Kristin Chenoweth and Josh Groban joined forces this week to pay tribute to the late and great Tony Bennett.
The music stars performed at the Jazz at Lincoln Center Gala: Celebrating Tony Bennett on Wednesday night (April 17) at Jazz at Lincoln Center in New York City.
The evening also featured performances from Broadway stars like Bernadette Peters, Norm Lewis, Jared Grimes, and Adriane Lenox, with appearances from Gayle King and more.
Kristin was also joined at the event by her husband Josh Bryant. Earlier in the week, she hosted a one-night-only benefit concert for the Roundabout Theatre Company, where she paid tribute to late artistic director Todd Haimes.
This summer, you can catch Kristin in the pre-Broadway run of her upcoming musical The Queen of Versailles. It will premiere in Boston!
The music stars performed at the Jazz at Lincoln Center Gala: Celebrating Tony Bennett on Wednesday night (April 17) at Jazz at Lincoln Center in New York City.
The evening also featured performances from Broadway stars like Bernadette Peters, Norm Lewis, Jared Grimes, and Adriane Lenox, with appearances from Gayle King and more.
Kristin was also joined at the event by her husband Josh Bryant. Earlier in the week, she hosted a one-night-only benefit concert for the Roundabout Theatre Company, where she paid tribute to late artistic director Todd Haimes.
This summer, you can catch Kristin in the pre-Broadway run of her upcoming musical The Queen of Versailles. It will premiere in Boston!
- 4/18/2024
- by Just Jared
- Just Jared
How far will you go to deny your identity in order to be a somebody? What happens when you make a deal with a devil whom you might normally despise, but has transfixed much of an entire nation’s population? And how long can you will yourself to ignore evidence of the intolerable? These are just a few of the questions raised — sometimes with allusive finesse, sometimes with blunt-force impact — during “The Performance,” an enthralling period drama with often disquieting contemporary relevance.
If you have roamed through this cinematic territory before, you may discern in Shira Piven’s exceptional film traces of “Cabaret,” “Mephisto” and other tales of ambitious entertainers striving for the spotlight as Adolf Hitler’s shadow spreads over 1930s Germany. But this largely faithful adaptation and intelligent expansion of a 2002 short story by Arthur Miller ultimately stands on its own merits as both vivid historical recreation and riveting cautionary fable,...
If you have roamed through this cinematic territory before, you may discern in Shira Piven’s exceptional film traces of “Cabaret,” “Mephisto” and other tales of ambitious entertainers striving for the spotlight as Adolf Hitler’s shadow spreads over 1930s Germany. But this largely faithful adaptation and intelligent expansion of a 2002 short story by Arthur Miller ultimately stands on its own merits as both vivid historical recreation and riveting cautionary fable,...
- 1/15/2024
- by Joe Leydon
- Variety Film + TV
Lea Michele, the star of Funny Girl, ends her stay today in the Broadway revival. She noted the milestone with an Instagram post that touted the show’s recoupment of its $16.5 million capitalization.
“For the past year, I’ve had the honor and privilege of playing the iconic Fanny Brice in Funny Girl on the August Wilson Stage,” she wrote. “An opportunity my younger self could have only dreamed of. And did.”
The musical opened in April 2022 at the August Wilson Theatre, starring Beanie Feldstein in the title role of Fanny Brice. Although fans initially showed great enthusiasm and ticket-buying, critics and Tony Award nominators found her performance lackluster, and the production soon saw a drop-off in sales. Feldstein made an unusually public leaving of the show, and was immediately replaced by producers with Glee star Lea Michele, who had her own strong fan base and who wowed critics. Box office receipts surged.
“For the past year, I’ve had the honor and privilege of playing the iconic Fanny Brice in Funny Girl on the August Wilson Stage,” she wrote. “An opportunity my younger self could have only dreamed of. And did.”
The musical opened in April 2022 at the August Wilson Theatre, starring Beanie Feldstein in the title role of Fanny Brice. Although fans initially showed great enthusiasm and ticket-buying, critics and Tony Award nominators found her performance lackluster, and the production soon saw a drop-off in sales. Feldstein made an unusually public leaving of the show, and was immediately replaced by producers with Glee star Lea Michele, who had her own strong fan base and who wowed critics. Box office receipts surged.
- 9/3/2023
- by Bruce Haring and Greg Evans
- Deadline Film + TV
Funny Girl has recouped its capitalization costs on Broadway, producers said Monday.
The musical, which originally opened at the August Wilson Theatre in April 2022, was capitalized for $16.5 million. The production, starring Lea Michele, is set to close on Broadway on Sept. 3. A North American tour, starring Katerina McCrimmon, will follow.
The production started with Beanie Feldstein in the leading role, but after she received mixed reviews, grosses and attendance began to fall. Feldstein was then replaced with Michele, who had already performed several of the songs on Glee and thus was a draw for audience members. However, Michele had to fight back against allegations of on-set bullying while on the television show as well as the controversy of taking over the role from Feldstein. She came into the production on Sept. 6, 2022, and was well-received in the role, and the box office began trending upward.
Since then, Funny Girl has set...
The musical, which originally opened at the August Wilson Theatre in April 2022, was capitalized for $16.5 million. The production, starring Lea Michele, is set to close on Broadway on Sept. 3. A North American tour, starring Katerina McCrimmon, will follow.
The production started with Beanie Feldstein in the leading role, but after she received mixed reviews, grosses and attendance began to fall. Feldstein was then replaced with Michele, who had already performed several of the songs on Glee and thus was a draw for audience members. However, Michele had to fight back against allegations of on-set bullying while on the television show as well as the controversy of taking over the role from Feldstein. She came into the production on Sept. 6, 2022, and was well-received in the role, and the box office began trending upward.
Since then, Funny Girl has set...
- 8/7/2023
- by Caitlin Huston
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Funny Girl, the Broadway revival with one of the strangest casting histories in recent theatrical memory, has recouped its $16.5 million capitalization, producers announced today.
The musical opened in April 2022 at the August Wilson Theatre starring Beanie Feldstein in the title role of Fanny Brice, and although her fans initially showed great enthusiasm and ticket-buying, critics and Tony Award nominators found her performance lackluster and the production soon saw a drop-off in sales. Feldstein made an unusually public leaving of the show, and was immediately replaced by producers with Glee star Lea Michele, who had her own strong fan base and who wowed critics. Box office receipts surged.
In fact, the show began setting box office records at the Wilson, including in January 2023, when the show set a weekly record with a gross of $2,062,739, a record at the venue for an eight-performance week.
Other house records were set for the week...
The musical opened in April 2022 at the August Wilson Theatre starring Beanie Feldstein in the title role of Fanny Brice, and although her fans initially showed great enthusiasm and ticket-buying, critics and Tony Award nominators found her performance lackluster and the production soon saw a drop-off in sales. Feldstein made an unusually public leaving of the show, and was immediately replaced by producers with Glee star Lea Michele, who had her own strong fan base and who wowed critics. Box office receipts surged.
In fact, the show began setting box office records at the Wilson, including in January 2023, when the show set a weekly record with a gross of $2,062,739, a record at the venue for an eight-performance week.
Other house records were set for the week...
- 8/7/2023
- by Greg Evans
- Deadline Film + TV
This article contains spoilers through the Manifest series finale.
After keeping viewers captivated since 2018, Manifest finally reached its thrilling conclusion as season 4 part 2 landed on Netflix on Friday. While the series answered most of our burning questions regarding the mystery of Flight 828 and whether passengers could survive the Death Date, it did leave viewers with many questions regarding the show’s arc and whether some deaths were necessary.
For most of the last ten episodes of Manifest, flight 828 passengers found themselves locked in a detention center by the Registry because of public fear and the government wanting to do scientific experiments on them. The passenger’s position in the detention center hindered their ability to solve their callings and figure out what needed to be done to help them survive the Death Date.
It became clear very early on in Manifest that not everyone would survive to see the end of the show,...
After keeping viewers captivated since 2018, Manifest finally reached its thrilling conclusion as season 4 part 2 landed on Netflix on Friday. While the series answered most of our burning questions regarding the mystery of Flight 828 and whether passengers could survive the Death Date, it did leave viewers with many questions regarding the show’s arc and whether some deaths were necessary.
For most of the last ten episodes of Manifest, flight 828 passengers found themselves locked in a detention center by the Registry because of public fear and the government wanting to do scientific experiments on them. The passenger’s position in the detention center hindered their ability to solve their callings and figure out what needed to be done to help them survive the Death Date.
It became clear very early on in Manifest that not everyone would survive to see the end of the show,...
- 6/6/2023
- by Alec Bojalad
- Den of Geek
Flight 828 has finally landed. After four seasons of solving countless mysteries and trying to figure out how to avoid their approaching Death Date, the passengers at the center of Netflix's "Manifest" have finally met their fate.
