With the news of Lea Michele's impending return to Broadway as Fanny Brice in Funny Girl, Playbill is revisiting all the times the stage and screen performer whipped out tracks from Funny Girl in the hit musical TV show Glee, currently streaming on Hulu.
Michele played Rachel Berry in the Ryan Murphy-directed series for its six seasons, starring alongside Jenna Ushkowitz, Cory Monteith, Kevin McHale, Chris Colfer, Amber Riley, Mark Salling, Heather Morris, Naya Rivera, Dianna Agron, and Broadway alum Matthew Morrison.
READ: 6 Broadway Players Who Got Their Start on Glee
Rachel Berry's passion, vigor, and obsession with Barbra Streisand (and being a "star") often caused rifts between her and her peers, but she usually found her way.
Here are all the times Michele sang from Funny Girl on Glee.
Don’t Rain On My Parade
Season 1, Episode 13
The Glee Club has to scramble to come up with a new setlist for sectionals after their competitors, Jane Addams Academy, stole theirs. Rachel is up for the challenge and whips out her rendition of Funny Girl's rousing act one finale, "Don't Rain On My Parade," originally sung by her long-standing idol Barbra Streisand. The young performer receives a standing ovation for her performance. She revisits the song in the season 3 episode "Choke" as her audition song for NYADA.
My Man
Season 2, Episode 21
Don't get upset! Although not in the Jule Styne-Bob Merrill score of Funny Girl, "My Man" is performed as the closing number in the 1968 Funny Girl movie adaptation. The song carries a rich history in Fanny Brice's real-life career and was one of her trademark songs—recognized by both the Grammy Hall of Fame and in the 1928 musical drama My Man. Michele channels Streisand's movie rendition in her Glee performance, donning a square-cut, black dress.
You Are Woman, I Am Man
Season 5, Episode 5
In season 5 of Glee, Rachel is cast in Broadway's Funny Girl, her dream role. The Broadway-bound singer drops out of college to give her undivided attention to the performance, which pays off as the production gets glowing reviews. When Rachel performs "You Are Woman, I Am Man" in the series, she is rehearsing with her co-star, Paolo San Pablo, and showing off her new Fanny Brice-inspired hairdo.
People
Season 5, Episode 15
Glee's Funny Girl antics continue throughout the season, given Rachel's newly landed role. She performs "People" during a montage of her friends going about their lives in the Big Apple: Kurt and Blaine are shown buying flowers, and Mercedes and Sam stand outside their new apartment, while Rachel sings the number onstage.
I’m the Greatest Star
Season 5, Episode 17
"I'm the Greatest Star" was performed twice on Glee, once in season three by Kurt and again in season five, by Rachel. This is the first time Rachel is shown in her full Fanny Brice costume. Ironically, Sue Sylvester, played by current Funny Girl cast member Jane Lynch, exits during the performance after saying, "Is this supposed to be good?" The crowd disagrees and erupts in applause.
Who Are You Now
Season 5, Episode 17
Performed in the same episode, this number brings Rachel and Sue to the stage. During the song, Rachel thinks of her late boyfriend and Glee Club member, Finn, and Sue thinks back on a date she went on in New York City.
Listen to our Spotify playlist below.
Episodes of Glee can be streamed on Hulu.
