Funny Girl Revival

Sheridan Smith, star of the current West End production of FUNNY GIRL, turned to Twitter to announce that she would be unable to perform at last evening's performance. Today, producers of the musical issued the following statement on her absence

Due to unprecedented demand, the Menier Chocolate Factory Production of Funny Girl transfers to the Savoy Theatre in London's West End, following the sold out run at the Menier Chocolate Factory which begins later this month. Michael Mayer's production, starring Olivier and BAFTA award-winning actress Sheridan Smith as Fanny Brice and with the cast from the Menier Chocolate Factory, will begin performances at the Savoy Theatre on 9 April 2016 for a strictly limited 12-week run until 2 July 2016. Check out first photos from the production below!

In celebration of the big news, BroadwayWorld brings you a look back at some of Smith's best-known performances below!

Wondering how the classic has been updated now that it's back in London? Harvey Fierstein, who reworked the book for FUNNY GIRL's UK return, said he immediately cut 40 pages from the script. 'There was a diamond in there and it needed to be cut out,' he told the Mail. 'It's not that I've cut it to make it shorter -- I've edited it to make it stronger.' Fierstein added that he 'reshaped the show so it's all seen through Brice's eyes.'

Broadway's dreams of a Lea-Michele-led Funny Girl might be fading, but support for Menier Chocolate Factory's production, starring Sheridan Smith, is skyrocketing. The Daily Mail reports that the sold-out production will transfer to the West End's Savoy Theatre beginning April 9, 2016.

In the process of assuring fans that Sheridan Smith's portrayal of the iconic 'Fanny Brice' will be all her own when Funny Girl opens at Menier Chocolate Factory this November, the Daily Mail has revealed more of the musical's cast!

FUNNY GIRL is getting a bit of a makeover! According to Daily Mail columnist Baz Bamigboye, KINKY BOOTS book writer Harvey Fierstein will rework the book for the upcoming (and already sold-out) London revival of Funny Girl, starring Sheridan Smith.

FUNNY GIRL returns to the London stage for the first time since its 1966 premiere November 20 - March 5. Led by Sheridan Smith, it is now completely sold out, with the possibility of a West End transfer.