"Manifest" focuses on a group of people who board a flight home from the Bahamas in 2013 - only to touch down in 2018, though to them it seems like no time has passed. The passengers soon find themselves receiving mysterious visions they call Callings, which often lead them to save lives or solve crimes. As the show progresses, though, it becomes clear that the Callings are actually warning the passengers about an upcoming Death Date, which they eventually discover doesn't only apply to them; instead, the whole world seems to be facing an apocalypse. Helmed by siblings Michaela (Melissa Roxburgh) and Ben Stone (Josh Dallas), the passengers set out to save the world.
"Manifest...
"Manifest" focuses on a group of people who board a flight home from the Bahamas in 2013 - only to touch down in 2018, though to them it seems like no time has passed. The passengers soon find themselves receiving mysterious visions they call Callings, which often lead them to save lives or solve crimes. As the show progresses, though, it becomes clear that the Callings are actually warning the passengers about an upcoming Death Date, which they eventually discover doesn't only apply to them; instead, the whole world seems to be facing an apocalypse. Helmed by siblings Michaela (Melissa Roxburgh) and Ben Stone (Josh Dallas), the passengers set out to save the world.
"Manifest...
- 6/6/2023
- by Eden Arielle Gordon
- Popsugar.com
Of course the series finale of Manifest ends on the Death Date – as it should. Morning arrives as Netflix’s Manifest season four episode 20, “Final Boarding,” begins with the Stones and their friends still at their Storm King Mountain campsite. The fissure is pulsating blue, and Olive (Luna Blaise) can still feel her brother even if he’s not there.
Suddenly, the ground shakes and they realize they’re not out of the woods yet.
As Olive and Tj (Garrett Wareing) chase after Eden, they discover a rock near where Michaela and Ben’s initials are carved into a tree. The rock has an engraving that matches the volcano on the World card but with the added touch of the scales of justice carved into the rock’s surface.
Ben (Josh Dallas) realizes the fate of the world hangs in the balance, and the inscription underneath isn’t legible. (Someone’s graffitied over it.
Suddenly, the ground shakes and they realize they’re not out of the woods yet.
As Olive and Tj (Garrett Wareing) chase after Eden, they discover a rock near where Michaela and Ben’s initials are carved into a tree. The rock has an engraving that matches the volcano on the World card but with the added touch of the scales of justice carved into the rock’s surface.
Ben (Josh Dallas) realizes the fate of the world hangs in the balance, and the inscription underneath isn’t legible. (Someone’s graffitied over it.
- 6/2/2023
- by Rebecca Murray
- Showbiz Junkies
Ty Doran as Cal Stone and Luna Blaise as Olive Stone in ‘Manifest’ season 4 episode 19 (Photo Cr. Netflix © 2022)
The penultimate episode of Netflix’s Manifest begins with a flashback to Ben and Michaela as kids. Season four episode 19 reveals that as kids, they made a deal not to compete and instead to be equals, with their mom insisting that as co-captains they’ll be stronger together.
Current events find Michaela (Melissa Roxburgh) and Ben (Josh Dallas) sharing a brief moment of sibling bonding, with Michaela teasing her big brother about the smell of perfume clinging to his clothes. It’s one day until the Death Date, and Ben’s been trying to keep the 828ers calm, assuring them it’s not over until it’s over.
The comatose passengers are all awake but don’t remember anything after being experimented on by the Major. They were in callings for five...
The penultimate episode of Netflix’s Manifest begins with a flashback to Ben and Michaela as kids. Season four episode 19 reveals that as kids, they made a deal not to compete and instead to be equals, with their mom insisting that as co-captains they’ll be stronger together.
Current events find Michaela (Melissa Roxburgh) and Ben (Josh Dallas) sharing a brief moment of sibling bonding, with Michaela teasing her big brother about the smell of perfume clinging to his clothes. It’s one day until the Death Date, and Ben’s been trying to keep the 828ers calm, assuring them it’s not over until it’s over.
The comatose passengers are all awake but don’t remember anything after being experimented on by the Major. They were in callings for five...
- 6/2/2023
- by Rebecca Murray
- Showbiz Junkies
Lea Michele will miss upcoming performances of Funny Girl because of an unspecified “scary health issue” affecting her 2-year-old son, Ever Leo Reich.
The news was announced Wednesday by the former Glee star on her Instagram account, and show producers confirmed there as well.
“I’m so sorry but unfortunately I will be out of @FunnyGirlBwy today,” she wrote in the caption. “We are at the hospital with our son dealing with a scary health issue that I need to be here for.”
Below the picture, she added, “I’m so sorry. Please send us some love and strength.”
The producers were more specific.
“Lea Michele will be out of both the matinee and evening performance today, Wednesday, March 22,” their statement said. “Julie Benko will be your fabulous Fanny!”
Michele and husband Zandy Reich are the child’s parents.
The Funny Girl box office has been linked to Michele.
When...
The news was announced Wednesday by the former Glee star on her Instagram account, and show producers confirmed there as well.
“I’m so sorry but unfortunately I will be out of @FunnyGirlBwy today,” she wrote in the caption. “We are at the hospital with our son dealing with a scary health issue that I need to be here for.”
Below the picture, she added, “I’m so sorry. Please send us some love and strength.”
The producers were more specific.
“Lea Michele will be out of both the matinee and evening performance today, Wednesday, March 22,” their statement said. “Julie Benko will be your fabulous Fanny!”
Michele and husband Zandy Reich are the child’s parents.
The Funny Girl box office has been linked to Michele.
When...
- 3/23/2023
- by Bruce Haring
- Deadline Film + TV
Funny Girl, Broadway’s riches-to-rags-to-riches smash hit, will close on Sunday, Sept. 3, with stars Lea Michele, Ramin Karimloo, Jared Grimes and Tovah Feldshuh extending their planned runs to see the show through to its final date.
The announcement was made today by Sonia Friedman, Scott Landis and David Babani.
When Funny Girl plays its final performance at the aon Sept. 3, it will have played 599 performances and 30 previews.
The closing will mark the end of one of Broadway’s more tumultuous – and successful – productions of recent years. The first Broadway revival of the Jule Styne-Bob Merrill 1963 musical that made a star of Barbra Streisand (on both the stage and in the 1968 film adaptation) opened in April 2022 starring Beanie Feldstein as Fanny Brice and Jane Lynch as her mother. Though the revival initially proved popular with audiences and Feldstein fans, lukewarm (at best) reviews and a shut-out at the Tony Awards prompted...
The announcement was made today by Sonia Friedman, Scott Landis and David Babani.
When Funny Girl plays its final performance at the aon Sept. 3, it will have played 599 performances and 30 previews.
The closing will mark the end of one of Broadway’s more tumultuous – and successful – productions of recent years. The first Broadway revival of the Jule Styne-Bob Merrill 1963 musical that made a star of Barbra Streisand (on both the stage and in the 1968 film adaptation) opened in April 2022 starring Beanie Feldstein as Fanny Brice and Jane Lynch as her mother. Though the revival initially proved popular with audiences and Feldstein fans, lukewarm (at best) reviews and a shut-out at the Tony Awards prompted...
- 3/2/2023
- by Greg Evans
- Deadline Film + TV
Lea Michele will play Fanny Brice through the end of Funny Girl’s run on Broadway.
The Broadway production will play its final performance Sept. 3. In addition to Michele, Ramin Karimloo, who plays Nick Arnstein, Tovah Feldshuh, who plays Fanny’s mother, Mrs. Brice, and Jared Grimes, who plays Eddie Ryan, will remain with the production through the closing.
A North American tour of Funny Girl will launch in September in Providence, R.I., before heading to more than 30 cities across the country.
The Broadway revival, the first since the 1964 production starring Barbra Streisand, began previews at the August Wilson Theatre on March 26, 2022 and opened April 24. Beanie Feldstein played the lead role until July 31, and Michele took over the role of Fanny Brice on Sept. 6, 2022. Standby Julie Benko filled in until Michele’s start date and continues to perform on Thursday evenings.
After Michele joined the production, and received rave reviews,...
The Broadway production will play its final performance Sept. 3. In addition to Michele, Ramin Karimloo, who plays Nick Arnstein, Tovah Feldshuh, who plays Fanny’s mother, Mrs. Brice, and Jared Grimes, who plays Eddie Ryan, will remain with the production through the closing.
A North American tour of Funny Girl will launch in September in Providence, R.I., before heading to more than 30 cities across the country.
The Broadway revival, the first since the 1964 production starring Barbra Streisand, began previews at the August Wilson Theatre on March 26, 2022 and opened April 24. Beanie Feldstein played the lead role until July 31, and Michele took over the role of Fanny Brice on Sept. 6, 2022. Standby Julie Benko filled in until Michele’s start date and continues to perform on Thursday evenings.
After Michele joined the production, and received rave reviews,...
- 3/2/2023
- by Caitlin Huston
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
A newly recorded cast album for Broadway’s Funny Girl starring Lea Michele as Fanny Brice will be released digitally tomorrow – Friday, Nov. 18 at 12:01 a.m. Et. The surprise announcement was made by Michele herself during last night’s curtain call at the Broadway hit.
