If you are a fan of musical theatre, you likely know about Funny Girl. I knew about it. I had heard the infamous songs and seen clips of Barbra Streisand playing the role of Fanny Brice. But I had never seen Funny Girl onstage.
FUN FACT: This is the first time that Funny Girl has gone on a National Tour. See it in Denver and be part of history!
Did I love it?
I loved it.
I am a big fan of history and musicals, and Funny Girl combines the two to create a funny and heartwarming story of a girl with a dream. The road she takes to get there is full of twist, turns, and triumphs, but can Fanny withstand the heartache to stay on the stage?
Go see Funny Girl and find out. You'll be glad you did.
BONUS: Chatfield High School graduate, Courtney Brady, plays Maude in the touring production of Funny Girl!
How Much Do You Know About The Real Fanny Brice?
Did you know that Fanny Brice was actually a real person and performer? She was! The musical doesn't include everything about Fanny's life and career, but we found some fun facts to share about the real deal.
- Fanny Brice was a stage name. Fanny's real name was Fania Borach.
- Fanny was born on October 29, 1891.
- Fanny had three siblings.
- Fanny Brice became a legend during the Vaudeville era of theatre (the cast will visit many Vaudeville theatrical houses on the tour).
- Fanny is known for creating and starring in the top-rated radio comedy series The Baby Snooks Show.
- Fanny was not only a comedian, she was a model, singer, and actress. However, she was most successful when she was being funny.
- Fanny was married briefly before she married Nicky Arnstein.
- Fanny made her amateur debut at Frank Keeney's Brooklyn Vaudeville theatre as a solo act (as depicted in the musical), but she made her Broadway debut in a Shubert Brothers production before being sent for by Florenz Ziegfield.
- Fanny was once fired from a Broadway cast (Talk of the Town) because "she couldn't dance.
- Nicky Arnstein spent two years in jail for selling $5 million of stolen securities. He fought the charges for four years, and Fanny paid his legal fees.
- Fanny spent nine seasons with the Ziegfield Follies. She had a great
- Fanny's parents owned several successful saloons in Newark, New Jersey, which were managed mostly by Fanny's mother.
- Fanny and Nicky Arnstein had two children, Frances and William.
- Fanny Brice has been famously played by Barbra Streisand, Lea Michele (best known for her role in Glee, where she dreamed of playing Fanny Brice).
Listen to the new Broadway cast recording on Spotify.
WELCOME TO MUSICAL COMEDY HEAVEN!
"Featuring one of the most iconic scores of all time by Jule Styne and Bob Merrill, an updated book from Harvey Fierstein based on the original classic by Isobel Lennart, tap choreography by Ayodele Casel, choreography by Ellenore Scott, and direction from Michael Mayer, this love letter to the theatre has the whole shebang!
The sensational Broadway revival dazzles with celebrated classic songs, including “Don’t Rain On My Parade,” “I’m the Greatest Star,” and “People.” This bittersweet comedy is the story of the indomitable Fanny Brice, a girl from the Lower East Side who dreamed of a life on the stage. Everyone told her she’d never be a star, but then something funny happened—she became one of the most beloved performers in history, shining brighter than the brightest lights of Broadway."
See Funny Girl at the Buell Theatre through December 22, 2024.
