Eddie Ryan

BWW Review: FUNNY GIRL - The Greatest Star Comes to the Ohio Theatre
by Christina Mancuso - Mar 26, 2025

It seems an impossible feat to follow in the shadow of the legendary Barbara Streisand who originated the iconic role of Fanny Brice in the 1964 Broadway production of FUNNY GIRL, which received eight Tony Award nominations.  But Hannah Shankman marched herself onto the stage at the Ohio Theatre and commanded every beat of the drum.  She’s quirky, clever, adorable, ambitious, lovable, and has impeccable comedic timing – but her show stopping voice is what sets her apart and generates thunderous, mouth-dropping applause.  And she does it with such natural ease.

Review: FUNNY GIRL at Walton Arts Center
by Theresa Bertram - Mar 23, 2025

What did our critic think of FUNNY GIRL at Walton Arts Center? The power that came from the vocals of the cast of FUNNY GIRL at Walton Arts Center in Fayetteville, which is running through Sunday, March 23, will blow you away!

Review: FUNNY GIRL at Texas Performing Arts Center
by Sabrina Wallace - Mar 6, 2025

Funny Girl dazzles! A powerhouse lead, a lush score & a showstopping number in 'Don't Rain on My Parade' make this production a must-see. A story of love, loss & resilience that is still relevant #FunnyGirlTour #BWW

Interview: Hannah Shankman of FUNNY GIRL at Ohio Theatre
by Paul Batterson - Mar 3, 2025

The road to success for Hannah Shankman has had plenty of roundabouts. Many a time she thought she was headed one way, and then she seemed to be veering in another, only to return to her original path.

Review: FUNNY GIRL at Majestic Theatre
by Jill Ripa - Feb 27, 2025

What a precious and inspiring story, full of everything a musical should be! San Antonio, you have until March 2 to see this show, and I highly encourage you to get out and experience it! It is truly delightful!

What Broadway Shows Are On Tour Across North America in 2025? - A Complete Guide
by Joshua Wright - Jan 27, 2025

Looking for a show to see in a city near you? Check out our guide of current and upcoming Broadway tours, and learn about each production as they make their way across the United States and Canada on their North American routes, including musicals and plays.

Review: FUNNY GIRL at Kansas City Music Hall
by Alan Portner - Dec 5, 2024

FUNNY GIRL is one of the crown gems of the American Musical Theater. Kansas City audiences will be treated to a first-class production of a show that many theater buffs know about but have never seen. Tuesday night’s performance starred Leah Platt in the lead role of Fanny Brice. Leah has a gangbuster voice fully displayed as she plows through an excellent score with music by Jule Styne and lyrics by Bob Merrill.

Feature: FUNNY GIRL at KANSAS CITY MUSIC HALL
by Alan Portner - Dec 3, 2024

One of the fun parts of reviewing shows in Kansas City is the occasional opportunity to meet and interview some of the talented touring performers who come through with road productions of Broadway shows.

Broadway Beyond Louisville Review: Broadway in Cincinnati presents FUNNY GIRL at The Aronoff Center
by Taylor Clemons - Nov 22, 2024

What did our critic think of FUNNY GIRL at Aronoff Center?

Review: FUNNY GIRL is Gorgeous at the Eccles Theater
by Tyler Hinton - Oct 9, 2024

The national tour of FUNNY GIRL, currently playing at the Eccles Theater in Salt Lake City, is a gorgeous rendition of a timeless classic that runs the gamut of emotion from self-deprecating comedy to heart-wrenching drama to chill-inducing performance.

Review: FUNNY GIRL at The Paramount Theatre
by Jay Irwin - Sep 25, 2024

And now we have the tour, currently playing at The Paramount Theatre. And it looks like the producers have learned their lesson with the “stunt casting” and just brought in people who can handle the part, such as Hannah Shankman as the irrepressible Fanny Brice, who is making her debut with the tour here in Seattle. And she has certainly left her mark on the role and on our town.

Wake Up With BroadwayWorld September 6, 2024
by - Sep 6, 2024

Rise and shine, BroadwayWorld! It is September 6, 2024 and it's time to catch up on all of the theatrical happenings you may have missed in the last 24 hours.

Hannah Shankman Will Star as Fanny Brice in FUNNY GIRL National Tour
by Joshua Wright - Sep 5, 2024

Hannah Shankman will take over the role of Fanny Brice when the tour opens in Seattle on September 24th, 2024. She joins returning cast members Melissa Manchester as Mrs. Brice, Stephen Mark Lukas as Nick Arnstein, Izaiah Montaque Harris as Eddie Ryan, Walter Coppage as Florenz Ziegfeld, Leah Platt as Emma/Mrs. Nadler, Christine Bunuan as Mrs. Meeker, and David Foley Jr. as Tom Keeney. 

