This week has been so funny because it’s just been wall-to-wall drama everywhere I turn. Movie drama/film festival drama with Don’t Worry Darling, royal drama with the Sussexes’ lil’ royal tour, and now Broadway drama!! On Wednesday, Lea Michele officially took over as Fanny Brice in the revival of Funny Girl. Lea’s comeback tour is complete, because apparently Lea’s version is being VERY well-received.
It appears the weather gods didn’t heed Fanny Brice’s humble request. But not even a dreary, drizzly Tuesday in Manhattan could rain on Lea Michele’s parade as the former “Glee” star made her long-anticipated debut in Broadway’s “Funny Girl” revival. Before Michele could sing a note in her crystalline soprano, the crowd at the August Wilson Theatre leapt to its feet as soon as she appeared on stage, making it difficult to hear the show’s famous opening line, “Hello, gorgeous.” She would receive six standing ovations in all, crescendoing in a final, rafters-shaking round of applause.
It’s been a long time coming for Michele, who has spent a good portion of her career (unofficially) campaigning to embody the incandescent comic and chanteuse Fanny Brice on stage. Her obsession with “Funny Girl” became lore on “Glee,” where her character Rachel Berry regularly belted the musical’s greatest hits — including “Don’t Rain on My Parade,” “I’m the Greatest Star” and “People” — during the show’s six seasons. A public audition tape, of sorts.
And the public — A-list and otherwise — turned out in force. In addition to a full house of Gleeks, the audience included Michele’s BFF and one-time “Spring Awakening” co-star Jonathan Groff (who looked positively ecstatic every time the actress was on stage, rocking back and forth rhythmically, sobbing at various points, and jumping up to lead each ovation), her old “Glee” boss Ryan Murphy, Zachary Quinto, Drew Barrymore, Harvey Fierstein (fresh from delivering yet another polish on the show’s sometimes creaky book) and producer Jordan Roth, resplendent in a flowing, animal-print jacket. The audience was clearly on Michele’s side and it’s unlikely she will ever perform in front of another crowd as eager to see her soar.
On one side… Broadway isn’t going to argue with numbers or good reviews, and Lea has both on her side. Ticket sales are up and critics say that Lea is a natural in the role. But I’m personally disturbed by how easy it was for Lea to simply turn the page on years of racist behavior, bullying and unpleasantness. And when I say “turn the page,” I’m not suggesting that Lea can actually read what’s written on either page.
at lea michele’s FUNNY GIRL debut and the audience LAUGHED and GASPED when she delivered the like “I haven’t read many books.”
— joe hegyes (@bequietjoe) September 7, 2022
Lea Michele having a broadway debut on national read a book day is proof that god has a sense of humor
— the line is bussy please hold (@lesleygorgasm) September 7, 2022
me and the besties watching the reactions from lea michele’s funny girl debut roll in pic.twitter.com/xYjqybcEje
— 𝚓. 𝚓𝚘𝚗𝚊𝚑 𝚓𝚊𝚖𝚎𝚜𝚘𝚗 (@reluctantgoblin) September 7, 2022
Photos courtesy of Avalon Red.
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- Lea Michele attends the 75th Annual Tony Awards on June 12, 2022 at Radio City Music Hall in New York, New York, USA.,Image: 699371846, License: Rights-managed, Restrictions: , Model Release: no, Pictured: Lea Michele, Credit line: Robin Platzer / Twin Images / Avalon
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- Lea Michele attends the 75th Annual Tony Awards on June 12, 2022 at Radio City Music Hall in New York, New York, USA.,Image: 699371858, License: Rights-managed, Restrictions: , Model Release: no, Pictured: Lea Michele, Credit line: Robin Platzer / Twin Images / Avalon
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- Lea Michele attends the 75th Annual Tony Awards on June 12, 2022 at Radio City Music Hall in New York, New York, USA.,Image: 699371874, License: Rights-managed, Restrictions: , Model Release: no, Pictured: Lea Michele, Credit line: Robin Platzer / Twin Images / Avalon
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- MANHATTAN, NEW YORK CITY, NEW YORK, USA – JUNE 15: American actress Lea Michele arrives as alice + olivia by Stacey Bendet Celebrates 20 Years held at the Close East Lawn on June 15, 2022 in Manhattan, New York City, New York, United States.,Image: 700268186, License: Rights-managed, Restrictions: , Model Release: no, Pictured: Lea Michele, Credit line: Christian Lora / Image Press Agency / Avalon
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- MANHATTAN, NEW YORK CITY, NEW YORK, USA – JUNE 15: American actress Lea Michele arrives as alice + olivia by Stacey Bendet Celebrates 20 Years held at the Close East Lawn on June 15, 2022 in Manhattan, New York City, New York, United States.,Image: 700268247, License: Rights-managed, Restrictions: , Model Release: no, Pictured: Lea Michele, Credit line: Christian Lora / Image Press Agency / Avalon
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- MANHATTAN, NEW YORK CITY, NEW YORK, USA – JUNE 15: American actress Lea Michele arrives as alice + olivia by Stacey Bendet Celebrates 20 Years held at the Close East Lawn on June 15, 2022 in Manhattan, New York City, New York, United States.,Image: 700268295, License: Rights-managed, Restrictions: , Model Release: no, Pictured: Lea Michele, Credit line: Christian Lora / Image Press Agency / Avalon
It’s disgusting to see that woman get what she wants after the tumult and pain she has caused through the years. Good for Broadway, bad for humanity.
