ABOVE: Lea Michele. Photo via Michele’s Facebook.
Beanie Feldstein announced July 10 she will be departing from the role of Fanny Brice in “Funny Girl” two months earlier than expected, as Lea Michele replaces her.
“Funny Girl” focuses on Brice as the character unexpectedly rises to fame while juggling a rocky relationship with gambler Nicky Arnstein. The production first premiered on Broadway in 1964 starring Barbra Streisand, and was nominated for eight Tony Awards.
The revival of “Funny Girl” opened April 24, six decades after the original at Broadway’s August Wilson Theatre. After lackluster reviews and no Tony nominations, Feldstein was originally slated to leave the show by the end of September. However, she will now be moving on after July 31 due to a decision from the production “to take the show in a different direction.”
Lea Michele, best known for her over-the-top character Rachel in “Glee,” will take on the role Sept. 6. The acceptance of this role is almost uncanny, considering Rachel’s adoration for “Funny Girl.” The character sings nearly every song from the hit musical during the show’s six seasons, including “Don’t Rain on My Parade,” “My Man” “I’m the Greatest Star” and “People.” Michele said in 2017 while appearing on “Watch What Happens Live With Andy Cohen” that she had hoped to take on this role for years.
“We were thinking of doing it right after ‘Glee,’ but I did a lot of the songs from ‘Funny Girl’ on ‘Glee’ so it felt like a little soon,” Michele said. “But I feel really ready to do it now, so maybe we could do it soon.”
Now, after a bit of waiting, some would argue that it seems like the perfect time to let her perform.
Jane Lynch, who plays Mrs. Brice, will also be leaving the production earlier than expected and will be replaced by Tovah Feldshuh starting Sept. 6. As another “Glee” alum, Lynch and her former co-star Michele will never share the stage together on “Funny Girl.”
