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Post by BurlyBeaR on Jun 11, 2018 17:45:50 GMT
Why hasn’t Funny Girl had a Broadway run since the Babs version in 1964? (Yes I did indeed have to google that).
You would imagine that the success of the recent Menier Transfer and tour would be enough to convince producers that if there is a demand for this in the UK there must be a hunger for it in NYC given that it’s actually set on Broadway.
Not to mention that the obvious star has already said its her dream role.
WTF are they waiting for?
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Post by ali973 on Jun 11, 2018 18:29:44 GMT
There was going to be a revival a few years ago with Lauren Ambrose, proceeded by a tryout in LA before Broadway. They couldn't get the money together at the last minute and the production collapsed. They even had posters up in LA.
I think there must be other things we are not aware of, namely who holds the rights in the US. For the longest part it was Ryan Murphy. I don't know if Sonia Friedman bought him out, but last time I checked, the rights he bought were about to expire.
We've seen time and time again that what works in London does not work on Broadway, and vice versa. For starters, I don't think New Yorkers would be forgiving to an unknown called Sheridan Smith playing a Jewish icon. I think New Yorkers will be happy to embrace someone who can break the Streisand mold (which Smith did/does), but someone who will also blow the roof off with supreme belting (which Smith does not do). It'll be like Elena Roger all over again. London loved her, New Yorkers just wanted a Patti LuPone-type again.
I also don't think this show stood the test of time, especially in Act II. It will require serious rewrites, and a Bartlett Sher director type to approach it dramaturgically and intellectually as he did with My Fair Lady and other recent revivals of the classic canon instead of just to "put on a show" as what I got from Michael Meyer and what Jack O'Brien did with "Carousel".
I'm more inclined to see a Jessie Mueller or Katrina Link type play Fanny if we were to strictly cast musical theatre performers. I've noticed that Broadway star casting (sans Chicago) tends to either be go big or go home, so who knows who they'll select.
These are my ten cents on why it's not happening.
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Post by BurlyBeaR on Jun 11, 2018 18:36:31 GMT
Oh god, I wouldn’t want Sheridan Smith to do it. That would be embarrassing.
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Post by ali973 on Jun 11, 2018 18:43:13 GMT
Oh, so did you mean Lea Michelle? Good God, please no.
I think it will need someone who'd work the director to approach it a little bit more relevantly and intellectually, and I don't think Ms. Thing has that. I think it will require a very serious director and an actress with a capital A to do this right for a 2018 audience. Maybe Marianne Elliot can do it after she's done with Company.
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Post by BurlyBeaR on Jun 11, 2018 18:54:28 GMT
Lea Michelle absolutely yes.
Intellectually? Relevantly?
Is that what Bette Midler was going for with Dolly?
Sometimes you just have to give the people what they want.
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Post by Deleted on Jun 11, 2018 18:56:00 GMT
Dare one suggest Sutton Foster? She could play that part in her sleep and belt the living sh*t out of that score.
And don't give me any of that "she's too old for it" nonsense. She still looks about 20!
ish.
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Post by couldileaveyou on Jun 11, 2018 19:33:36 GMT
Dare one suggest Sutton Foster? She could play that part in her sleep and belt the living sh*t out of that score. And don't give me any of that "she's too old for it" nonsense. She still looks about 20! ish. I mean they literally made a tv show about that, it's really true. Also agree with Ali, it's not a good show. Some London critic called it a poor man's Gypsy and it's a perfect definition, from the big overture to the act I finale belting number in a train station. |
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Post by Deleted on Jun 11, 2018 19:40:43 GMT
I think if it went the Gypsy route and did a limited run it could succeed.
How about Tony winner Lindsay Mendez? She'd be amazing!
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Post by madsonmelo on Jun 11, 2018 22:20:17 GMT
I think Jessie Mueller would be perfection.
But I wouldn't complain about Lea Michele with the right director. I think Diane Paulus or Scott Ellis would be able to do the trick.
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Post by Jon on Jun 11, 2018 23:06:20 GMT
I think Jessie Mueller would be perfection. But I wouldn't complain about Lea Michele with the right director. I think Diane Paulus or Scott Ellis would be able to do the trick. I'd prefer Bartlett Sher for Funny Girl. Mame is another one that's not been revived for a long time. I could see them go for someone like Sutton Foster for that role if it was done at the Roundabout Theatre Company or Lincoln Center. |
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Post by ali973 on Jun 12, 2018 1:22:00 GMT
Lea Michelle absolutely yes. Intellectually? Relevantly? Is that what Bette Midler was going for with Dolly? Sometimes you just have to give the people what they want. It's not the same thing or the same show. Hello, Dolly! is a farce. Funny Girl, on the other hand, takes itself seriously in Act II. Mame is also somewhat of a relic. It will require serious revisions. There are very few left from the classic era that haven't been explored again. Whatever is left, like Funny Girl or Mame, would be able say something new or be relevant. A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum, Zorba, Nine etc I could see being revived, but musicals earlier than the late 1960s would be hard to revive. |
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Post by mistressjojo on Jun 13, 2018 9:49:10 GMT
There is a concert staging of Funny Girl next month in Sydney to mark the 50th anniversary of the film.
11 performers will be sharing the role of Fanny, backed by the Sydney Symphony Orchestra.
Can't wait to see who gets to sing what.
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Post by Deleted on Oct 9, 2018 5:43:34 GMT
Didnt see this coming...
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Post by Deleted on Oct 9, 2018 7:07:59 GMT
Sheridan Smith is a great actress. Her father died. While I thought what she did could have been handled better. I would not have done any better.
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Post by Deleted on Oct 9, 2018 7:10:14 GMT
Sheridan Smith is a great actress. Her father died. While I thought what she did could have been handled better. I would not have done any better. She has two Olivier Awards. And two more nominations. She isn't some stage newbie ! But I would love Annleigh Ashford. But what about Lauren Ambrose in Into The Woods? I know why people hate Lea Michelle. But she would be okay. Not good but okay. PS. what happened to Charlotte Wakefield? |
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Post by ali973 on Oct 9, 2018 19:50:39 GMT
I've been saying Gaga as Fanny for YEARS. Someone is listening.
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Post by princeton on Oct 9, 2018 20:42:06 GMT
what happened to Charlotte Wakefield? She's just finished a year in the national tour of Crazy for You playing the lead role of Polly - and was absolutely terrific. Prior to that she did the workshop of Heathers playing Veronica (aka the Carrie Hope Fletcher part) and was great in that too. |
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Post by BurlyBeaR on Oct 13, 2018 6:16:28 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Oct 13, 2018 13:35:27 GMT
I've been saying Gaga as Fanny for YEARS. Someone is listening. Can she do comedy? I’ve only seen her doing the roles she played in American Horror Story and she seemed to be fine dramatically but I can’t imagine her being funny enough. |
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