Don’t worry. She’s going to fuck it up again. Karma takes her role very seriously. She’s just too busy with other things right now.
Spectacular talent makes up for a bad personality, plus if you’re that talented (and in this case, doing a role very few people can do), you’ll be allowed to get away with it. Also, she’s been an asshole/racist, but not a sex pest, nor has she broken the law.
So…this is what you get.
I did roll my eyes at SIX standing O’s, though. Before intermission? Really?
Poor Beanie. I hope she’s hiding out with tropical drinks somewhere, avoiding the Internet.
Mary Martin was one of the Broadway greats in her day and she had a reputation as well. We’ll see how long Lea lasts or if she kills her own big second chance.
Mary Martin?!? Really? Wow, who knew?
Lord. Here we go.
Horrible people can sing and act but she is a terrible human being!
She’s a terrible human being while also being an incredibly talented singer.
I hope she can turn this new chance into an opportunity to become a better person and learn from past bullying, racist mistakes. Yes, I’m an optimist…
I’m an optimistic too. Did people expect her to never work again? Hopefully she’s learned from her past behavior and knows that people are watching her behavior.
She sounded…bad, when listening to the bootlegged recordings. Glee must’ve autotuned her to hell.
Men get dozens of second chances, Lea is very talented and has apologized for the horrible things she’s said and done. Maybe she’s really turned over a new leaf. Time will tell.
She has never truly apologized but she clearly didn’t really have to did she?
Just out of curiosity, are you saying it’s okay specifically for Lea Michele to get a shot at Broadway because she’s not the only terrible person in the world? Or are you saying men get too many chances?
I only agree with one of those…
I’m sure she can sing but the second half of the show is just not that interesting imo. I thought beanie was great when I saw it, but the show itself is just kind of weak in parts. Will see what happens and if her voice is enough to save the revival, but I for one will never forget her past behavior.
+1. Nor will I!!!
I enjoyed Beanie when I saw it too. I’m sure Lea will do a good job, she is talented, but I don’t have any interest in seeing her in it.
I also agree the show had some weak spots. I saw the Into the Woods revival a few weeks after Funny Girl, and that blew me away, despite having seen that show before. Stellar cast, and really great and creative props and set design.
Ooh I have been curious about the new Into the Woods. Was supposed to go and had to cancel because my dad gave me Covid! I saw it several years ago so your comment is making me feel compelled to try again.
“and it’s unlikely she will ever perform in front of another crowd as eager to see her soar.”
Do I detect shadiness from Variety?? (But it’s very sweet that Jonathan Groff “leapt to his feet” “to lead each ovation” — like, it’s a very charming visual. I get that way at karaoke)
Well, let’s be honest. The people that are still fans after all of her nonsense were probably rushing to see one of the first shows with her. I’ll be curious to see if she’s still filling seats in a month or so.
I watched the curtain call and I thought it was interesting that Ramin had to step forward to start the orchestra acknowledgements. It came across as she would have been happy to take bows on her own all night if he hadn’t been there to move her along.
The last line of the write-up says it all, ” it’s unlikely she will ever perform in front of another crowd as eager to see her soar.” She’s now where she has always wanted to be and those who want to see her, will. But as this quote says (to me), she has no place anywhere else. Maybe if we can’t eliminate racism, we can confine it to the August Wilson. I seriously doubt there is anywhere she can go from there.
Terrible human, hard pass, etc
She’s a shit head. Hopefully she had therapy. Hopefully nobody commenting has a problematic family member they still speak to/support.