“We’re all so so so proud to announce that we’re going to be releasing our original cast album,” Michele said excitedly from the stage following the Wednesday night performance. “As the biggest Funny Girl fan my whole life, I am so proud and it’s so so so great!”
See video of her announcement below.
The news of the unexpected album release was also shared on this morning’s Today show.
Produced by David Caddick and David Lai and featuring the score by Jule Styne (music) and Bob Merrill (lyrics), a physical CD of the new cast recording is set for release on Friday,...
“We’re all so so so proud to announce that we’re going to be releasing our original cast album,” Michele said excitedly from the stage following the Wednesday night performance. “As the biggest Funny Girl fan my whole life, I am so proud and it’s so so so great!”
See video of her announcement below.
The news of the unexpected album release was also shared on this morning’s Today show.
Produced by David Caddick and David Lai and featuring the score by Jule Styne (music) and Bob Merrill (lyrics), a physical CD of the new cast recording is set for release on Friday,...
- 11/17/2022
- by Greg Evans
- Deadline Film + TV
Lea Michele belts Fanny Brice’s big opening number, “I’m the Greatest Star,” from the forthcoming original cast recording for the new Broadway revival of Funny Girl.
As Michele tells Rolling Stone, “I’m the Greatest Star” “sets the tone” for Funny Girl, capturing Fanny as she lays out her showbiz dreams after being told in not-exactly-subtle terms on “If a Girl Isn’t Pretty” that she doesn’t have the looks for it. “I’m the greatest star,” Michele bellows, “I am by far/But no one knows...
As Michele tells Rolling Stone, “I’m the Greatest Star” “sets the tone” for Funny Girl, capturing Fanny as she lays out her showbiz dreams after being told in not-exactly-subtle terms on “If a Girl Isn’t Pretty” that she doesn’t have the looks for it. “I’m the greatest star,” Michele bellows, “I am by far/But no one knows...
- 11/17/2022
- by Jon Blistein
- Rollingstone.com
This article contains spoilers for Manifest season 4.
Manifest has never been short of villains. Since Flight 828 landed, it’s been a constant battle to figure out who genuinely are the good guys, committed to figuring out the mystery of the plane and their callings, and who are those sinking the lifeboat. The likes of fellow 828 passengers Eagan (Ali Sohaili) and former cult leader Adrian (Jared Grimes) have both been considered to be more villainous than most at one point or another in the show but season four has really brought the true villain to the forefront. Someone who shows no signs of backing down especially now that she has the last remaining piece of the Omega Sapphire. Yes, you guessed it, that villain is Angelina Meyer.
So how did Manifest create the show’s ultimate villain in Angelina (Holly Taylor)?
Angelina’s backstory weakened our defenses
For many viewers, they...
Manifest has never been short of villains. Since Flight 828 landed, it’s been a constant battle to figure out who genuinely are the good guys, committed to figuring out the mystery of the plane and their callings, and who are those sinking the lifeboat. The likes of fellow 828 passengers Eagan (Ali Sohaili) and former cult leader Adrian (Jared Grimes) have both been considered to be more villainous than most at one point or another in the show but season four has really brought the true villain to the forefront. Someone who shows no signs of backing down especially now that she has the last remaining piece of the Omega Sapphire. Yes, you guessed it, that villain is Angelina Meyer.
So how did Manifest create the show’s ultimate villain in Angelina (Holly Taylor)?
Angelina’s backstory weakened our defenses
For many viewers, they...
- 11/14/2022
- by Alec Bojalad
- Den of Geek
Spoiler alert: This article discusses all plot points from the first 10 episodes of Season 4 of “Manifest.”
The first 10 episodes of “Manifest’s” fourth season have now dropped on Netflix, after a labored birth in which the show was rescued by the streamer after NBC canceled it in May 2021.
And naturally, the show’s mysteries deepen. After catching up with the survivors of Flight 828, Variety spoke with “Manifest” creator Jeff Rake, who broke down all of the twists and turns — and gave a preview of the show’s upcoming final 10 episodes.
The last shot in this batch of episodes is so creepy. How would you describe what’s happening with Angelina’s hand fusing with the sapphire?
Angelina [Holly Taylor] has been desperately trying to accumulate power, and whether that’s by teaming up with Cal [Ty Doran] or somehow getting closer to an archangel, whatever that means in her mind...
The first 10 episodes of “Manifest’s” fourth season have now dropped on Netflix, after a labored birth in which the show was rescued by the streamer after NBC canceled it in May 2021.
And naturally, the show’s mysteries deepen. After catching up with the survivors of Flight 828, Variety spoke with “Manifest” creator Jeff Rake, who broke down all of the twists and turns — and gave a preview of the show’s upcoming final 10 episodes.
The last shot in this batch of episodes is so creepy. How would you describe what’s happening with Angelina’s hand fusing with the sapphire?
Angelina [Holly Taylor] has been desperately trying to accumulate power, and whether that’s by teaming up with Cal [Ty Doran] or somehow getting closer to an archangel, whatever that means in her mind...
- 11/5/2022
- by William Earl
- Variety Film + TV
Melissa Roxburgh as Michaela Stone and J.R. Ramirez as Jared Vasquez in ‘Manifest’ season 4 episode 2 (Photo Credit: Peter Kramer © Netflix 2022)
Grace’s funeral opens Netflix’s Manifest season four episode two, with the flashback showing Cal standing apart from the group. At this point, no one knows he’s aged, and he can only stand behind the group and sob rather than join his family in their grief.
Fast-forward to current events and Michaela (Melissa Roxburgh) and Zeke’s morning chitchat over breakfast concerns the Registry and how often Michaela’s being forced to check-in. Cal (Ty Doran) joins them and looks like he hasn’t slept in days. Michaela assures him they love him and are ready to support him however he needs.
Michaela leaves, and now it’s Saanvi’s turn to join the group. Saanvi (Parveen Kaur) reveals the black box recording includes Capt. Daly crying for help during the turbulence.
Grace’s funeral opens Netflix’s Manifest season four episode two, with the flashback showing Cal standing apart from the group. At this point, no one knows he’s aged, and he can only stand behind the group and sob rather than join his family in their grief.
Fast-forward to current events and Michaela (Melissa Roxburgh) and Zeke’s morning chitchat over breakfast concerns the Registry and how often Michaela’s being forced to check-in. Cal (Ty Doran) joins them and looks like he hasn’t slept in days. Michaela assures him they love him and are ready to support him however he needs.
Michaela leaves, and now it’s Saanvi’s turn to join the group. Saanvi (Parveen Kaur) reveals the black box recording includes Capt. Daly crying for help during the turbulence.
- 11/4/2022
- by Rebecca Murray
- Showbiz Junkies
Click here to read the full article.
It’s not often that a major Broadway musical lands its ideal lead six months after beginning performances and opening to mixed reviews. Then again, it’s an anomaly that a star with the credentials of Lea Michele would agree to step in as a replacement lead. But Michele’s tenacious determination to test her skills as Fanny Brice, a role she clearly considers the part of a lifetime, puts her in uncommon territory.
To get the headline news out of the way first, Michele gives a sensational performance in Funny Girl. While her predecessor in the Broadway revival, Beanie Feldstein, was a sweetly captivating presence who leaned hard on the comedy, her light, pleasant singing voice put her out of her depth with numbers that called for supple modulation and commanding power.
Perhaps even more crucially, the hunger that defines early 20th...
It’s not often that a major Broadway musical lands its ideal lead six months after beginning performances and opening to mixed reviews. Then again, it’s an anomaly that a star with the credentials of Lea Michele would agree to step in as a replacement lead. But Michele’s tenacious determination to test her skills as Fanny Brice, a role she clearly considers the part of a lifetime, puts her in uncommon territory.
To get the headline news out of the way first, Michele gives a sensational performance in Funny Girl. While her predecessor in the Broadway revival, Beanie Feldstein, was a sweetly captivating presence who leaned hard on the comedy, her light, pleasant singing voice put her out of her depth with numbers that called for supple modulation and commanding power.
Perhaps even more crucially, the hunger that defines early 20th...
- 10/3/2022
- by David Rooney
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Well, that’s that. After all the controversies and badly handled original castings and headlines and backstage bruisings and firings or resignations or whatever they were, Funny Girl is, as so many suspected all along, the musical that Lea Michele was born to lead. Broadway’s new Fanny Brice is, to put is simply and without exaggeration, a knock-out.
Michele has been in the role since early September, but, with some cast members out sick with Covid in recent weeks, and to give the newcomer some breathing room, critics have only in recent days been invited to the August Wilson to observe the changes. The wait was worth it.
From the moment she begins to sing the opening number “Who Are You Now?,” audiences relax in the assurance that this musical, for whatever its other merits – or lack thereof, and there is plenty of lack thereof – will be sung by...
Michele has been in the role since early September, but, with some cast members out sick with Covid in recent weeks, and to give the newcomer some breathing room, critics have only in recent days been invited to the August Wilson to observe the changes. The wait was worth it.
