Photo: LA Times
Lea Michele has taken on the role of Fanny Brice in this Broadway revival of Funny Girl. She’ll be replacing Beanie Feldstein, who played that part for years.
Feldstein became the first woman to portray Fanny on Broadway since Barbra Streisand originally portrayed the role. However, the 29-year-old announced on Sunday that she would bow out of the show at the end of this month after revealing her plans to step away from the production in September.
Speculations circulated that Michele, famous for her own version of the Funny Girl tune “Don’t Rain on My Parade,” would assume the role.
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The Glee star has a professional relationship with the show’s filmmaker, Michael Mayer, who helped launch her to the theatrical stage by casting and directing her in Spring Awakening.
Unfortunately, it’s unlikely that we’ll see a Glee reunion because Michele won’t overlapwith former co-actor Lynch portraying her mother. However, Tovah Feldshuh will take on the role of Mrs. Brice when Michele starts on September 6.
Julie Benko, the understudy for Feldstein will step in to play during a transition period between her exit and Michele’s arrival.
Ramin Karimloo, who plays Nick Arnstein, and Jared Grimes, who stars as Eddie Ryan, will still participate in the production through the casting change.
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