With music by Jule Styne, lyrics by Bob Merrill and book by Isobel Lennart, Funny Girl has become one of the most beloved Broadway classics, famous for skyrocketing Barbra Streisand to stardom. This bittersweet comedy is the story of the indomitable Fanny Brice, a girl from the Lower East Side who dreamed of a life on the stage. Everyone told her she'd never be a star, but then something funny happened-she became one of the most beloved performers in history, shining brighter than the brightest lights of Broadway. Michael Mayer's bold new production marks the first time Funny Girl has returned to Broadway since its debut 58 years ago.
10 / 10
Now, the role is Michele's. Being ineligible for an award doesn't lessen a moment of her sublime performance. She moves well and is entirely believable, including crying real tears on stage (all too often actors sob dry-eyed and there is a difference). Naturally, all of this matters, but what matters most is this star-making vehicle for an actress who can belt.
9 / 10
Humility is not a requirement when playing the lead in Funny Girl, but to this critic, there seems a quiet undertone of contrition in Michele's riveting performance - of sincere gratitude to be back on Broadway for the first time in 14 years, and in her dream role no less. This part is not just the fulfillment of a longtime desire, it's also a career rehabilitation project. Though if the ecstatic squeals of fans that greet every big brassy belt and key change in her songs are any indication, those rumors of bad behavior have been forgiven and forgotten.
The first-ever Broadway revival of Funny Girl played its final performance at the August Wilson Theatre on Sunday, capping off another record-breaking week.
Watch at the end of the performance, when as did Barbra Streisand after her final show, Lea Michele surprised everyone by singing 'My Man' as an Encore.
Lea Michele has penned an emotional goodbye to the role of Fanny Brice in the Funny Girl revival, which plays its final performance Sunday, September 3rd.
Lea Michele will be out of both performances of Funny Girl as she is under the weather, per an announcement from the production. Julie Benko will play Fanny Brice at both performances today, and her regularly scheduled performance tomorrow. Lea Michele is expected to return to the show Friday, September 1st.
Lea Michele will be out of tonight's 7pm performance of Funny Girl as she is under the weather, per an announcement from the production. The production also stars Tony and Olivier Award nominee Ramin Karimloo, 2022 Tony & Drama Desk Award nominee and Chita Rivera Award winner Jared Grimes and four-time Tony Award nominee Tovah Feldshuh.
With just eight performances remaining, the first-ever Broadway revival of Funny Girl has broken its own box office record for the highest grossing 8-performance week at the August Wilson Theatre for the week ending August 27 with a final gross of $2,133,143.44.
The first-ever Broadway revival of FUNNY GIRL has recouped its $16.5 million capitalization after opening in April 2022 at the August Wilson Theatre.
Over the weekend, White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre was in New York and attended FUNNY GIRL starring Lea Michele. She stayed after the show, met the cast and took some photos with the company. Check out the photos here!
The Broadway revival is celebrating 500 performances at the August Wilson Theatre with a sweet treat! The production was recently treated to a visit from a few Carvel ice cream trucks that dished out delicious cups and cones to the show's hardworking company in honor of the milestone. See their celebration in neNNY photos!
Lea Michele has tested positive for Covid, and will be out of Funny Girl this week.
On Saturday night, May 13, 2023, the cast and company of Funny Girl celebrated Broadway legend Tovah Feldshuh as she commemorated 50 years on Broadway. Check out photos and video from the night here!
Funny Girl is set to close on September 3, and Lea Michele is already planning her Broadway return!
Lea Michele revealed that she hopes that a filmed version of the Funny Girl revival may be in our future! Michele, who joined the cast in August of last year, was asked by E! if a movie is in the works while attending Variety's Power of Women event.
Lea Michele will be out of today's matinee performance of Funny Girl on Saturday, March 25. Julie Benko will be on as Fanny.
Lea Michele will return to performances of Funny Girl on Broadway this weekend.
Lea Michele will be out of both performances of Funny Girl on Wednesday, March 22. Julie Benko will be on as Fanny.
Paolo Montalban and Anne L. Nathan will assume the roles of Florenz Ziegfeld and Mrs. Strakosh in Funny Girl on Broadway. We have all the details!
