After much speculation, it has been revealed that Lea Michele will star as Fanny Brice in the Broadway revival of Funny Girl at the August Wilson Theatre. Michele takes over from Beanie Feldstein, who announced on Instagram that she’d be leaving the show on July 31, 2022. Michele is set to begin performances on September 6, 2022.
Joining alongside her is Tovah Feldshuh, playing Rose Brice. Jane Lynch, who currently plays the role, will now play her final performance on September 4, 2022.
Lea Michele, best known for playing Rachel Berry on six seasons of Glee, returns to Broadway for the first time since originating the role of Wendla in Spring Awakening. Michele will play the role seven performances a week, with current Fanny Brice standby Julie Benko playing the role on Thursdays. Benko will play Fanny Brice upon Feldstein’s departure before Michele joins the show in September.
Michele and Feldshuh join a cast that includes Tony and Olivier Award nominee Ramin Karimloo as Nick Arnstein, Jeff Award winner and Tony Nominee Jared Grimes as Eddie Ryan, Peter Francis James as Florenz Ziegfeld, Ephie Aardema as Emma/Mrs. Nadler, Debra Cardona as Mrs. Meeker, Toni DiBuono as Mrs. Strakosh, Martin Moran as Tom Keeney, and Julie Benko as the Fanny Brice Standby.
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.