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Funny GirlOpening Date: Aug 7, 2017
Closing Date: Aug 19, 2017 (dates reflect Manchester Palace Theatre run) Air date: Oct 24, 2018 Medium: cinema Where to watch: BroadwayHD, Digital Theatre |
Stage Production Notes
With music by Jule Styne, lyrics by Bob Merrill, and a book by Isobel Lennart, Funny Girl is a biographical musical about Broadway star Fanny Brice. The musical focuses on Brice’s rise to fame, and her tumultuous relationship with Nicky Arnstein.
Funny Girl had a tumultuous out-of-town try-out in Boston and Philadelphia. By the time the musical reached New York, it had been through three different directors, including Jerome Robbins, Bob Fosse, and finally novelist and script writer Garson Kanin. Producer David Merrick also left during the try-outs, with Ray Stark stepping in and causing some of the directorial drama.
Fanny Brice was played by a young Barbra Streisand, who had recently appeared in her first Broadway show I Can Get it For You Wholesale.
Funny Girl opened on Broadway at the Winter Garden Theatre on March 26, 1964. While Streisand received glowing reviews, the critics lamented the show’s sentimentality and laggy second act.
Despite the lukewarm reviews, Funny Girl was nominated for 8 Tony Awards and ran for over three years. During its 1348 performances, Funny Girl transferred to the Majestic Theatre and Broadway Theatre before closing on July 1, 1967.
The musical transferred to the West End, opening at the Prince of Wales Theatre on April 13, 1966 for a limited engagement. Barbra Streisand, Kay Medford, and Michael Craig reprised their Broadway roles.
Columbia Pictures released a film version of Funny Girl in 1968, directed by William Wyler and once again starring Streisand, with Kay Medford playing her mother. Omar Sharif was cast as Nicky Arnstein
Debbie Gibson starred in a brief North American tour in 1996.
Funny Girl was performed on Broadway for a special one-night-only benefit concert for the Actor’s Fund at the New Amsterdam Theatre in 2002. Under the artistic vision and musical direction of Seth Rudetsky, the concert featured multiple Fanny Brice’s, played by Broadway’s leading ladies, including Carolee Carmello, Kristin Chenoweth, Sutton Foster, Ana Gastayer, Jane Krakowski, Judy Kuhn, LaChanze, Ricki Lake, Andrea Martin, Idina Menzel, Julia Murney, Bebe Neuwirth, Alice Playten, and Lilias White.
A production of Funny Girl was staged at the Chichester Festival Theatre in 2008. Directed by Angus Jackson and choreographed by Stephen Mear, the production featured Samantha Spiro in the lead role.
In 2015 the Menier Chocolate Factory staged a new production of the musical with a revised book by Harvey Fierstein, and starring English actor Sheridan Smith. The production sold out within 24 hours of going on sale, becoming the fastest-selling show in the Menier Chocolate Factory’s 12 year history.
While critics agreed that the show felt constrained in the small Menier theatre, and that the book faltered in the second act, they were divided as to Sheridan Smith’s ability to make the role her own and step out of Barbra Streisand’s shadow.
Ultimately, the critics praised the production with The Stage’s Paul Vale stating that there was “much to commend [in] Michael Mayer’s production,” and The Guardian’s Susannah Clap concluding that in the production “American kookiness becomes English comedy.”
The Menier Chocolate Factory production transferred to the West End, opening at the Savoy Theatre on April 9, 2016.
The transfer received rave reviews. Theatre critic Mark Shenton noted that the production had “much more room to breathe” in a larger space and enthused that Sheridan Smith gave “the best female performance to be seen in the West End since Imelda Staunton’s triumphant Oliver-winning performance as Momma Rose…”
Reviewers were overwhelmingly charmed by Sheridan Smith, and also by the solid performances of her supporting cast.
About a month into the run, Sheridan Smith took a leave of absence from the production due to stress and fatigue. Natasha Barnes stepped into the role of Fanny Brice during Smith’s leave.
The production toured the United Kingdom and Ireland in 2017 with Sheridan Smith in the lead role for much of the tour.
With music by Jule Styne, lyrics by Bob Merrill, and a book by Isobel Lennart, Funny Girl is a biographical musical about Broadway star Fanny Brice. The musical focuses on Brice’s rise to fame, and her tumultuous relationship with Nicky Arnstein.
Funny Girl had a tumultuous out-of-town try-out in Boston and Philadelphia. By the time the musical reached New York, it had been through three different directors, including Jerome Robbins, Bob Fosse, and finally novelist and script writer Garson Kanin. Producer David Merrick also left during the try-outs, with Ray Stark stepping in and causing some of the directorial drama.
Fanny Brice was played by a young Barbra Streisand, who had recently appeared in her first Broadway show I Can Get it For You Wholesale.
Funny Girl opened on Broadway at the Winter Garden Theatre on March 26, 1964. While Streisand received glowing reviews, the critics lamented the show’s sentimentality and laggy second act.