From the moment she begins to sing the opening number “Who Are You Now?,” audiences relax in the assurance that this musical, for whatever its other merits – or lack thereof, and there is plenty of lack thereof – will be sung by...
- 10/2/2022
- by Greg Evans
- Deadline Film + TV
Click here to read the full article.
Lea Michele dropped by The Tonight Show to promote the Broadway revival of Funny Girl.
The 36-year-old Glee alum sat down with host Jimmy Fallon on Friday to discuss her starring role as Fanny Brice in the critically acclaimed theater production and later delivered a mesmerizing performance of the Funny Girl number “People.”
“I’ve been wanting to come back to Broadway for so many years, I was gone for 15 years, Spring Awakening was the last show I did,” Michele said. “To be back and to be in the show that I’ve loved for so many years, but I’m such a fan of this production. Incredible cast. Incredible score.”
After months of hype, the curtain went up on Michele’s stint as the Funny Girl lead on Sept. 6. She took over from standby Julie Benko, who had performed the role since...
Lea Michele dropped by The Tonight Show to promote the Broadway revival of Funny Girl.
The 36-year-old Glee alum sat down with host Jimmy Fallon on Friday to discuss her starring role as Fanny Brice in the critically acclaimed theater production and later delivered a mesmerizing performance of the Funny Girl number “People.”
“I’ve been wanting to come back to Broadway for so many years, I was gone for 15 years, Spring Awakening was the last show I did,” Michele said. “To be back and to be in the show that I’ve loved for so many years, but I’m such a fan of this production. Incredible cast. Incredible score.”
After months of hype, the curtain went up on Michele’s stint as the Funny Girl lead on Sept. 6. She took over from standby Julie Benko, who had performed the role since...
- 10/1/2022
- by Mitchell Peters, Billboard.com
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Michaela (Melissa Roxburg) and Ben Stone (Josh Dallas), Jared Vasquez (J.R. Ramirez) and more are back in action and chasing down any and all leads to figure out how to beat their expiration date in the trailer for “Manifest” Season 4, which Netflix dropped Saturday. (You can watch it above)
The passengers of Montego Air Flight 828, who went missing five and a half years ago, only to return like no time had passed, have an expiration date of June 2, 2024.
“I had a calling, it was awful,” Ben says to his sister Michaela at the beginning of the trailer. “Everything was swallowed by ash.”
The trailer follows Ben as he swipes his finger across a dusty (or ashy) desktop, before cutting to a shot of a volcano looking ready to erupt.
Also Read:
‘Manifest’ Season 4, Part 1 Finally Gets a Premiere Date on Netflix
“828 wasn’t an accident,” Michaela says to her brother.
The passengers of Montego Air Flight 828, who went missing five and a half years ago, only to return like no time had passed, have an expiration date of June 2, 2024.
“I had a calling, it was awful,” Ben says to his sister Michaela at the beginning of the trailer. “Everything was swallowed by ash.”
The trailer follows Ben as he swipes his finger across a dusty (or ashy) desktop, before cutting to a shot of a volcano looking ready to erupt.
Also Read:
‘Manifest’ Season 4, Part 1 Finally Gets a Premiere Date on Netflix
“828 wasn’t an accident,” Michaela says to her brother.
- 9/24/2022
- by Dessi Gomez
- The Wrap
Update: Lea Michele confirmed today that she has tested positive for Covid-19 and will be out for a longer period than initially stated.
The former Glee star posted the news via her Instagram Story, citing “production protocols” that will see her sidelined from Broadway’s Funny Girl.
“Unfortunately, I have officially tested positive for Covid. In following production protocols, I cannot return to the theater for 10 days,” wrote Michele. “Thankfully staying home today and catching this early protected so many members of our company from being exposed. Funny Girl has been and still is tackling a tremendous wave of Covid with close to a dozen company members currently out.”
She added, “We are almost on the other side of this and our swings and understudies are doing such an incredible job to keep our show on its feet.”
Earlier: Lea Michele is canceling some of her Funny Girl performances, citing...
The former Glee star posted the news via her Instagram Story, citing “production protocols” that will see her sidelined from Broadway’s Funny Girl.
“Unfortunately, I have officially tested positive for Covid. In following production protocols, I cannot return to the theater for 10 days,” wrote Michele. “Thankfully staying home today and catching this early protected so many members of our company from being exposed. Funny Girl has been and still is tackling a tremendous wave of Covid with close to a dozen company members currently out.”
She added, “We are almost on the other side of this and our swings and understudies are doing such an incredible job to keep our show on its feet.”
Earlier: Lea Michele is canceling some of her Funny Girl performances, citing...
- 9/11/2022
- by Bruce Haring
- Deadline Film + TV
As you might have heard, Lea Michele made her Funny Girl debut last night, taking the stage at Broadway’s August Wilson Theatre to six standing ovations, a bouquet of white roses and through plenty of curtain call tears.
Among those in attendance at the performance – which also marked the debut of Tovah Feldshuh as Mrs. Brice, the role Jane Lynch originated in this revival – were Drew Barrymore, Jonathan Groff, John Gallagher Jr., Ryan Murphy, New York State Governor Kathy Hochul, Zachary Quinto, Lee Pace and fashion designer Thom Browne.
Check out the first-performance and curtain call photos and a video below, which also feature co-stars Ramin Karimloo, Jared Grimes and the Funny Girl company.
View this post on Instagram
A post shared by Funny Girl on Broadway (@funnygirlbwy)...
Among those in attendance at the performance – which also marked the debut of Tovah Feldshuh as Mrs. Brice, the role Jane Lynch originated in this revival – were Drew Barrymore, Jonathan Groff, John Gallagher Jr., Ryan Murphy, New York State Governor Kathy Hochul, Zachary Quinto, Lee Pace and fashion designer Thom Browne.
Check out the first-performance and curtain call photos and a video below, which also feature co-stars Ramin Karimloo, Jared Grimes and the Funny Girl company.
View this post on Instagram
A post shared by Funny Girl on Broadway (@funnygirlbwy)...
- 9/7/2022
- by Greg Evans
- Deadline Film + TV
Update, with Lynch Playbill comments: Jane Lynch will depart Broadway’s Funny Girl even earlier than expected, producers announced Tuesday. The former Glee actor will end her run as “Mrs. Brice” on Sunday, August 14, several weeks earlier than the Sept. 4 date most recently announced.
According to producers, Lynch had a long-scheduled vacation set to begin on Monday, August 15 and was set to return to the show on Tuesday, August 23, before departing for the Creative Arts Emmys on Thursday, September 1. “Rather than return for one week of performances, the producers have agreed to adjust her final performance to Sunday, August 14,” according to a statement.
Lynch is an Emmy nominee in the Best Comedy Guest Actress category for her work on Hulu’s Only Murders in the Building.
Lynch’s “Mrs. Brice” standby, Liz McCartney, is scheduled to play the role from Tuesday,...
According to producers, Lynch had a long-scheduled vacation set to begin on Monday, August 15 and was set to return to the show on Tuesday, August 23, before departing for the Creative Arts Emmys on Thursday, September 1. “Rather than return for one week of performances, the producers have agreed to adjust her final performance to Sunday, August 14,” according to a statement.
Lynch is an Emmy nominee in the Best Comedy Guest Actress category for her work on Hulu’s Only Murders in the Building.
Lynch’s “Mrs. Brice” standby, Liz McCartney, is scheduled to play the role from Tuesday,...
- 8/11/2022
- by Greg Evans
- Deadline Film + TV
Update, with Michele comment & Glee video As expected, or at least widely rumored, Lea Michele is Broadway’s new Funny Girl, taking over the coveted role of Fanny Brice from the departing Beanie Feldstein. Tovah Feldshuh will take the role of Mrs. Brice after Jane Lynch leaves the production.
Michele, best known as a star of TV’s Glee and Broadway’s Spring Awakening, and Feldshuh will join Funny Girl at the August Wilson Theatre beginning Tuesday, September 6. Ramin Karimloo will continue as Nick Arnstein, as will Tony nominee Jared Grimes as Eddie Ryan. Producers confirmed the casting today.
“A dream come true is an understatement,” Michele wrote on Instagram. “I’m so incredibly honored to join this amazing cast and production and return to the stage playing Fanny Brice on Broadway. See you September 6th.” (Watch Michele’s performance on Glee of Funny Girl’s “People” below.
Michele, best known as a star of TV’s Glee and Broadway’s Spring Awakening, and Feldshuh will join Funny Girl at the August Wilson Theatre beginning Tuesday, September 6. Ramin Karimloo will continue as Nick Arnstein, as will Tony nominee Jared Grimes as Eddie Ryan. Producers confirmed the casting today.
“A dream come true is an understatement,” Michele wrote on Instagram. “I’m so incredibly honored to join this amazing cast and production and return to the stage playing Fanny Brice on Broadway. See you September 6th.” (Watch Michele’s performance on Glee of Funny Girl’s “People” below.
