Fanny Brice News

BroadwayWorld catches up with Melissa WolfKlain who is playing Adelaide in San Francisco Playhouse's production of 'Guys and Dolls' through January 13th. The role caps off an amazing year for WolfKlain, coming right after her Baker's Wife in 'Into the Woods' and Val in 'A Chorus Line.'

'The Man with the Bag' the new single from Julie Benko, is available today! The song is from her forthcoming debut holiday EP, Christmas With You, set to be released on Friday, December 1. Listen to the song here!

Funny Girl is a semi-biographical musical that follows real-life actress, singer, and comedian Fanny Brice. The story explores her humble beginnings as a struggling stage performer who dreams of making it big with the famed Ziegfeld Follies as well as her stormy relationship with entrepreneur and gambler Nick Arnstein. Through it all, Fanny defies the odds and becomes one of the greatest stars of her generation. Following out-of-town tryouts in Boston and Philadelphia, the original production starring Barbra Streisand opened on March 26th, 1964 at the Winter Garden Theatre on Broadway.

Barbra Streisand says that an onstage experience in Funny Girl on Broadway gave her stage fright for the rest of her career. Watch a video clip from her interview with CBS Mornings' Gayle King, in which Streisand reveals that Sydney Chaplin, Charlie Chaplin's son's, on stage behavior in Funny girl drove her to therapy.

After a very successful opening on September 14th, Russell Brauer returns to The Pangea. “Russell Brauer Sings for One Hour (and 15 Minutes)” is a celebration of his love for the Great American Songbook. His final production at Pangea, 178 2nd Ave, New York City, will take place on November 14th, 2023.

FUNNY GIRL, the sensational musical comedy revival, is coming to Cleveland for a limited three-week engagement. Learn how to purchase tickets!

It is safe to say that Carnegie Hall has been the premiere showcase for what is great in American Art and Culture for over 130 years. It is not hyperbole to say that the concert given Monday night by Broadway and television star Lea Michele will be remembered as one of those defining zeitgeist events. Her two-hour intermission-less journey through her career so far was the kind of powerhouse performance that people talk about for years. For the young Millennial set, it is their Judy Garland moment, the thing they will reminisce over cocktails “I was there for…”

Lea Michele made her Carnegie Hall debut on October 30. Special guests at the concert included Jonathan Groff and Darren Criss. Check out the photos here!

The Group Rep inaugurates their 51st anniversary season with Kander & Ebb’s 70, Girls, 70 opening November 10, 2023, at their Lonny Chapman Theatre. Bruce Kimmel directs the cast of Cynthia Bryant, Regan Carrington, Kay Cole, Fay DeWitt, and more. Barbara, who shares the role of Ida with Suzy, sat down to answer a few of my queries.

What did our critic think of FUNNY GIRL at The Hippodrome? When I was a kid, I wanted nothing so much as to be Barbara Streisand in Funny Girl. I mean, it literally shaped my career aspirations. And I desperately wanted to see the stage version, having practically worn out my LP of the Broadway musical.

The Broadway star will take the audience on a soul-filled musical joyride with her powerful vocals, magnetic stage presence and impeccable interpretations of holiday classics. Shoshana will be joined by her Arranger/Music Director David Cook, an extraordinary band and some very special guest stars who will be announced in the coming weeks.

They haven't fixed the clunky storytelling or finally used actual Fanny Brice material, but FUNNY GIRL still scores big when it comes equipped with an electrifying lead and a top-notch cast.

Village Theatre has announced the cast and creative team of Beautiful: The Carole King Musical, the inspiring real-life story of chart-topping musical legend Carole King's remarkable rise to stardom. 

Harmony officially begins previews on Broadway tonight, October 18. Meet the cast of Harmony here!

To have two such fine actor/singer/songwriter/STORYTELLERS sing the blues about Christmas turned out to be a real pleasure.

Whenever we prepare to see an older musical, there is a fear that it will be outdated and difficult to watch.  Funny Girl has no such problems, as the message of self acceptance still stands up well today. It is the story of a Jewish girl's rise to fame, despite her homely looks, doing everything she can to ignore the opinions of thousands who say 'if a girl isn't pretty', they can't make it in show business. 

The debut holiday EP Christmas with You from breakout Broadway star Julie Benko will be released on Friday, December 1. The EP’s debut single and title track, “(I Never Had a) Christmas with You,” is an original retro-soul tune penned by Benko and a joyous duet with Grammy Award-nominated singer Mykal Kilgore. It will be released this Friday, October 13.

October is a big month for Barbra Streisand. That's because she has not one, but two new albums on the way from Columbia Records. Then, almost immediately following, her new memoir, My Name Is Barbra, will be released by Random House on November 7.