Rehearsals are currently underway for the upcoming Broadway revival of Funny Girl, which begins previews March 26 at the August Wilson Theatre starring Beanie Feldstein as Fanny Brice and Tony and Olivier nominee Ramin Karimloo as Nick Arnstein. Opening night is April 24.
Members of the cast and creative team chat about the eagerly awaited revival in the video above. Feldstein, who is stepping into the role created by Barbra Streisand, says, "Funny Girl is so magical. It's the story of a comedian falling in love and finding herself… She's a trailblazer. Nothing will stop her." Jane Lynch, who plays Mrs. Brice, also discusses her personal relationship with the musical, and choreographers Ellenore Scott and Ayodele Casel hint at what's in store for audiences.
The company also includes Jared Grimes as Eddie Ryan, Emmy winner Lynch as Mrs. Rosie Brice, Peter Francis James as Florenz Ziegfeld, Ephie Aardema as Emma/Mrs. Nadler, Debra Cardona as Mrs. Meeker, Toni DiBuono as Mrs. Strakosh, Martin Moran as Tom Keeney, and Julie Benko as the standby for Fanny Brice.
Rounding out the ensemble are Amber Ardolino, Daniel Beeman, Colin Bradbury, Kurt Thomas Csolak, Leslie Donna Flesner, Afra Hines, Masumi Iwai, Aliah James, Jeremiah James, Danielle Kelsey, Stephen Mark Lukas, Alicia Hadiya Lundgren, John Thomas Manzari, Liz McCartney, Katie Mitchell, Justin Prescott, Mariah Reives, and Leslie Blake Walker.
Michael Mayer directs the first Broadway revival of the classic musical by Jule Styne and Bob Merrill, with a revised book by Harvey Fierstein, based on the original book and story by Isabel Lennart. Fierstein and Mayer previously collaborated on a 2016 West End revival of the work, though this Broadway revival will be a new staging.
The production also features choreography by Ellenore Scott; tap choreography by Ayodele Casel; scenic design by David Zinn; costume design by Susan Hilferty; lighting design by Kevin Adams; sound design by Brian Ronan; hair and wig design by Campbell Young Associates; orchestrations by Chris Walker; dance, vocal, and incidental arrangements by Alan Williams; additional arrangements by David Dabbon and Carmel Dean; and music direction and supervision by Michael Rafter. Casting is by Jim Carnahan, CSA and Jason Thinger; and Sonia Friedman, Scott Landis, and David Babani will produce.
The work, which originally premiered on Broadway in 1964, is a biomusical centered on Broadway and vaudeville star Fanny Brice. The original production propelled a young Barbra Streisand to international fame; she would reprise her stage performance in the 1968 film adaptation, winning an Academy Award and a Golden Globe in the process. Styne and Merrill's score introduced such standards as "I'm the Greatest Star," "People," "Don't Rain On My Parade," and "The Music That Makes Me Dance."