- 7/11/2022
- by Greg Evans
- Deadline Film + TV
It’s official: Lea Michele‘s Funny Girl dream has at long last been realized.
The Glee grad, who famously played Fanny Brice in Fox’s show within a show, will lead the Broadway revival this fall, the production announced Monday.
More from TVLineSpring Awakening Cast Reunites for Tony Awards Performance: Lea Michele, Jonathan Groff and More -- WatchGlee Returning to Streaming Via Hulu and Disney+ -- Find Out WhenSpring Awakening Reunion Concert to Be Chronicled in HBO Documentary
She succeeds current star Beanie Feldstein, who was initially set to depart the show on Sunday, Sept. 25. But over the weekend,...
The Glee grad, who famously played Fanny Brice in Fox’s show within a show, will lead the Broadway revival this fall, the production announced Monday.
More from TVLineSpring Awakening Cast Reunites for Tony Awards Performance: Lea Michele, Jonathan Groff and More -- WatchGlee Returning to Streaming Via Hulu and Disney+ -- Find Out WhenSpring Awakening Reunion Concert to Be Chronicled in HBO Documentary
She succeeds current star Beanie Feldstein, who was initially set to depart the show on Sunday, Sept. 25. But over the weekend,...
- 7/11/2022
- by Ryan Schwartz
- TVLine.com
Click here to read the full article.
Lea Michele has been tapped to replace Beanie Feldstein in the Broadway revival of Funny Girl, producers said Monday.
Michele will take over the title role of Fanny Brice from Feldstein, who departs the show July 31.
Meanwhile, Tovah Feldshuh has been cast as Jane Lynch’s replacement. Lynch will continue to play Mrs. Brice, Fanny’s mom, through Sept. 4.
Fanny Brice standby Julie Benko will perform the title role from Aug. 2-Sept. 4 and on Thursdays starting Sept. 8; Jared Grimes and Ramin Karimloo will continue in their roles as Eddie Ryan and Nick Arnstein, respectively.
The news comes a day after Feldstein announced in an Instagram post that she would be departing the show July 31, earlier than anticipated. Last month, producers said she and Lynch would be departing their roles Sept. 25 instead of at year’s end, which had originally been expected.
In her post,...
Lea Michele has been tapped to replace Beanie Feldstein in the Broadway revival of Funny Girl, producers said Monday.
Michele will take over the title role of Fanny Brice from Feldstein, who departs the show July 31.
Meanwhile, Tovah Feldshuh has been cast as Jane Lynch’s replacement. Lynch will continue to play Mrs. Brice, Fanny’s mom, through Sept. 4.
Fanny Brice standby Julie Benko will perform the title role from Aug. 2-Sept. 4 and on Thursdays starting Sept. 8; Jared Grimes and Ramin Karimloo will continue in their roles as Eddie Ryan and Nick Arnstein, respectively.
The news comes a day after Feldstein announced in an Instagram post that she would be departing the show July 31, earlier than anticipated. Last month, producers said she and Lynch would be departing their roles Sept. 25 instead of at year’s end, which had originally been expected.
In her post,...
- 7/11/2022
- by Kimberly Nordyke
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Goodbye, gorgeous!
Beanie Feldstein is bowing out of “Funny Girl” a little ahead of schedule. She posted a note to Instagram on Sunday night which opened by saying that playing Fanny Brice on Broadway was a lifelong dream and that doing so was a great dream and true honor. Then there was a “but.”
“Once the production decided to take the show in a different direction, I made the extremely difficult decision to step away sooner than anticipated,” she wrote. Her last performance will be on July 31.
View this post on Instagram
A post shared by Beanie Feldstein (@beaniefeldstein)
What was the different direction? This is a little unclear, but one thing is sure: stepping into Barbra Streisand’s shoes is a highly unenviable task, which might be why this new production is the first revival on the Great White Way since the 1960s. In mid-June, it was announced Feldstein...
Beanie Feldstein is bowing out of “Funny Girl” a little ahead of schedule. She posted a note to Instagram on Sunday night which opened by saying that playing Fanny Brice on Broadway was a lifelong dream and that doing so was a great dream and true honor. Then there was a “but.”
“Once the production decided to take the show in a different direction, I made the extremely difficult decision to step away sooner than anticipated,” she wrote. Her last performance will be on July 31.
View this post on Instagram
A post shared by Beanie Feldstein (@beaniefeldstein)
What was the different direction? This is a little unclear, but one thing is sure: stepping into Barbra Streisand’s shoes is a highly unenviable task, which might be why this new production is the first revival on the Great White Way since the 1960s. In mid-June, it was announced Feldstein...
- 7/11/2022
- by Jordan Hoffman
- Gold Derby
Click here to read the full article.
Beanie Feldstein is leaving the Broadway revival of Funny Girl earlier than expected.
The actress announced Sunday in an Instagram post that she will be departing the show July 31. Last month, producers said she and fellow star Jane Lynch would be departing their roles Sept. 25 instead of at year’s end, as originally expected.
In her post, Feldstein said the decision came after producers “decided to take the show in a different direction,” but did not elaborate further.
“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,” she wrote. “Once the production decided to take the show in a different direction, I made the extremely difficult decision to step away sooner than anticipated.”
She went on to praise her fellow cast and crew and...
Beanie Feldstein is leaving the Broadway revival of Funny Girl earlier than expected.
The actress announced Sunday in an Instagram post that she will be departing the show July 31. Last month, producers said she and fellow star Jane Lynch would be departing their roles Sept. 25 instead of at year’s end, as originally expected.
In her post, Feldstein said the decision came after producers “decided to take the show in a different direction,” but did not elaborate further.
“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,” she wrote. “Once the production decided to take the show in a different direction, I made the extremely difficult decision to step away sooner than anticipated.”
She went on to praise her fellow cast and crew and...
- 7/11/2022
- by Kimberly Nordyke
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Click here to read the full article.
Producers for Broadway’s current Funny Girl revival announced Wednesday that stars Beanie Feldstein and Jane Lynch will soon be exiting.
In a statement posted to social media, the show’s team shared that the two performers are set to leave the production Sept. 25. This follows Feldstein having announced June 6 that she would be missing dates after testing positive for Covid-19.
“Beanie returns tomorrow!” the show’s official Twitter account posted Wednesday. “14 weeks left to see Beanie Feldstein & Jane Lynch now through September 25th. Stay tuned for additional casting news to join Ramin Karimloo & Jared Grimes and the company of Funny Girl.”
The show, which opened April 24, was nominated for a single Tony Award at the recent 2022 ceremony, for featured actor Grimes. It stars Feldstein as actress Fanny Brice; Lynch as Fanny’s mom, Mrs. Rosie Brice; Grimes as Eddie Ryan; and Karimloo as Nick Arnstein.
Producers for Broadway’s current Funny Girl revival announced Wednesday that stars Beanie Feldstein and Jane Lynch will soon be exiting.
In a statement posted to social media, the show’s team shared that the two performers are set to leave the production Sept. 25. This follows Feldstein having announced June 6 that she would be missing dates after testing positive for Covid-19.
“Beanie returns tomorrow!” the show’s official Twitter account posted Wednesday. “14 weeks left to see Beanie Feldstein & Jane Lynch now through September 25th. Stay tuned for additional casting news to join Ramin Karimloo & Jared Grimes and the company of Funny Girl.”
The show, which opened April 24, was nominated for a single Tony Award at the recent 2022 ceremony, for featured actor Grimes. It stars Feldstein as actress Fanny Brice; Lynch as Fanny’s mom, Mrs. Rosie Brice; Grimes as Eddie Ryan; and Karimloo as Nick Arnstein.
- 6/15/2022
- by Ryan Gajewski
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Update, with Beanie Feldstein statement: Funny Girl stars Beanie Feldstein and Jane Lynch will depart the productionl on September 25, producers announced today.
In a tweet, the show addressed the return of Feldstein following a week off after testing positive from Covid, then announces the September departure.
“Beanie returns tomorrow!,” the tweet says. “14 weeks left to see Beanie Feldstein & Jane Lynch now through September 25th. Stay tuned for additional casting news to join Ramin Karimloo & Jared Grimes and the company of Funny Girl.”
Feldstein subsequently posted a message on Instagram, writing, in part, “September 25th will be my last show as Fanny Brice in Funny Girl. I’ll never be able to find the words that could even begin to explain what the experience has been to me….I gave and will continue to give this show all of me. I am immensely proud to be a bagel on a plate full of onion rolls.
In a tweet, the show addressed the return of Feldstein following a week off after testing positive from Covid, then announces the September departure.
“Beanie returns tomorrow!,” the tweet says. “14 weeks left to see Beanie Feldstein & Jane Lynch now through September 25th. Stay tuned for additional casting news to join Ramin Karimloo & Jared Grimes and the company of Funny Girl.”
Feldstein subsequently posted a message on Instagram, writing, in part, “September 25th will be my last show as Fanny Brice in Funny Girl. I’ll never be able to find the words that could even begin to explain what the experience has been to me….I gave and will continue to give this show all of me. I am immensely proud to be a bagel on a plate full of onion rolls.