Review: FUNNY GIRL at BROADWAY AT THE HOBBY CENTER
by Brett Cullum - Aug 21, 2024

What did our critic think of FUNNY GIRL at BROADWAY AT THE HOBBY CENTER?

Review: MSMT's FUNNY GIRL: Bold, Beautiful & Star-Studded
by Carla Maria Verdino-Süllwold - Jun 28, 2024

Maine State Music Theatre’s new production of FUNNY GIRL is a triumph for its star and a coup for the company. Obtaining the first rights to produce the show after the closing of the recent Broadway revival is an unprecedented accomplishment for the theatre’s Artistic Director, Curt Dale Clark.  In addition, the production, itself, is arguably the first FUNNY GIRL anywhere to use the state-of-the art video technology, and perhaps the most thrilling feat of all: not only does the entire cast deliver stunning performances, but Jenna Lea Rosen, who makes her MSMT debut and role debut as Fanny Brice, is unquestionably a superstar. The result is an evening in the theatre that is as exhilarating and spellbinding as any you will see on any stage and an experience not to be missed!

BWW Q&A: Kenny Ingram on FUNNY GIRL at Maine State Music Theatre
by Joshua Wright - Jun 18, 2024

Maine State Music Theatre is the first - and only - regional theatre to be granted the rights to produce Funny Girl since the Broadway National Tour launched. We chat with Kenny Ingram about the upcoming production.

Review: Katerina McCrimmon's Star Shines Bright in FUNNY GIRL Revival at Segerstrom Center
by Michael Quintos - Jun 4, 2024

This 2022 revival of the 1964 musical is quite enjoyable, not because of its new changes (via director Michael Mayer and Harvey Fierstein's new book) but thanks mostly to its lead star McCrimmon, who is reason enough to see this touring iteration. The show continues at Segerstrom Center for the Arts (with co-star Melissa Manchester) through June 9.

Interview: CHOREOGRAPHERS ELLENORE SCOTT & AYODELE CASEL GIVE FUNNY GIRL'S SAGA FLAIR, FUN & FINESSE
by Valerie-Jean Miller - May 28, 2024

VJM: Thank you both for giving of your time to answer my questions.  I don’t think I’ve ever heard of two Choreographers being hired for the same Broadway show, not even a revival, that I can think of.  How did that come about for both of you? Ellenore Scott:  Funny Girl was my Broadway debut as a choreographer. I was so happy when I got a call from Michael Mayer (the director) asking me to work on this revival with him. He knew I was NOT a tap dancer and was aware of the multiple tap routines in the show and asked if I would be down to share the billing with Ayodele Casel. Ayo is an extraordinary artist so I was thrilled to be by her side as she made her Broadway debut as well. Michael first met me initially at Head Over Heels on Broadway where I was an associate choreographer to Spencer Liff. In 2019, he asked if I would choreograph the Off-Broadway revival of Little Shop of Horrors and we opened the show October 17th, 2019. I have loved working with Michael and feel as though he keeps his people close and I’m grateful he thought of me for this historic revival. Ayodele Casel:  I met Michael Mayer in 2016 when he directed a New York City Center Encores! show I performed in.  Later that fall he invited me to perform that piece in a Broadway for Hillary fundraiser he was also directing. We'd kept in touch over the years and in 2019, after seeing a show I’d premiered at The Joyce Theater, he asked if I would be interested in providing the Tap choreography for a revival he was working on. Like Ellenore shared, Michael wanted to work with us both to deliver the full choreographic vision of the show. I believe it was a very progressive vision on his part and I’m really thankful that I was able to make my Broadway debut with this team.

Video: Stephen Mark Lukas Talks FUNNY GIRL Tour on CBS Los Angeles
by Blair Ingenthron - Apr 13, 2024

Watch Stephen Mark Lukas, who plays Nick Arnstein in the National Tour of Funny Girl, discuss the production on CBS Los Angeles in the video here!

Video: FUNNY GIRL Celebrates Opening Night At Center Theater Group
by A.A. Cristi - Apr 8, 2024

FUNNY GIRL, the sensational musical comedy revival, is playing now at the Ahmanson Theatre in Los Angeles! Go inside the show's glitzy opening night celebration at Center Theater Group in the new video!