Lea Michele is Broadway’s next Funny Girl. Replacing Beanie Feldstein in the coveted role of Fanny Brice, as was predicted or at least widely suspected. Jane Lynch will quit the production, and Tovah Feldshuh will step into the role of Mrs. Brice.
Will Beanie Feldstein replace Lea Michele?
The cast of Funny Girl will be joined by Lea Michele, best known for her work on Glee and Spring Awakening on Broadway, and Feldshuh (Yentl, Crazy Ex-Girlfriend), starting on September 6 at the August Wilson Theatre. Both Tony nominee Jared Grimes and Ramin Karimloo will continue to play Eddie Ryan and Nick Arnstein, respectively. Casting was revealed today by the producers.
What was posted by Lea Michele on Instagram?
A dream realised is putting it mildly, Lea Michele posted on Instagram. “I feel beyond blessed to be a part of this incredible cast and production and to make my Broadway stage debut as Fanny Brice. On September 6th, see you. (See below to watch Lea Michele perform “People” by Funny Girl on Glee.) . Julie Benko, Feldstein’s replacement, will play the lead part on Thursdays starting September 8 and from Tuesday, August 2, through Sunday, September 4, respectively.
Beanie Feldstein was supposed to depart at the end of September
Lynch will continue to play Mrs. Brice through September 4, leaving her role earlier than anticipated. She was initially scheduled to leave at the end of September, but she will now depart with Feldstein, leaving no time for her old Glee co-star Michele to appear. Feldstein unexpectedly announced last night that she would be departing the show on July 31, which was two months earlier than her anticipated departure date of September 25 – which was also earlier than the end-of-the-year date was anticipated. Recently, Feldstein has missed quite a few concerts, at least in part because of Covid. Feldstein said she made the decision to quit at the end of July after “the production opted to take the programme in a different path” in a post on Instagram yesterday night. The new direction was not further explained by her, and the producers have not made any comments.