Funny Girl Revival

[Wicked Fanatic]

Posted: 2/13/11 at 2:52pm

It looks like this might be happening; the only question being who will play Fanny Brice? Some thought by Darren Criss & Kristin Chenoweth regarding Lea Michele as Fanny.

https://www.broadwayworld.com/article/Kristin_Chenoweth_and_Darren_Criss_on_Lea_Michele_in_FUNNY_GIRL_20010101

"As Broadway World has previously reported, Broadway producer Bob Boyett is endeavoring to revive FUNNY GIRL on Broadway with famed director Bartlett Sher (South Pacific, Awake and Sing, The Light in the Piazza) at the helm. The pair are currently planning a six week out-of-town tryout in late 2011 in preparation for a swift Broadway transfer later that season, according to the report. This would be the first revival of the show on Broadway".


I'll make a prediction that this will be the first play in the 2011-2012 Ahmanson Season in L.A. I got a survey last week regarding plays they were considering asking my feelings regarding them and this was on the list. I ranked it #1 of all those they had listed that I wanted to see. Please let it happen! To see other plays in the survey link here:

https://losangeles.broadwayworld.com/board/readmessage.php?thread=1027824

[AEA AGMA SM]

Posted: 2/13/11 at 3:00pm

Wouldn't she have to leave Glee to do this if it was running in the fall in L.A. (which would mean mid to late summer for rehearsals) and assuming a late fall/early winter opening on Broadway?

[jacobsnchz14]

Posted: 2/13/11 at 3:11pm

It would depend on how much time it takes to film GLEE's third season. Ryan Murphy stated that he will more than likely use season three as the last with the current cast for they will all be graduating. The third season should end in 2012, I believe, but could obviously be finished filming before then.

[CurtainPullDowner]

Posted: 2/13/11 at 3:30pm

I was wondering when those "kids" would graduate.

Out of town sure doesn't mean what it use to, with the internet there is nowhere to open (excepy maybe, Egypt)without the glare of criticism. LA is very high profile tp try things out. Both MINSKYS and LEAP OF FAITH found this out. FUNNY GIRL would be different because it isn't a new musical but still they would be under a lot of pressure to get it right.

[Noel&Cole]

Posted: 2/13/11 at 11:25pm

Didn't Barlett Sher say he wanted an unknown girl for Fanny? I thought that was in an interview of some kind

[ADayOnBroadway]

Posted: 2/16/11 at 11:34pm

Lea Michele would be absolutely fantastic in Funny Girl. I don't think Barbra Streisand was all that good when she was in it. I also don't think we should compare them as they are very different singers. Lea Michele has the potential to go far beyond her lead role in Glee right now and I think this would be a great opportunity.

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 2/16/11 at 11:37pm

Anyone but the predictable Lea Michele, please.

[wickedfan]

Posted: 2/16/11 at 11:50pm

"I don't think Barbra Streisand was all that good when she was in it."

Ummmmmmmmmm, ok then.

[tjjster]

Posted: 2/17/11 at 12:35am

The Ahmanson makes total sense. I know Bob has a very strong reputation with the Center Theatre Group in LA.

I thought that they wanted to find someone unknown as well.

His Out of Town TryOut's there:

Drowsy
Minsky's
13

His California/SoCal Premieres:

History Boys
South Pacific
Boeing Boeing
Spamalot
Topdog/Underdog
Goat, or who is slyvia


I'm sure there's more, but that's all i can think of off the top of my head Updated On: 2/17/11 at 12:35 AM

[Patash]

Posted: 2/17/11 at 8:44am

"I don't think Barbra Streisand was all that good when she was in it."

ROTFLMAO

Yes, right up there with all time worst performances like Ethel Merman in Girl Crazy, Barbara Cook in The Music Man, Carol Channing in Hello Dolly, and Christine Ebersole in Grey Gardens.

[bryan2]

Posted: 2/17/11 at 9:09am

I hope Lea sings better live because her lip syncing is the worst on the show...I think she will be a good Fanny but cant they find a great unknown....

[madbrian]

Posted: 2/17/11 at 9:13am

"I don't think Barbra Streisand was all that good when she was in it."

I was too young to have seen her onstage in Funny Girl, but I thought many people have said that after the first few months of the run, she was going through the motions, not giving the same electric performance she had at the beginning of the run.

[BroadwayBound062]

Posted: 2/17/11 at 9:20am

I think Lea could sing it and act this role. I don't see any other viable candidates (unfortunately Farah Alvin is a bit too old now). But I don't really like the idea of an unknown in this role. I'm not sure why.

[madbrian]

Posted: 2/17/11 at 9:48am

Bottom line is that Fanny Brice was a comic, and I'm not sure Lea has the comic chops. I think Nicole Parker could be an interesting choice.

[Borstalboy]

Posted: 2/17/11 at 9:50am

Was I high or was there supposed to be a revival in the early nineties starring...Taylor Dayne!

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 2/17/11 at 10:12am

It's funny because Streisands performance in that show has reached legendary status, bu madbrian is right. After a while it was very well known that she stopped really caring and phoned it in nightly. I believe (and I haven't read it in years) but it's discussed in the book THE SEASON, written right around that time so the memories were very fresh.

[AC126748]

Posted: 2/17/11 at 10:34am

Borstal, if I recall correctly, the Dayne Funny Girl was a film remake that never got off the ground.

[americanboy99]

Posted: 2/17/11 at 10:39am

I say Lea Michele is about as good as it can get without looking for an unknown.

[Patti4President]

Posted: 2/17/11 at 10:41am

I'd like to see Leslie Kritzer as Fanny.

[madbrian]

Posted: 2/17/11 at 10:43am

Kritzer played Fanny at the Papermill 10 years ago. She was fine, but I'd now rather see someone else take on the role.

[Brick]

Posted: 2/17/11 at 1:25pm

Lea Michele is doing it. Everyone needs to get this out of their heads. Sher isn't very impressed by Lea. And that, is that..

[Ftworthguy]

Posted: 2/17/11 at 4:02pm

I was lucky enough to have a small role in a regional production here two years ago. Our Fanny was AMAZING -- she's an unknown and WOW'd critics and audience alike. I don't want to jinx her chances, but I do know that she has been contacted to come in.

[Michael Bennett]

Posted: 2/17/11 at 5:02pm

Taylor Dane was actually talked about for a Broadway revival, not a film remake. This was around 1988. A year or so afterwards, Styne wanted Sandra Bernhard. And right around the time of his death he was trying to push a revival with relatively unknown Broadway actress Alicia Irving (Sunset Boulevard).

Despite Styne's efforts, I don't think an actual revival was really ever anything other than a discussion point.

[TheatreDiva90016]

Posted: 2/17/11 at 7:05pm

Yup,

Taylor was up for a Broadway revival.

She actually told the whole story at Jim Caruso'd first Los Angeles CAST PARTY at the Magic Castle...

Called Jules 'a little troll'.

[ADayOnBroadway]

Posted: 2/17/11 at 9:26pm

"I don't think Barbra Streisand was all that good when she was in it."

ROTFLMAO

Yes, right up there with all time worst performances like Ethel Merman in Girl Crazy, Barbara Cook in The Music Man, Carol Channing in Hello Dolly, and Christine Ebersole in Grey Gardens. "


Well personally I don't think her singing style is all that great. To compare her to the other women in the list is to do a disservice to them. Some people may like Barbra Streisand but I think her performance in Funny Girl was not so great to watch.