- 6/15/2022
- by Greg Evans
- Deadline Film + TV
Tony Awards nominations were announced on Monday, May 9 by Adrienne Warren and Joshua Henry. While the nominations for the 75th annual Tony Awards were determined by a few dozen theater professionals, winners were decided by upwards of 650 members of the Broadway community.
The Tonys take place June 12 at Radio City Music Hall hosted by newly minted Oscar winner Ariana DeBose. The 2022 Tony Awards winners list below includes all 26 competitive categories.
Musicals
Best Musical
“Girl From the North Country”
“Mj”
“Mr. Saturday Night”
“Paradise Square”
“Six”
X — “A Strange Loop”
Best Musical Revival
“Caroline, or Change”
X — “Company”
“The Music Man”
Best Actor (Musical)
Billy Crystal, “Mr. Saturday Night”
X — Myles Frost, “Mj”
Hugh Jackman, “The Music Man”
Rob McClure, “Mrs. Doubtfire”
Jaquel Spivey, “A Strange Loop”
Best Actress (Musical)
Sharon D Clarke, “Caroline, Or Change”
Carmen Cusack, “Flying Over Sunset”
Sutton Foster, “The Music Man”
X — Joaquina Kalukango, “Paradise Square”
Mare Winningham,...
The Tonys take place June 12 at Radio City Music Hall hosted by newly minted Oscar winner Ariana DeBose. The 2022 Tony Awards winners list below includes all 26 competitive categories.
Musicals
Best Musical
“Girl From the North Country”
“Mj”
“Mr. Saturday Night”
“Paradise Square”
“Six”
X — “A Strange Loop”
Best Musical Revival
“Caroline, or Change”
X — “Company”
“The Music Man”
Best Actor (Musical)
Billy Crystal, “Mr. Saturday Night”
X — Myles Frost, “Mj”
Hugh Jackman, “The Music Man”
Rob McClure, “Mrs. Doubtfire”
Jaquel Spivey, “A Strange Loop”
Best Actress (Musical)
Sharon D Clarke, “Caroline, Or Change”
Carmen Cusack, “Flying Over Sunset”
Sutton Foster, “The Music Man”
X — Joaquina Kalukango, “Paradise Square”
Mare Winningham,...
- 6/12/2022
- by David Buchanan
- Gold Derby
After an extraordinary season boasting 34 musicals, plays, and revivals, Broadway will toast its nominees and crown new winners at the upcoming 75th annual Tony Awards. If predicting the winners seems overwhelming with so many terrific contenders to choose between, check out our racetrack odds below for all 26 categories.
These official odds for the Tonys are derived from the predictions of our Experts who write about theatre year-round, our in-house team of Editors, the Top 24 Users who did the best predicting last year’s ceremony, the All-Star Top 24 Users who have the highest scores when you combine predictions from the last two years, and all our Users who make the up the largest and often savviest bloc of predictors.
On June 12, the Tonys begin with an hour-long special called “The Tony Awards: Act One” on Paramount+ hosted by Darren Criss and Julianne Hough — who are appearing on Broadway this season in “American Buffalo” and “Potus,...
These official odds for the Tonys are derived from the predictions of our Experts who write about theatre year-round, our in-house team of Editors, the Top 24 Users who did the best predicting last year’s ceremony, the All-Star Top 24 Users who have the highest scores when you combine predictions from the last two years, and all our Users who make the up the largest and often savviest bloc of predictors.
On June 12, the Tonys begin with an hour-long special called “The Tony Awards: Act One” on Paramount+ hosted by Darren Criss and Julianne Hough — who are appearing on Broadway this season in “American Buffalo” and “Potus,...
- 6/10/2022
- by David Buchanan
- Gold Derby
We are just days away from the 2022 Tony Awards on Sunday, June 12 and voters are making their final decisions on who will emerge victorious on Broadway’s biggest night. Before you lock in your final Tony predictions, be sure to catch up with every exclusive Gold Derby interview with this season’s nominees. I had the honor of talking with 21 Tony nominees this season, all of whom were eager to share their stories as Broadway roared back to life after a pandemic-induced intermission.
A whopping 13 of these artists are first time nominees, all of whom are about to have one of the most exciting nights of their life. Some of these first timers are veterans of the stage, like Jesse Tyler Ferguson (“Take Me Out”) or Ron Cephas Jones (“Clyde’s”), but have narrowly missed Tony recognition until now. Then there’s the queen of Off-Broadway, Deirdre O’Connell, who lip...
A whopping 13 of these artists are first time nominees, all of whom are about to have one of the most exciting nights of their life. Some of these first timers are veterans of the stage, like Jesse Tyler Ferguson (“Take Me Out”) or Ron Cephas Jones (“Clyde’s”), but have narrowly missed Tony recognition until now. Then there’s the queen of Off-Broadway, Deirdre O’Connell, who lip...
- 6/9/2022
- by Sam Eckmann
- Gold Derby
The countdown to the Tony Awards has a officially begun On June 12, the brightest stars of the 2021-22 season will shine even brighter as they gather at the iconic Radio City Music Hall to celebrate Broadway's biggest night. Leading up to the 75th Annual Tony Awards, BroadwayWorld is getting up close and personal with the nominees. Today we're studying up on Jared Grimes...
- 5/23/2022
- by BroadwayWorld TV
- BroadwayWorld.com
Ziegfeld Girls (Leslie Flesner and Afra Hines) warn Fanny Brice (Beanie Feldstein) about Nicky Arnstein (Ramin Karimloo) Photo: Matthew Murphy, 2022
Not only is Ramin Karimloo co-starring with Beanie Feldstein, Jared Grimes (Tony nominated for his Eddie Ryan), and Jane Lynch in the Broadway revival of Funny Girl, directed by Michael Mayer, with revisions by Harvey Fierstein, he has two movies coming out. Starring opposite Samantha Barks in Nick Winston’s Tomorrow Morning, screenplay by Laurence Mark Wythe and in Isaac Hirotsu Woofter’s Bound.
Ramin Karimloo with Anne-Katrin Titze: “When Michael offered me Nicky Arnstein in 2019, I had just finished singing with Barbra Streisand in London in Hyde Park.”
Ramin told me that Marlon Brando’s performance with Al Pacino and Robert De Niro in Francis Ford Coppola’s The Godfather, Antonio Banderas in Arne Glimcher’s The Mambo Kings, and Kathy Bates in anything mean a great deal to him.
Not only is Ramin Karimloo co-starring with Beanie Feldstein, Jared Grimes (Tony nominated for his Eddie Ryan), and Jane Lynch in the Broadway revival of Funny Girl, directed by Michael Mayer, with revisions by Harvey Fierstein, he has two movies coming out. Starring opposite Samantha Barks in Nick Winston’s Tomorrow Morning, screenplay by Laurence Mark Wythe and in Isaac Hirotsu Woofter’s Bound.
Ramin Karimloo with Anne-Katrin Titze: “When Michael offered me Nicky Arnstein in 2019, I had just finished singing with Barbra Streisand in London in Hyde Park.”
Ramin told me that Marlon Brando’s performance with Al Pacino and Robert De Niro in Francis Ford Coppola’s The Godfather, Antonio Banderas in Arne Glimcher’s The Mambo Kings, and Kathy Bates in anything mean a great deal to him.
- 5/12/2022
- by Anne-Katrin Titze
- eyeforfilm.co.uk
Some of the biggest names in film, television and the Broadway stage won’t be making the coveted pilgrimage to Radio City Music Hall this June when the 75th annual Tony Awards are handed out, as such high-profile performers as Daniel Craig, Sarah Jessica Parker, Matthew Broderick, Katrina Lenk, Beanie Feldstein, Jane Lynch and Patrick J. Adams were not among the nominations announced Monday morning.
And at least as surprising as the snubs was the strong showing of Paradise Square, a musical that received fairly mixed reviews and has been struggling at the box office since opening April 3. The musical, a comeback for producer Garth H. Drabinsky, scored 10 nominations (tying with Mj and second only to A Strange Loop). Among Paradise Square‘s are Best Musical, Joaquina Kalukango’s nom for Best Lead Actress/Musical, and A.J. Shively’s nom for Featured Actor/Musical.
Among the biggest surprises and take-aways...
And at least as surprising as the snubs was the strong showing of Paradise Square, a musical that received fairly mixed reviews and has been struggling at the box office since opening April 3. The musical, a comeback for producer Garth H. Drabinsky, scored 10 nominations (tying with Mj and second only to A Strange Loop). Among Paradise Square‘s are Best Musical, Joaquina Kalukango’s nom for Best Lead Actress/Musical, and A.J. Shively’s nom for Featured Actor/Musical.
Among the biggest surprises and take-aways...
