Lea Michele receives SIX standing ovations on Broadway!
Via Mary Ellen Matthews
The response to Lea Michele’s performance in Broadway’s “Funny Girl” has been overwhelmingly positive!
It’s been over 50 years since the iconic show debuted on stage and this is its first revival. Feldstein, who originally played Fanny Brice, was hailed as the next “greatest star.”
Despite the anticipation, the reviews were overwhelmingly negative - particularly harsh on Feldstein’s performance. Ticket sales began to plummet, and the show received no Tony nominations. Feldstein was immediately replaced with Lea Michele.
Over the span of her career, Michele was always in comparison to Streisand. In fact, when the Broadway revival was announced, Michele was already thought to have taken the role. Michele, one would say, has been auditioning for this role her entire career. She has emulated and embodied Streisand throughout the years, even covering the Broadway show’s beloved songs like “Don’t Rain on My Parade” in her show “Glee.”
The audience on debut night included a lot of Michele’s celebrity friends including Jonathan Groff, Ryan Murphy, Zachary Quinto, Drew Barrymore, Harvey Fierstein, and Jordan Roth among others. Michele received multiple standing ovations including when she performed “People”, “I’m the Greatest Star,” “His Love Makes Me Beautiful,” and “Don’t Rain on My Parade”. She also received a standing ovation following her act-one entrance, her act-two entrance, the finale, and, of course, the curtain call.
When Michele appeared to take her bow, she was already in tears. “Thank you so much,” she mouthed to the crowd, before waving at her friend, Groff, in the audience and blowing kisses to her co-stars.
Critics have not viewed the show yet and are set to do so later this month. However, praise for Michele’s performance from fans and audience alike is already taking the internet by storm.
