Funny Girl - 1964 - Broadway Articles Page 2

What holiday season can be claimed as complete without a Disney musical, right?  While one can tick that box with the opening of “Moana 2” at the local movie house, there is nothing like a live performance to energize those merry-making juices.  Palm Canyon Theatre provides that much needed “spoon full of sugar” into their magically musical punch bowl of fun, “Mary Poppins”.

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.

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.

54 Below will present High Spirits: The 60th Anniversary Concert of an Improbable Musical Comedy. Learn more about the concert and how to get tickets here!

An English-language version of the classic Broadway musical playing in Paris at the Lido 2.

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

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.

EGOT-winner Rita Moreno, Tony Award-winner Ben Vereen, and stage and screen legend sisters Hayley and Juliet Mills are set to attend the TCM Classic Cruise, sailing October 26, 2024, from Fort Lauderdale to Cozumel and Disney Castaway Cay on the Disney Magic.

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

What did our critic think of FIDDLER ON THE ROOF at Moore?

When you can hear a room audibly smile, then you know you are in the presence of Glenn Rosenblum. He’s charming, clever, witty, playfully spills the Tea, shows off his encyclopedic knowledge regarding all things Broadway, and displays his utmost respect for this genre of entertainment. 

What did the critics think of Dominic Cooke's long-delayed production?

Psycho Beach Party is a classic summer comedy at the Matrix Theatre on Melrose through July 7th.  It is glorious, glorious fun, campy, frisky, outrageous, and hilarious from start to finish.

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!

Vassar College has announced initial casting for the 38th Powerhouse Theater Season, featuring Jessica Darrow, Crystal Lucas-Perry, Ngozi Anyanwu, Florencia Lozano, Purva Bedi, Michael Oloyede, and more.

Watch Barbra Streisand receive the Genesis Award in the video here!

Watch as the Genesis Prize honors Barbra Streisand!

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.

Catch the jukebox musical BURT & ME this June, featuring the iconic songs of Burt Bacharach and Hal David.

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.

Barbra Streisand’s name is synonymous with excellence in entertainment, but her enduring legacy extends beyond her record-breaking achievements in that field. It also includes her unwavering commitment to social justice, advocacy for underrepresented voices, and profound influence on Jewish and global communities.

Discover the 38th Powerhouse Theater Season at Vassar College. Learn more and see how to purchase tickets.

What did our critic think of FUNNY GIRL at Orpheum Theatre?

FUNNY GIRL is a gold standard that has endured through the ages and the production that just hit downtown Los Angeles is a rollicking and heartfelt success.

This time, the reader question was: How often are people Tony Award-nominated for different shows in the same season?