- 5/9/2022
- by Greg Evans
- Deadline Film + TV
Updated with full list of nominees: Tony Awards nominations were announced Monday morning, and Strange Loop, Michael R. Jackson’s autobiographical musical starring Jaquel Spivey, took the most nominations with 11, while Mj, the Michael Jackson musical, and Paradise Square each earned 10. Company took nine, The Lehman Trilogy and Six garnered eight, and both for colored girls who have considered suicide/when the rainbow is enuf and Girl From the North Country took seven.
With six nominations were The Music Man and The Skin of Our Teeth, with Clyde’s, Hangmen and Mr. Saturday Night taking five.
At four nominations were American Buffalo, Flying Over Sunset, Take Me Out, and Trouble in Mind. With three nominations were Caroline, or Change, Dana H., How I Learned to Drive, Macbeth, Potus and Skeleton Crew. Taking single noms were Diana, The Musical, Funny Girl, Lackawanna Blues, The Minutes, Mrs. Doubtfire and Neil Simon’s Plaza Suite.
With six nominations were The Music Man and The Skin of Our Teeth, with Clyde’s, Hangmen and Mr. Saturday Night taking five.
At four nominations were American Buffalo, Flying Over Sunset, Take Me Out, and Trouble in Mind. With three nominations were Caroline, or Change, Dana H., How I Learned to Drive, Macbeth, Potus and Skeleton Crew. Taking single noms were Diana, The Musical, Funny Girl, Lackawanna Blues, The Minutes, Mrs. Doubtfire and Neil Simon’s Plaza Suite.
- 5/9/2022
- by Greg Evans
- Deadline Film + TV
The Tony Awards nominations were announced on Monday, May 9 by Adrienne Warren and Joshua Henry. The reveal of the roster of contenders was carried on the Tonys YouTube channel. While the nominations for the 75th annual Tony Awards were determined by a few dozen theater professionals, winners will be decided by upwards of 800 members of the Broadway community.
Thirty-four shows were eligible for consideration by the nominating committee. On the play side, there are a dozen original works and nine revivals in the running. Over on the musical side, nine new tuners are in contention as are four musical revivals. The cutoff date for eligibility was May 4.
The Tony Awards had been set for June 12 at Radio City Music Hall and will be hosted by newly minted Oscar winner Ariana DeBose.
The full and complete list below includes all 25 competitive categories at the 2022 Tony Awards.
Musicals
Best Musical
“Girl From...
Thirty-four shows were eligible for consideration by the nominating committee. On the play side, there are a dozen original works and nine revivals in the running. Over on the musical side, nine new tuners are in contention as are four musical revivals. The cutoff date for eligibility was May 4.
The Tony Awards had been set for June 12 at Radio City Music Hall and will be hosted by newly minted Oscar winner Ariana DeBose.
The full and complete list below includes all 25 competitive categories at the 2022 Tony Awards.
Musicals
Best Musical
“Girl From...
- 5/9/2022
- by Paul Sheehan
- Gold Derby
The Tony Awards Administration Committee met for the last time before Monday’s nomination announcements, making some final eligibility determinations for shows including the stars of American Buffalo, Hangmen and How I Learned To Drive, among others.
Among the rulings: American Buffalo actor Darren Criss will be considered eligible as a featured player in a play, apparently leaving co-stars Laurence Fishburne and Sam Rockwell to the lead category.
For Hangmen, which features a large ensemble of actors with Alfie Allen in the central role of a possible killer, co-star David Threlfall, who plays one of the executioners of the title, will be eligible in the leading actor/play category. Both Allen and Threlfall received excellent reviews.
The committee also determined that How I Learned to Drive, which had previously been staged Off Broadway in 1997, will be eligible in the Best Revival of a Play category, despite not having played on...
Among the rulings: American Buffalo actor Darren Criss will be considered eligible as a featured player in a play, apparently leaving co-stars Laurence Fishburne and Sam Rockwell to the lead category.
For Hangmen, which features a large ensemble of actors with Alfie Allen in the central role of a possible killer, co-star David Threlfall, who plays one of the executioners of the title, will be eligible in the leading actor/play category. Both Allen and Threlfall received excellent reviews.
The committee also determined that How I Learned to Drive, which had previously been staged Off Broadway in 1997, will be eligible in the Best Revival of a Play category, despite not having played on...
- 5/5/2022
- by Greg Evans
- Deadline Film + TV
The Tony Awards Administration Committee met for the third and final time during the 2021-2022 Broadway season to discuss eligibility of 15 productions for the upcoming 75th Annual Tony Awards, airing June 12, 2022. The Tony Awards are presented by The Broadway League and the American Theatre Wing. Scroll down for the 2022 Tony Awards eligibility rulings (round 3).
The 75th Annual Tony Awards, hosted by Ariana DeBose, will broadcast live coast to coast for the first time ever on Sunday, June 12 starting at 7:00 – 8:00 Pm Et/4:00 – 5:00 Pm Pt with exclusive content streaming only on Paramount+. Following that is the live CBS (also Paramount+) presentation of the American Theatre Wing’s 75th Annual Tony Awards from 8:00-11:00 Pm Et/5:00 – 8:00 Pm Pt. Tony nominations will be announced on Monday, May 9.
See Tony Awards eligibility rulings (round 1): ‘Six’ wives, ‘Lehman Trilogy’ men are all leads
The productions discussed on Thursday were: “Plaza Suite,...
The 75th Annual Tony Awards, hosted by Ariana DeBose, will broadcast live coast to coast for the first time ever on Sunday, June 12 starting at 7:00 – 8:00 Pm Et/4:00 – 5:00 Pm Pt with exclusive content streaming only on Paramount+. Following that is the live CBS (also Paramount+) presentation of the American Theatre Wing’s 75th Annual Tony Awards from 8:00-11:00 Pm Et/5:00 – 8:00 Pm Pt. Tony nominations will be announced on Monday, May 9.
See Tony Awards eligibility rulings (round 1): ‘Six’ wives, ‘Lehman Trilogy’ men are all leads
The productions discussed on Thursday were: “Plaza Suite,...
- 5/5/2022
- by Sam Eckmann
- Gold Derby
“I’m out there free and just willing to surrender to the music,” reveals Jared Grimes. The performer is currently making a splash as Eddie Ryan in the first-ever Broadway revival of “Funny Girl.” It’s a role that allows the skilled tap dancer to showcase his mesmerizing footwork. Whether he is tapping solo or sharing the stage with legendary stars, it’s an experience which Grimes has long been prepared for. Watch the exclusive video interview above.
See Ramin Karimloo interview: ‘Funny Girl’
When asked why he gravitated towards tap when he was young, Grimes jokingly responds: “it was loud!” He initially tried playing the drums as his musical outlet since that is what the “cool kids” at church were doing. But when he failed to connect to a drum kit, his mother got him a pair of tap shoes. “There’s a freedom that those shoes allow you,...
See Ramin Karimloo interview: ‘Funny Girl’
When asked why he gravitated towards tap when he was young, Grimes jokingly responds: “it was loud!” He initially tried playing the drums as his musical outlet since that is what the “cool kids” at church were doing. But when he failed to connect to a drum kit, his mother got him a pair of tap shoes. “There’s a freedom that those shoes allow you,...
- 5/4/2022
- by Sam Eckmann
- Gold Derby
Ramin Karimloo, the male lead of Broadway’s Funny Girl, will be out of the show temporarily after testing positive for Covid just four days after the musical revival’s opening night.
Karimloo, who plays Nick Arnstein to Beanie Feldstein’s Fanny Brice, posted the news on his Instagram page today. Next to a photo of the Manhattan skyline taken from a balcony window, Karimloo wrote, “Hey Folks. My view for the next ten days or thereabouts. So… I’ve tested positive for the Rona. I’m feeling fine other than completely bummed to not be able to perform. Per the Broadway protocol, I have to be out of the show for 10 days. See you at Arnstein’s soon. Until then, it’s not a bad view ;)”
Funny Girl opened Sunday, April 24, and has been performing to packed houses at the August Wilson Theatre. In addition to Karimloo and Feldstein,...
Karimloo, who plays Nick Arnstein to Beanie Feldstein’s Fanny Brice, posted the news on his Instagram page today. Next to a photo of the Manhattan skyline taken from a balcony window, Karimloo wrote, “Hey Folks. My view for the next ten days or thereabouts. So… I’ve tested positive for the Rona. I’m feeling fine other than completely bummed to not be able to perform. Per the Broadway protocol, I have to be out of the show for 10 days. See you at Arnstein’s soon. Until then, it’s not a bad view ;)”
Funny Girl opened Sunday, April 24, and has been performing to packed houses at the August Wilson Theatre. In addition to Karimloo and Feldstein,...
