The Funny Business Surrounding 'Funny Girl': Lea Michele Will Be Taking Over the Leading Role Sooner Than Expected and This is Why That is MAJOR
Here's what's happening with the Broadway revival of Funny Girl.
This is an OBJECTIVE SUMMARY of all of the drama surrounding the highly anticipated revival of Funny Girl.
If you have been sensing some funny business surrounding the Broadway revival of Funny Girl, you would not be wrong. The show is seeing some major casting changes far sooner than expected.
Since Glee began back in 2009, it has been public knowledge that Lea Michele, who played Rachel Barry on the show, has been dying to take on the role of Fanny Brice in Funny Girl. It was an ambition that both the character and the actress shared. Barry on Glee (spoiler alert, but if you haven't seen it yet, were you going to?) eventually gets the role. Michele has performed the well-known knockout song from the show "Don't Rain on My Parade," both on the show and at the Tony Awards in 2012.
Starring in a revival of Funny Girl is a particularly big deal considering the show had never previously seen a Broadway revival. Broadway legend Barbara Streisand made the role iconic- heck, she IS the role. The world knew that if Funny Girl was ever to be seen on the Broadway stage again, whoever took the place of the sensational Streisand would have to come armed with unquestionable talent and a Cinderella's slipper kindof perfect fit for the role.
Michele has been working to prove herself as the woman for the job since the moment she entered the spotlight; however, the star's notoriety overshadowed her talent. Various reports of aggressive and unkind behavior behind the scenes of Glee, and other various projects, came to the surface, making the talented star something of a villain.
When the revival was announced, actress Beanie Feldstein was cast in the role of Fanny Brice. Many took this as an opportunity to poke fun at Michele, who (popular opinion believes) would have gotten the role had she not been so infamously problematic. It was a win for the nice guy.
Yet, the the story did not end here. Reviews for the Booksmart star in the important role began to come out, and the large majority were less than enthusiastic. Critics and audience members gave an outpouring of negative remarks in light of Feldstein's performance in the role.
(*I would like to clarify here: I have not seen the show. I cannot say whether the criticisms have ground, I'm just reporting! Don't shoot the messenger!)
While Feldstein was seemingly facing criticism from the world, Michele was working a redemption arc all her own behind the scenes. (Well, we called it). Suddenly she was presenting at the Tony Awards. The original cast of Spring Awakening, her Broadway debut, was performing at the Tonys - which, why, if not to put Michele back into the spotlight?
Two days ago, everything changed.
It was stated a few weeks ago that Feldstein would be leaving the show, alongside another Glee alum, Jane Lynch, at the end of September. There was much speculation about who would replace her (many leaks suggesting it would in fact be Michele herself).
That timeline has now been significantly pushed up.
Feldstein took to Instagram Sunday announcing that she would be stepping down from the role at the end of this month. She wrote:
"Playing Fanny Brice on Broadway has been a lifelong dream of mine, and doing so for the last few months has been a great joy and true honor. Once the production decided to take the show in a different direction, I made the extremely difficult decision to step away sooner than anticipated. I will never forget this experience and from the bottom of my heart, I want to thank every single person who came to the August Wilson for the love and support you have shown me and our amazing cast and crew.
"The people I have had the great joy of bringing Funny Girl to life with every night, both on and off the stage are all remarkably talented and exceptional humans and I hope you continue to join them on Henry Street after I depart on July 31st."
According to an exclusive on Page Six, the producers did not know that the star was going to make the announcement, or that she was going to be stepping away from the show so soon, but we cannot currently confirm this information. The Page Six article can be referenced here.
Shortly after the announcement, the Funny Girl pages lit up with news of an important casting announcement coming at 1PM on Monday. Sure enough, it was announced that Lea Michele would take over the role from Beanie Feldstein.
The theatre community is overflowing with mixed reviews: some excited to see the Glee star take on the role, as she has proven time and time again that she has the talent to back it; others upset with the news as they feel the actor should not be rewarded for her unprofessional behavior with her dream role.
That is the most objective possible summary of the Funny Girl funny business we can give. We will keep you up to date with any updates from this dramatic revival as they come to light.
Oh, also! In more exciting and uncomplicated news - Tovah Feldshuh will take over as Mrs. Brice. Hooray! Congrats Feldshuh!
