullDowner]

Posted: 6/29/13 at 8:31pm

What "musical theatre" experience does she have and what does going to NYU have to do with anything?

I know lots of people who went there who would stink as Fanny.

[fflagg]

Posted: 6/29/13 at 11:10pm

She has done theater in high school and college, including Miss Adelaide in "Guys and Dolls." Plus, she has performed jazz in clubs and "Someone to Watch Over Me" on the "Today" show and elsewhere so she can sing legit. I think she would be very good BUT the book needs a reworking and the score needs paring down. You cannot just revive the show as is.

[sparepart973]

Posted: 6/29/13 at 11:12pm

Yes. I always wanted Amy Winehouse to play Fanny.

[Brave Sir Robin2]

Posted: 6/29/13 at 11:30pm

If it makes a difference, she shows off her legit voice more in her jazz work, and she's working on a full album with Tony Bennett.

[all that jazz]

Posted: 6/29/13 at 11:37pm

I mentioned this in another thread, she'd be sensational. She can act, she can dance, she can certainly sing, plus as the op mentioned she has the unconventional beauty the part calls for. Perfect casting!

[henrikegerman]

Posted: 6/30/13 at 10:09am

Sure. Why not?

Now, My Dear Gaveston,

First of all, there's no reason one can's be an ardent feminist and want to play a woman in a role one sees as written as classically pre-feminist. Actors often are drawn to people whose sexual politics are very different than their own.

Then we should ask ourselves, is Fanny classicly pre-feminist? Is Funny Girl? Is a woman who falls deeply in love, assertively goes after it, has no issues being in a marriage where she is the major breadwinner, and demands both a career and a marriage qualifies as classically pre-feminist - one can make a strong argument that she does not.

Is the attitude of Funny Girl strictly pre-feminist? I disagree. Although certainly it describes characters and situations which at sometimes make us question the roles of men and women, struggling men married to powerful strong women, and how they and the people around them saw that dynamic.





Updated On: 6/30/13 at 10:09 AM

[kadu335]

Posted: 6/30/13 at 11:13am

Please no. I think she's talented and all, but I personally can't stand her. She's all about that "be yourself" speech and I get anything but that from her. She tries way too hard and that's very off-putting to me.

I would definitely prefer an actual actor playing this role.

[Gothampc]

Posted: 6/30/13 at 12:02pm

Does Gaga have the humor to play the part? Does she have the built in instinct to be funny? Fanny not only needs to sing, but she needs to be funny. And the material is such that you can't "act" funny.

One of the gifts of many actors (Dorothy Loudon, Nathan Lane, etc) was that they knew how to be funny by instinct. It was real, there was no faking it with them.

[someone.else's.story2]

Posted: 6/30/13 at 12:38pm

She's certainly a better option than Lea Michelle

[Gothampc]

Posted: 6/30/13 at 12:54pm

"She's certainly a better option than Lea Michelle"

I agree with that, but it's not a reason to mount a new production of the show.

Unfortunately, we've been caught up in the "get a star for Funny Girl even if she's not right for the role" routine. The material deserves someone who can fulfill all requirements for the role and we'll just have to wait until we can find someone who can sing and act and be funny.

[Kelly2]

Posted: 6/30/13 at 1:05pm

We don't have to wait, she's already here...

(ducks tomatoes)

Updated On: 6/30/13 at 01:05 PM

[lovebwy]

Posted: 6/30/13 at 1:17pm

Lady Gaga has very little talent. I wouldn't cast her for anything.

[Jane2]

Posted: 6/30/13 at 1:27pm

I am definitely not a gaga fan butif she played this role, I'd be interested to see if she could come up with the goods, as I don't think she has come up with them yet.

[Reginald Tresilian]

Posted: 6/30/13 at 1:44pm

I recall her name coming up a lot back before Lauren Ambrose was cast in the not-to-be revival.

Sounds like a great idea. She's very talented and certainly has the right look.