- 4/28/2022
- by Greg Evans
- Deadline Film + TV
Peter Francis James (Florenz Ziegfeld), Jane Lynch (Mrs. Rosie Brice), Jared Grimes (Eddie Ryan), Beanie Feldstein (Fanny Brice), Ephie Aardema (Emma), Debra Cardona (Mrs. Meeker), Martin Moran (Tom Keeney), Toni Dibuono (Mrs. Strakosh) and the cast of Funny Girl Photo: Matthew Murphy, 2022
When I spoke with Tony winner Michael Mayer in December on his Netflix holiday season hit, Single All The Way, we discussed that he was going to be directing the very first Broadway revival of Funny Girl with Beanie Feldstein in the Barbra Streisand role as Fanny Brice and Ramin Karimloo taking on Nicky Arnstein, played by Omar Sharif in the film.
Michael Mayer with Anne-Katrin Titze (in Batsheva) on Funny Girl: “It’s really the Fanny Brice story, not the Barbra Streisand story.”
The musical features music by Jule Styne, lyrics by Bob Merrill, and the book by Isobel Lennart with revisions by Harvey Fierstein and costumes by Susan Hilferty.
When I spoke with Tony winner Michael Mayer in December on his Netflix holiday season hit, Single All The Way, we discussed that he was going to be directing the very first Broadway revival of Funny Girl with Beanie Feldstein in the Barbra Streisand role as Fanny Brice and Ramin Karimloo taking on Nicky Arnstein, played by Omar Sharif in the film.
Michael Mayer with Anne-Katrin Titze (in Batsheva) on Funny Girl: “It’s really the Fanny Brice story, not the Barbra Streisand story.”
The musical features music by Jule Styne, lyrics by Bob Merrill, and the book by Isobel Lennart with revisions by Harvey Fierstein and costumes by Susan Hilferty.
- 4/27/2022
- by Anne-Katrin Titze
- eyeforfilm.co.uk
For all those people who have been dying to hear the music that makes you dance once again on a Broadway stage, “Funny Girl” has finally returned after a 58-year absence. Beanie Feldstein steps into the role of performer Fanny Brice, which made Barbra Streisand a sensation decades ago. Ramin Karimloo is her gambling love interest Nicky Arnstein, and Jane Lynch her mother. Boasting a classic score by Jule Styne and Bob Merrill, this production features Harvey Fierstein’s revisions to Isobel Lennart’s original book, and Michael Mayer‘s direction. “Funny Girl” opened at the August Wilson Theatre on April 24.
With such high expectations for the long-awaited return of this musical theatre favorite, it would have been hard for any production to hit the mark, and most critics think this “Funny Girl” missed. In one of the positive notices, Mark Kennedy (Associated Press) calls Feldstein’s interpretation of Brice “earthy,...
With such high expectations for the long-awaited return of this musical theatre favorite, it would have been hard for any production to hit the mark, and most critics think this “Funny Girl” missed. In one of the positive notices, Mark Kennedy (Associated Press) calls Feldstein’s interpretation of Brice “earthy,...
- 4/27/2022
- by David Buchanan
- Gold Derby
Smartly sidestepping the obvious comparison from the start – the line-reading of “Hello gorgeous” sounds more conversational, less sing-songy than the one etched in our brains for all these decades – Broadway’s new Funny Girl revival doesn’t so much make a grand play for replacement as a peaceful offering for coexistence: The show that made Barbra Streisand a musical theater icon likely won’t do the same for its latest star, but neither is it cause for grumbling how-dare-shes.
Opening tonight at the August Wilson Theatre, Beanie Feldstein is, it turns out, a perfectly fine choice for this Funny Girl, which is not to say she’s perfect, but rather that she’s on equal footing with a just-above-average musical that has always been dominated by several excellent songs and a legendary breakout performance that lifted the show – and its plodding 1968 movie adaptation – well beyond the sum of its parts.
Opening tonight at the August Wilson Theatre, Beanie Feldstein is, it turns out, a perfectly fine choice for this Funny Girl, which is not to say she’s perfect, but rather that she’s on equal footing with a just-above-average musical that has always been dominated by several excellent songs and a legendary breakout performance that lifted the show – and its plodding 1968 movie adaptation – well beyond the sum of its parts.
- 4/25/2022
- by Greg Evans
- Deadline Film + TV
Funny Girl opens tonight, Sunday, April 24 at the August Wilson Theatre 245 West 52nd Street. Produced by Sonia Friedman, Scott Landis and David Babani, Funny Girl stars Screen Actors Guild Award nominee Beanie Feldstein as Fanny Brice, Tony and Olivier Award nominee Ramin Karimloo as Nick Arnstein, Jeff Award winner Jared Grimes as Eddie Ryan and five-time Emmy Award winner Jane Lynch as Mrs. Rose Brice.
- 4/25/2022
- by Review Roundups
- BroadwayWorld.com
Margaret Styne, the widow of Broadway composer Jule Styne who oversaw an estate and legacy that includes the much anticipated upcoming revival of Funny Girl, has died.
A longtime presence in the Broadway community, her death was announced by Jule Styne, Inc. in a Facebook post Feb. 15 that was more widely shared in a tweet today by Funny Girl producers Sonia Friedman, Scott Landis and David Babani and director Michael Mayer. Their revival of the classic musical, starring Beanie Feldstein, Jane Lynch, Ramin Karimloo and Jared Grimes, begins previews March 26 at the August Wilson Theatre, with opening night set for April 24.
Additional details regarding Styne’s death were not made public in keeping with her wishes.
“Over the years, Margaret Styne has always been a passionate advocate, supporter, and colleague to all of us working on Funny Girl,” said the producers and director in a joint statement posted on social media.
A longtime presence in the Broadway community, her death was announced by Jule Styne, Inc. in a Facebook post Feb. 15 that was more widely shared in a tweet today by Funny Girl producers Sonia Friedman, Scott Landis and David Babani and director Michael Mayer. Their revival of the classic musical, starring Beanie Feldstein, Jane Lynch, Ramin Karimloo and Jared Grimes, begins previews March 26 at the August Wilson Theatre, with opening night set for April 24.
Additional details regarding Styne’s death were not made public in keeping with her wishes.
“Over the years, Margaret Styne has always been a passionate advocate, supporter, and colleague to all of us working on Funny Girl,” said the producers and director in a joint statement posted on social media.
- 2/18/2022
- by Greg Evans
- Deadline Film + TV
Covid has caused a lot of uncertainty around Broadway. Several shows have had to suspend performances, go on hiatus, or close permanently. And the American Theatre Wing hasn’t announced key dates for this year’s Tony Awards yet. Though with that being said, we are now about halfway through the Broadway season, and there are six productions of musicals set to open this spring. Could we see any of them contend at the next Tonys? Below is a look at the plot of each musical as well as the awards history of their authors, casts, and directors, plus the opening and (where applicable) closing dates.
See‘Mj The Musical’ reviews: Myles Frost ‘mesmerizing’ as Michael Jackson, but musical is ‘surface-skimming’
“Mj the Musical”
This jukebox musical follows the life and career of singer Michael Jackson. Centered around the making of his 1992 Dangerous World Tour, the show offers a rare...
See‘Mj The Musical’ reviews: Myles Frost ‘mesmerizing’ as Michael Jackson, but musical is ‘surface-skimming’
“Mj the Musical”
This jukebox musical follows the life and career of singer Michael Jackson. Centered around the making of his 1992 Dangerous World Tour, the show offers a rare...
- 2/11/2022
- by Jeffrey Kare
- Gold Derby
Broadway’s upcoming revival of Funny Girl, starring Beanie Feldstein, Jane Lynch, Ramin Karimloo and Jared Grimes has completed casting, with Peter Francis James, Ephie Aardema, Debra Cardon and Toni Dibuono among those joining the cast.
The complete casting was announced today by producers Sonia Friedman, Scott Landis and David Babani. The complete creative team also was announced, including Susan Hilferty as costume designer, Kevin Adams as lighting designer and Brian Ronan as sound designer.
Rehearsals for the musical are expected to begin today, with previews set to start Saturday, March 26, at Broadway’s August Wilson Theatre, with an official opening on Sunday, April 24.
The Jule Styne/Bob Merrill/Isobel Lennart musical, directed by Michael Mayer will star the previously announced Feldstein as Fanny Brice, Karimloo as Nick Arnstein, Lynch as Mrs. Rosie Brice and Grimes as Eddie Ryan.
The newly announced cast includes Peter Francis James (Hillary and Clinton) as Florenz Ziegfeld,...
The complete casting was announced today by producers Sonia Friedman, Scott Landis and David Babani. The complete creative team also was announced, including Susan Hilferty as costume designer, Kevin Adams as lighting designer and Brian Ronan as sound designer.
Rehearsals for the musical are expected to begin today, with previews set to start Saturday, March 26, at Broadway’s August Wilson Theatre, with an official opening on Sunday, April 24.
The Jule Styne/Bob Merrill/Isobel Lennart musical, directed by Michael Mayer will star the previously announced Feldstein as Fanny Brice, Karimloo as Nick Arnstein, Lynch as Mrs. Rosie Brice and Grimes as Eddie Ryan.
The newly announced cast includes Peter Francis James (Hillary and Clinton) as Florenz Ziegfeld,...
- 2/7/2022
- by Greg Evans
- Deadline Film + TV
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