It's official: Lea Michele will soon star in "Funny Girl" on Broadway.
The "Glee" actress is set to follow Beanie Feldstein in the first Broadway revival of the beloved musical, which centers on the legendary Jewish vaudeville star Fanny Brice. Feldstein will depart the production at the August Wilson Theatre on July 31, two months earlier than previously announced. Fanny Brice standby Julie Benko will play the titular role from Aug. 2-Sept. 4 as well as on Thursdays beginning Sept. 8. Michele will assume the role on Sept. 6, alongside Tovah Feldshuh as Mrs. Brice, Ramin Karimloo as Nick Arnstein and Jared Grimes as Eddie Ryan.
With music by Jule Styne and lyrics by Bob Merrill, "Funny Girl" loosely follows the life and career of stage and screen comedian Brice, and her tumultuous relationship with her gambling businessman husband, Nick Arnstein. This Broadway production, directed by Michael Mayer, features a revision of Isobel Lennart's book by Harvey Fierstein; Mayer and Fierstein previously teamed for a hit London revival of the musical, starring Sheridan Smith.
