Funny Girl at Buell Theatre

Starring one of the most iconic scores out there by Jule Styne and Bob Merrill, an updated book from playwright Harvey Fierstein based on the timeless classic by Isobel Lennart, stunning tap choreography by Ayodele Casel, choreography by the undeniably talented Ellenore Scott, and direction from visionary Michael Mayer, this love letter to the theater is the full monty!

The amazing Broadway revival sparkles with beloved classic songs, including “Don’t Rain On My Parade,” “I’m the Greatest Star,” and “People.” This bittersweet musical comedy is the tale of the invincible Fanny Brice, a girl from the Lower East Side who always dreamed of a life on the big stage. Everyone told her she’d never make it, but then something funny occurred—she became one of the most cherished performers in the history of comedy, beaming brighter than the brightest lights of Broadway!

Funny Girl Tickets

“Funny Girl is the exact musical that we need right now” – Collider

Synopsis

Funny Girl tells the true life story of Fanny Brice, who was a showgirl in Florenz Ziegfeld’s Ziegfeld Follies revue. The tale takes place long after the height of her fame, when Fanny Brice is awaiting the arrival of her husband (Nicky Arnstein), from jail. Through a string of flashbacks, Fanny Brice recounts her life up to that specific point, starting with how she had dreamed of being a star as a teenager, but her mother dispirited her from show business because she thought she wasn’t conventionally attractive. Ultimately, she gets a job in vaudeville and then in the Follies, becoming a smash hit when she turns a classical, romantic piece into a comedy routine.

Fanny Brice meets Nicky Arnstein at the afterparty after her debut Follies performance, and the pair instantly fall in love and marry. But, Nicky Arnstein’s shady past as a gambler comes creeping in. Even though Fanny Brice determines not to let it impact their love, their relationship hits the rocks when she gets involved in his wrongdoings.

“Vivacious and delightfully glitzy” – Vogue

Creative team

The original Funny Girl musical boasts music by Jule Styne and lyrics by Bob Merrill. The original book is by the visionary Isobel Lennart, but the 2022 Broadway show contains a revised book by Tony-winning actor and playwright Harvey Fierstein. In fact, Harvey Fierstein’s book was first seen in London, when the musical was revived in the West End in 2016.

The cast includes KATERINA McCRIMMON, known and loved for her roles in The Rose Tattoo, The Light in the Piazza, and Ride the Cyclone, takes on the lead role of Fanny Brice. Meanwhile, other cast members include the likes of STEPHEN MARK LUKAS (Nicky Arnstein), MELISSA MANCHESTER (Mrs.Brice), IZAIAH MONTAQUE HARRIS (Eddie Ryan), WALTER COPPAGE (Florenz Ziegfeld), LEAH PLATT (Emma/Mrs. Nadler, u/s Fanny, u/s Meeker), CHRISTINE BUNUAN (Mrs. Meeker, u/s Mrs. Strakosh, u/s Mrs. Brice), and DAVID FOLEY, JR. (Tom Keeney) – just to name a few!

“Bravo! Nothing short of thrilling” – New York Sun

History and awards

Funny Girl opened up on Broadway on the 26th March 1964 at the Winter Garden Theatre. The musical jumped to the Majestic Theatre and later the Broadway Theatre during its 1,348-performance run, closing on the 1st July 1967 after three successful years. Garson Kanin was in charge of direction, while Carol Haney choreographed under the supervision of Oscar-winning director/choreographer Jerome Robbins. 

In 1968, after the Broadway production was met with critical acclaim, Funny Girl was adapted into a popular movie. Barbra Streisand reclaimed her lead role as Fanny Brice, and Omar Sharif starred as Nicky Arnstein. Kay Medford, who starred as Mrs. Rose Brice on Broadway, also reprised her role for the movie. Fun fact: the Funny Girl movie was the highest-grossing movie of 1968 in the States and received an impressive eight Academy Award nominations, including Best Picture and a nomination for Kay Medford. Unsurprisingly, Barbra Streisand took home Best Actress for her performance as Fanny Brice. The movie has now been inducted into the National Film Registry and secured a Writers Guild of America Award for Best Written American Musical. The sequel, titled Funny Lady, was released in 1975 and starred Streisand again as an older Fanny Brice married to impresario Billy Rose. 

Fast forward to 2004 and the cast album was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame. London’s West End revival in 2016 snagged the Whatsonstage.com Award for Best Musical Revival, alongside a Olivier nomination in the same category and a number of awards nominations for the performance of chief actress Sheridan Smith.

“Sparkling and explosively entertaining” – The Observer