Despite the lukewarm reviews, Funny Girl was nominated for 8 Tony Awards and ran for over three years. During its 1348 performances, Funny Girl transferred to the Majestic Theatre and Broadway Theatre before closing on July 1, 1967.
The musical transferred to the West End, opening at the Prince of Wales Theatre on April 13, 1966 for a limited engagement. Barbra Streisand, Kay Medford, and Michael Craig reprised their Broadway roles.
Columbia Pictures released a film version of Funny Girl in 1968, directed by William Wyler and once again starring Streisand, with Kay Medford playing her mother. Omar Sharif was cast as Nicky Arnstein
Debbie Gibson starred in a brief North American tour in 1996.
Funny Girl was performed on Broadway for a special one-night-only benefit concert for the Actor’s Fund at the New Amsterdam Theatre in 2002. Under the artistic vision and musical direction of Seth Rudetsky, the concert featured multiple Fanny Brice’s, played by Broadway’s leading ladies, including Carolee Carmello, Kristin Chenoweth, Sutton Foster, Ana Gastayer, Jane Krakowski, Judy Kuhn, LaChanze, Ricki Lake, Andrea Martin, Idina Menzel, Julia Murney, Bebe Neuwirth, Alice Playten, and Lilias White.
A production of Funny Girl was staged at the Chichester Festival Theatre in 2008. Directed by Angus Jackson and choreographed by Stephen Mear, the production featured Samantha Spiro in the lead role.
In 2015 the Menier Chocolate Factory staged a new production of the musical with a revised book by Harvey Fierstein, and starring English actor Sheridan Smith. The production sold out within 24 hours of going on sale, becoming the fastest-selling show in the Menier Chocolate Factory’s 12 year history.
While critics agreed that the show felt constrained in the small Menier theatre, and that the book faltered in the second act, they were divided as to Sheridan Smith’s ability to make the role her own and step out of Barbra Streisand’s shadow.
Ultimately, the critics praised the production with The Stage’s Paul Vale stating that there was “much to commend [in] Michael Mayer’s production,” and The Guardian’s Susannah Clap concluding that in the production “American kookiness becomes English comedy.”
The Menier Chocolate Factory production transferred to the West End, opening at the Savoy Theatre on April 9, 2016.
The transfer received rave reviews. Theatre critic Mark Shenton noted that the production had “much more room to breathe” in a larger space and enthused that Sheridan Smith gave “the best female performance to be seen in the West End since Imelda Staunton’s triumphant Oliver-winning performance as Momma Rose…”
Reviewers were overwhelmingly charmed by Sheridan Smith, and also by the solid performances of her supporting cast.
About a month into the run, Sheridan Smith took a leave of absence from the production due to stress and fatigue. Natasha Barnes stepped into the role of Fanny Brice during Smith’s leave.
The production toured the United Kingdom and Ireland in 2017 with Sheridan Smith in the lead role for much of the tour.
Filmed Production Notes
The Menier Chocolate Factory production of Funny Girl was captured by Digital Theatre during its final week at the Manchester Palace Theatre.
Funny Girl was screened in select cinemas around the globe on October 24, 2018.
Funny Girl is currently available to view on Digital Theatre and BroadwayHD.
The Menier Chocolate Factory production of Funny Girl was captured by Digital Theatre during its final week at the Manchester Palace Theatre.
Funny Girl was screened in select cinemas around the globe on October 24, 2018.
Funny Girl is currently available to view on Digital Theatre and BroadwayHD.
Funny Girl PRODUCTION CREDITS
Theatre: Manchester Palace Theatre
Producer: Digital Theatre, Sky Arts, Trafalgar Releasing, Sonia Friedman Productions, Scott Landis Productions, Chocolate Factory Productions
Book: Isobel Lennart
Revised Book: Harvey Fierstein
Music: Jule Styne
Lyrics: Bob Merrill
Director: Michael Mayer, Film: Robert Delamere
Musical Director: Theo Jamieson
Orchestrations: Chris Walker
Musical Arrangements: Alan Williams
Choreography: Lynne Page
Scenic Design: Michael Pavelka
Costume Design: Matthew Wright
Lighting Design: Mark Henderson
Sound Design: Richard Brooker
Hair, Wig, and Make-Up Design: Campbell Young Associates
Cast:
Sheridan Smith (Fanny Brice), Darius Campbell (Nick Arnstein) Nigel Barber (Florenz Ziegfeld), Zoë Ann Bown (Mrs. Meeker), Martin Callaghan (Mr. Keeney), Jennifer Harding (Emma), Rachel Izen (Mrs. Brice), Joshua Lay (Eddie), Myra Sands (Mrs. Strakosh), Ensemble: Rhianne Alleyne, Kit Benjamin, Lloyd Davies, Flora Dawson, Joseph Dockree, Abigayle Honeywill, Brontë Lavine, David Mcintosh, Peter Nash, Gillian Parkhouse, Tom Partridge, Nova Skipp, Alexandra Waite-Roberts, Sam Wingfield, Alexandra Wright.
