The iconic Fanny Brice will be played by Lea Michele in the new Broadway revival of Funny Girl, replacing Beanie Feldstein.
Feldstein is the first woman to portray Fanny on Broadway since the original actress, Barbara Streisand started the role. However, the 29-year-old announced on Sunday that she would bow out of the show at the end of this month after revealing her plans to step away from the production in September.
Speculations circulated that Michele, famous for her own version of the Funny Girl tune “Don’t Rain on My Parade,” would assume the role.
The Glee star has a professional connection with the show’s director, Michael Mayer, who helped launch her to the theatrical stage by casting and directing her in Spring Awakening.
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Unfortunately, there will be no Glee reunion because Michele’s role as Fanny won’t converge with former co-actor Lynch’s portrayal of her mother. But Tovah Feldshuh has been cast in the show to play Mrs. Brice when Michele starts on September 6th.
Julie Benko, who has been taking lessons with Feldstein, will step in to play the role during her exit on July 31 and then switch over for Michele when it’s time.
Ramin Karimloo, who plays Nick Arnstein, and Jared Grimes, who stars as Eddie Ryan, will still participate in the production through the casting change.
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