After performing at Elsie Fest 2017 on October 8, Lea Michele (Glee, Spring Awakening) stopped by The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon.
The Broadway-talent-turned-TV-star spoke about singing for the crowd and her choice to open with “Don’t Rain On My Parade” from Funny Girl, made famous by Barbra Streisand.
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“I get so nervous when I perform,” she confessed to late-night host Jimmy Fallon. She used to sing the song on the Glee tour, but after one night when she forgot the lyrics onstage, she asked producer Ryan Murphy to cut it from the lineup. “All it takes is that one time. ... After the show I fell to my knees, bawling crying, and I told Ryan I can’t do it anymore, and we cut it from the concert.”
Still, it felt good to Michele to revive the tune for over 4,000 Broadway fans.
Fallon asked Michele if she’d ever met Streisand. Turns out, Michele performed “My Man” at the Music Cares event the night before the 2011 Grammy Awards, at which Streisand performed. Michele had been looking forward to Music Cares as her chance to finally meet Streisand. It didn’t happen. But the next night, while waiting for a valet, Michele felt a tap on her shoulder. Watch the video above to hear what Streisand thought of her performance.
Michele began her career as a child actor on Broadway, performing in Ragtime and Les Misérables. She later returned to Broadway as the lead in Spring Awakening before joining Fox’s Glee.
Now, Michele stars on the new comedy series The Mayor from executive producer Daveed Diggs (Hamilton). Michele revealed that Diggs is also the composer behind the rap songs for Brandon Michael Hall’s character on the show.
Watch the video below to find out more about her role on the series:
