Beanie Feldstein announced tonight that she will be leaving the title role of Broadway’s Funny Girl even earlier than previously announced: Her final performance on the show will be July 31.
“Playing Fanny Brice on Broadway has been a lifelong dream of mine,” Feldstein posted on Instagram tonight, “and this past few months has been a great joy and a true honor. After production decided to take the show in a different direction, I made the extremely difficult decision to step down earlier than expected. I will never forget this experience and from the bottom of my heart I want to thank every single person who came to August Wilson for the love and support you showed me and our amazing cast and crew. The people with whom I have had the great pleasure of bringing Funny Girl to life every night, both on and off the stage, are remarkably talented and extraordinary people, and I hope you will continue to join them on Henry Street after I leave for July 31. “
Feldstein did not explain how the production was taken “in a different direction.”
The crafting deadline has passed.
No announcement has been made about her replacement, but rumors have circulated for weeks that producers are considering Lea Michele as a replacement, possibly in tandem with Feldstein understudy Julie Benko. The makers have not confirmed the speculation.
Production tweeted tonight that new casting announcements will be made Monday at 1pm ET.
Feldstein has missed more and more shows in recent weeks, including yesterday’s matinee. Last month, she missed a string of shows due to a positive Covid test.
When the show opened (to mixed reviews) on April 24, Feldstein was originally expected to stay with the production until the end of the year, but last month producers announced that both she and co-star Jane Lynch would be leaving the show on September 25. Today no update was made regarding Lynch.
Although the production initially sold well at the box office, the lack of major nominations or Tony wins dulled the box office. Box office figures for the week ending July 3 – the most recent figures available – show that Funny Girl performed to just 75% full houses.
Stay tuned, gorgeous… pic.twitter.com/s9DIfSq2Jg
— Funny Girl on Broadway (@FunnyGirlBwy) July 10, 2022
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