The production, starring two-time Emmy Award nominee Lauren Ambrose as Fanny Brice and two-time Tony Award nominee and Emmy Award winner Bobby Cannavale as Nick Arnstein, will open at the Imperial in April 2012 following its engagement at Center Theatre Group/Ahmanson Theatre, which is scheduled for Jan. 15-Feb. 26, 2012.
(As previously reported, Billy Elliot the Musical will play its final performance on Broadway Jan. 8, 2012, at the Imperial Theatre.)
Additional casting, preview and opening dates for Funny Girl will be announced shortly.
Tony Award winner Bartlett Sher will direct Funny Girl, which features music by Jule Styne, lyrics by Bob Merrill and book by Isobel Lennart.
“It’s been 47 years since Funny Girl has been on Broadway, but I’m sure that everyone is as thrilled as I am to have it back in New York this spring, following our Los Angeles engagement,” commented producer Bob Boyett in a statement. “Fanny Brice was the greatest star of the early 20th century and we cannot wait to examine this fascinating woman’s life and career, with our great stars Lauren Ambrose and Bobby Cannavale and the incredibly talented Bart Sher at the helm with his extraordinary creative team.” The musical, according to press notes, "is the road-to-stardom story of legendary entertainer Fanny Brice (Lauren Ambrose), from her start in a Brooklyn music hall to her meteoric rise as a headliner in the Ziegfeld Follies. While her career soars, she falls in love with charming gambler Nick Arnstein (Bobby Cannavale), just as his own lucky streak is running out."
The musical, which originally starred Barbra Streisand, features such tunes as “Don’t Rain on My Parade,” “I’m the Greatest Star,” “The Music That Makes Me Dance” and “People.”
The upcoming production will feature scenic design by Michael Yeargan, costume design by Catherine Zuber, lighting design by Donald Holder and sound design by Scott Lehrer. Music director is Kimberly Grigsby. Choreographer is Christopher Gattelli.
Funny Girl will be produced in Los Angeles at the Ahmanson Theatre by Center Theatre Group, with special permission from Bob Boyett, Sonia Friedman Productions, Jean Doumanian, Stacey Mindich and Tim Levy. Funny Girl will be produced on Broadway by Bob Boyett, Sonia Friedman Productions, Jean Doumanian, Stacey Mindich, Tim Levy and Center Theatre Group.