Theatre: Manchester Palace Theatre
Producer: Digital Theatre, Sky Arts, Trafalgar Releasing, Sonia Friedman Productions, Scott Landis Productions, Chocolate Factory Productions
Book: Isobel Lennart
Revised Book: Harvey Fierstein
Music: Jule Styne
Lyrics: Bob Merrill
Director: Michael Mayer, Film: Robert Delamere
Musical Director: Theo Jamieson
Orchestrations: Chris Walker
Musical Arrangements: Alan Williams
Choreography: Lynne Page
Scenic Design: Michael Pavelka
Costume Design: Matthew Wright
Lighting Design: Mark Henderson
Sound Design: Richard Brooker
Hair, Wig, and Make-Up Design: Campbell Young Associates
Cast:
Sheridan Smith (Fanny Brice), Darius Campbell (Nick Arnstein) Nigel Barber (Florenz Ziegfeld), Zoë Ann Bown (Mrs. Meeker), Martin Callaghan (Mr. Keeney), Jennifer Harding (Emma), Rachel Izen (Mrs. Brice), Joshua Lay (Eddie), Myra Sands (Mrs. Strakosh), Ensemble: Rhianne Alleyne, Kit Benjamin, Lloyd Davies, Flora Dawson, Joseph Dockree, Abigayle Honeywill, Brontë Lavine, David Mcintosh, Peter Nash, Gillian Parkhouse, Tom Partridge, Nova Skipp, Alexandra Waite-Roberts, Sam Wingfield, Alexandra Wright.
Sources
Books
Articles
Websites
- Dan Dietz, The Complete Book of 1960s Broadway Musicals, Rowman & Littlefield (2014)
- Ethan Mordden, Open a New Window: The Broadway Musical in the 1960s, St Martin’s Press (2001)
Articles
- Ben Brantley, “Review: In ‘Funny Girl,’ Sheridan Smith Does the Heavy Lifting,” New York Times (Feb 15, 2016)
- Susannah Clapp, “Funny Girl review – Sheridan Smith makes Streisand’s role her own,” The Guardian (Dec 6, 2015)
- Hannah Ellis-Petersen, “Sheridan Smith pulls out of Funny Girl for up to a month because of stress,” The Guardian (May 12, 2016)
- Andy Lefkowitz, “Funny Girl, Starring Sheridan Smith, to Appear in Cinemas Across the U.K.,” Broadway.com (July 31, 2018)
- Catherine Love, “Funny Girl review – Sheridan Smith returns with passion, pain and steel,” The Guardian (Feb 23, 2017)
- Ryan McPhee, “London's Funny Girl, Starring Sheridan Smith, Will Screen in Movie Theatres Worldwide,” Playbill (Sept 14, 2018)
- Giverny Masso, “Funny Girl starring Sheridan Smith to be broadcast in cinemas” The Stage (July 31, 2018)
- Douglas Mayo, “REVIEW: Funny Girl, Savoy Theatre,” British Theatre (April 20, 2016)
- Fiona Mountford, “Funny Girl, theatre review: Triumphant reinvention is full of heart,” Evening Standard (April 21, 2016)
- Michael Portantiere, “Reviews: Funny Girl” TheaterMania (Sept 24, 2002)
- Mark Shenton, “Sheridan Smith triumphs in Funny Girl – review at the Savoy Theatre, London,” The Stage (April 20, 2016)
- Jane Shilling, “Surrender to Sheridan Smith's funny girl,” The Telegraph (April 21, 2016)
- Paul Taylor, “Funny Girl, Menier Chocolate Factory, London, review: Sheridan Smith excels in Barbra Streisand's iconic role,” The Independent (Dec 3, 2015)
- The Actors Fund, “Curtain Call: Funny Girl 2002 — Lilias White Performs “Don’t Rain on My Parade”” The Actors Fund Blog (Oct 13, 2011)
- Matt Trueman, “London Theater Review: Sheridan Smith in ‘Funny Girl’” Variety (Dec 3, 2015)
- Paul Vale, “Funny Girl review at the Menier Chocolate Factory, London – ‘Sheridan Smith succeeds’” The Stage (Dec 3, 2015)
Websites
- IBDb, “Funny Girl,” Accessed via: https://www.ibdb.com/broadway-show/funny-girl-3750
- Funny Girl: The Musical, Accessed via: https://www.funnygirlincinemas.com/
- Trafalgar Releasing, “Funny Girl Starring Sheridan Smith to be screened in cinemas across the UK on 24 October,” Accessed via: https://www.trafalgar-releasing.com/news/funny-girl-starring-sheridan-smith-to-be-screened-in-cinemas-across-the-uk-on-24-october/
- UK Theatre Web, “Funny Girl,” Accessed via: https://www.uktw.co.uk/archive/musical/funny-girl/S01146763220/
Written by Luisa Lyons (October, 2018, updated June 2020)