Producers Sonia Friedman, Scott Landis and David Babani announced today that Emmy Award nominee Lea Michele, Tony and Olivier Award nominee Ramin Karimloo, 2022 Tony & Drama Desk Award nominee and Chita Rivera Award winner Jared Grimes and four-time Tony Award nominee Tovah Feldshuh have extended their critically acclaimed, record-breaking run in Broadway’s FUNNY GIRL through Sunday, September 3, 2023, when FUNNY GIRL will play its final performance at the August Wilson Theatre (245 West 52nd Street).
Funny Girl stars Lea Michele and Julie Benko's names were featured on a recent episode of The Simpsons. During the episode, several cars pulled up to a crime scene, two of which read 'Fanny Brice Imitations.' One of the cars was labeled as Lea Michele and the other was labeled as Julie Benko. Watch a video clip from the episode now!
Yesterday, Lea Michele appeared on The Daily Show to talk about Funny Girl and more! The actress and singer shared what it’s been like living her dream of playing Fanny Bryce, why she decided to return to Broadway after 15 years of acting in L.A., and how her life is different now as a wife and mother.
In this video, your favorite podcast hosts Jason A. Coombs and Samantha Tuozzolo are back with the vastly talented, kind and funny actor Daniel Beeman, who made his Broadway debut last year in Funny Girl at the August Wilson Theatre!
On Monday, February 6, Broadway’s Funny Girl Julie Benko marched her band out at Birdland in celebration of Mardi Gras!
SiriusXM kicked off a special Town Hall with Lea Michele and Ramin Karimloo, co-stars of Broadway smash-hit Funny Girl, last Thursday. Michele and Karimloo discussed the process of recording the musical's cast album, working with Barbra Streisand, and more!
Price: $47.50
Where: https://www.luckyseat.com/shows/funnygirl-newyork
When: Digital lotteries will begin each Monday at 10 a.m. ET and close the day prior to the performance at 10:30 a.m. ET. Winners will be notified at approximately 11 AM ET the day prior to the performance via email and SMS. Once notified, winners will have a limited time to claim and pay for their ticket(s).
Limit: 2 per customer
Information: ottery entrants must be 18 years or older. Tickets are non-transferable. All sales final. No exchange, no refunds. Ticket limits and prices are at the sole discretion of the show and are subject to change.
Price: $42.50
Where: August Wilson Theatre box office
When: On the day of the performance, only if the show is sold out.
Tickets Per Person: Limit 2
Information: Tickets will be in standing positions at the back of the orchestra. Subject to availability. Available when the show is sold out.
| 1964 | Broadway |
Original Broadway Production Broadway |
| 1966 | West End |
London Production West End |
| 1986 | Off-Off-Broadway |
Equity Library Theatre Revival Off-Off-Broadway |
| 2001 | Milburn, NJ (Regional) |
Paper Mill Production Milburn, NJ (Regional) |
| 2002 | Broadway |
Actors' Fund Concert Broadway |
| 2012 | Broadway |
Broadway Revival Broadway |
| 2015 | West End |
Menier Chocolate Factory West End Revival Production West End |
| 2016 | West End |
Menier Chocolate Factory West End Transfer West End |
| 2023 | US Tour |
North American Tour US Tour |
| Year | Ceremony | Category | Nominee |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | Theatre World Awards | Dorothy Loudon Award for Excellence in the Theater | Julie Benko |
| 2022 | Drama Desk Awards | Outstanding Choreography | Ayodele Casel |
| 2022 | Drama Desk Awards | Outstanding Costume Design for a Musical | Susan Hilferty |
| 2022 | Drama Desk Awards | Outstanding Featured Actor in a Musical | Jared Grimes |
| 2022 | Drama League Awards | Distinguished Performance Awards | Beanie Feldstein |
| 2022 | Drama League Awards | Distinguished Performance Awards | Jane Lynch |
| 2022 | Drama League Awards | Outstanding Direction of a Musical | Michael Mayer |
| 2022 | Drama League Awards | Outstanding Revival of a Musical | Funny Girl |
| 2022 | Tony Awards | Best Performance by an Actor in a Featured Role in a Musical | Jared Grimes |
