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The sweetness of life today for Lea Michele.
On September 6, the actress will replace Beanie Feldstein in the Broadway revival of “Funny Girl.” Michele, a well-known superfan of Barbra Streisand, who originated the role of Fanny Brice on stage in 1964, memorably covered the anthem of the show “Don’t Rain on My Parade” in the first season of “Glee “television and later performed the song at the 2010 Tony Awards. He publicly expressed interest in playing the role during a social gathering years ago, fueling fascination on social media with the idea of taking it on, and has been rumored to be a replacement protagonist since Feldstein’s departure was announced.
Michele has a history with Fanny Brice; her “Glee” character, Rachel Berry, performed several “Funny Girl” songs on the show and even landed the role in the resurrection of the fictional universe. On Monday afternoon, after this story became a reality, Michele wrote on Instagram that “a dream come true is an understatement.”
The rebirth of “Funny Girl,” a well-received production that was adapted into a hit film starring Streisand in 1968, opened in late April after years of rumors and subsequent delays. After Feldstein took a break from the show because he tested positive for coronavirus, in June he announced that his last performance would be on September 25th. The production confirmed the news on Twitter and added that actress Jane Lynch, who played Mrs. Brice, would also be out by then.
Feldstein then shared in a statement posted on Instagram Sunday night that he would leave “Funny Girl” in late July, two months before the initially announced date. He attributed his early release, a very unusual fact on Broadway, to the production that decided to “take the show in a different direction.”
“I will never forget this experience and from the bottom of my heart, I want to thank every person who came to August Wilson. [Theatre] for the love and support you have shown me and our amazing cast and team, “the statement said.” The people I have had the great joy of bringing Funny Girl to life every night, both inside and out. of the stage, they are exceptional humans and with an extraordinary talent “.
Lynch also comes out earlier than expected, making his final bow on Sept. 4. Mrs. Brice will be played by the four-time nominee for Tony Tovah Feldshuh. (Standby Julie Benko will play Fanny Brice in August and on Thursdays from September.)
“Funny Girl” received largely negative reviews. Frank Rizzo, of Variety, referred to it as “powerless.” Jesse Green of the New York Times argued that the renaissance “shows why it took so long.” While noting his jealous nature, critics criticized Feldstein’s vocal skills, especially in contrast to Streisand’s.
Peter Marks of the Washington Post stated that “while, for example, you think Streisand was a star, with Feldstein, your main belief is that she believes she is a star “.
According to weekly Broadway League statistics, a commercial organization, “Funny Girl,” filled August Wilson to 97.8 percent capacity in mid-May, probably due to the strength of pre-sales ahead of the review. In early July, that figure dropped to 75 percent.
This piece has been updated.