Hello, gorgeous original cast! The company of Funny Girl's current Broadway revival recently welcomed Rosemary Jelincic to the August Wilson Theatre. Jelincic was a member of Funny Girl's original Broadway cast and was connected with the current revival via TikTok thanks to Jessica Simpson, whose boss is Jelincic's child, reached out to set up the meeting.
Jelincic performed in 1,300 performances, an incredible accomplishment considering the original Broadway production of Funny Girl ran for 1,348 performances. The musical began previews March 10, 1964 in the Winter Garden Theatre, officially opened March 26, 1964, and finished its run July 1, 1967. Barbra Streisand starred as the original Fanny Brice, a role currently played in the show's first-ever Broadway revival by Beanie Feldstein.
As Jelincic was in the original production, the work's sole Broadway outing until now, her recent visit was her first time seeing the show on Broadway.
The work, which premiered on Broadway in 1964, is a biomusical centered on Broadway and vaudeville star Fanny Brice. The original production propelled a young Barbra Streisand to international fame; she would reprise her stage performance in the 1968 film adaptation, winning an Academy Award and a Golden Globe in the process. The score, with music by Jule Styne and lyrics by Bob Merrill, introduced such standards as "I'm the Greatest Star," "People," "Don't Rain On My Parade," and "The Music That Makes Me Dance."
The revival officially opened at the August Wilson Theatre April 24 under the direction of Michael Mayer with a revised book by Harvey Fierstein. Fierstein adapted the original book by Isobel Lennart. Appearing alongside Brce is Ramin Karimloo as Nick Arnstein, Emmy winner Jane Lynch as Mrs. Brice, and Jared Grimes as Eddie Ryan.
