Funny Girl, the hit Broadway musical revival starring Beanie Feldstein, first opened on Broadway at the August Wilson Theatre on April 24, 2022. Since opening night, there has been much speculation about how long the Tony-nominated production will run on Broadway.
Initial Broadway Run
When Funny Girl first opened on Broadway in April 2022, it was announced that the production would run for a limited engagement through September 2022. The initial Broadway run was scheduled for 18 weeks at the August Wilson Theatre.
This limited engagement indicated that Funny Girl was not slated for an open-ended run, but rather a scheduled run of just under 5 months. In the initial run, Beanie Feldstein was contracted to star as Fanny Brice through September 2022.
Extension Through January 2023
In June 2022, the producers of Funny Girl announced that due to high demand and successful ticket sales, the revival would extend its run through January 2023. This added an additional 4 months to the scheduled Broadway run.
The extension meant that Funny Girl would now play on Broadway through January 29, 2023, marking a 9-month run. Beanie Feldstein would also extend her contract to remain in the lead role through the extension period.
Cast Change and Additional Extension
In July 2022, producers announced that Beanie Feldstein would depart Funny Girl on September 25, 2022. The role of Fanny Brice was set to be taken over by Lea Michele beginning September 6, 2022.
Along with this casting announcement, the show was extended again through June 2023. So with Lea Michele now set to lead the show starting in September, Funny Girl extended its run through early summer 2023.
Current Broadway Run
With its two extensions, here is the current timeline for Funny Girl on Broadway:
- Opened: April 24, 2022
- Beanie Feldstein departure: September 25, 2022
- Lea Michele start date: September 6, 2022
- Current closing date: June 11, 2023
This means that as of October 2022, Funny Girl is now slated to run on Broadway for approximately 14 months. The original 5 month run has turned into over a year-long engagement.
Key Run Dates
Here are the key dates in the Funny Girl Broadway run:
Date | Milestone |
---|---|
April 24, 2022 | Opening night on Broadway |
June 2022 | Run extended through January 2023 |
July 2022 | Beanie Feldstein departure announced |
September 6, 2022 | Lea Michele debut as Fanny Brice |
September 25, 2022 | Final performance by Beanie Feldstein |
June 11, 2023 | Scheduled closing date for Funny Girl |
Reasons for Extensions
There are several factors that contributed to Funny Girl extending its Broadway run well beyond its initially announced limited engagement:
- Strong ticket sales – The Funny Girl revival proved very popular right out of the gate, with strong ticket sales during the spring and summer months.
- Tony nominations – The production received multiple Tony award nominations, including Best Actress in a Musical for Beanie Feldstein. This added buzz and longevity for the show.
- Beanie Feldstein’s popularity – Having a mainstream star like Feldstein in the lead role added major appeal for audiences.
- Lea Michele casting – Bringing in Michele, another big name, to succeed Feldstein generated renewed interest.
- Holiday season appeal – Extending through the holidays into early 2023 allowed Funny Girl to capitalize onChristmas and New Years weeks, which are big on Broadway.
Broadway History
The original production of Funny Girl opened on Broadway in 1964 and ran for over 13 hundred performances. The show made a star of Barbra Streisand, who portrayed Fanny Brice in that original production. This 2022 revival is the first time Funny Girl has been revived on Broadway.
Production | Opening Date | Closing Date | Number of Performances |
---|---|---|---|
Original | March 26, 1964 | December 31, 1967 | 1348 performances |
2022 Revival | April 24, 2022 | June 11, 2023 | TBD |
This revival aims to introduce Funny Girl to a new generation of audiences nearly 60 years after it first premiered on Broadway.
Future Beyond Broadway
The producers of Funny Girl have stated that they hope to have a life for the revival beyond its Broadway run. This could potentially include:
- A national tour across the US and Canada
- Sit-down and international productions globally
- A filmed stage production released digitally or on DVD/Blu-ray
However, no official plans for the show beyond Broadway have been announced yet. It remains to be seen if this acclaimed revival will play in other venues.
Conclusion
Funny Girl opened in April 2022 as a limited run show, but quickly proved to have an audience and a demand strong enough to warrant not one but two extensions. As of now, the musical revival is slated to play on Broadway through June 2023, for an impressive 14 month run.
With its Starpower casts featuring first Beanie Feldstein and now Lea Michele in the iconic role of Fanny Brice, Funny Girl has behcome one of Broadway’s hottest tickets. If ticket sales remain strong, it’s possible the show could extend its run even further into 2023.
For musical theatre fans, Funny Girl’s return to the Broadway stage has been a hugely anticipated event. The production does justice to the classic musical with its lavish sets, costumes, choreography, and of course, powerhouse singing. Broadway is stronger for having Funny Girl back in its lineup of shows.
Funny Girl’s nearly year-long run proves that Broadway revivals of beloved musicals can still generate blockbuster appeal. This allows new generations of theatre lovers to experience iconic shows live on stage – singing, dancing, and falling in love with Fanny Brice all over again.
Funny Girl on Broadway in 2022 and 2023 is a must-see musical theatre event for all fans. Don’t miss your chance to witness Broadway history and see Lea Michele step into the large shoes of Barbra Streisand to belt out classics like “People” and “Don’t Rain on My Parade” on the August Wilson stage. As long as ticket sales stay healthy, Fanny Brice will keep knocking ’em dead night after night.
Financing and Budget
Reviving a classic Broadway musical like Funny Girl requires a substantial budget to pull off successfully. Here is a look at the financing and budget for the 2022 Broadway production:
Capitalization
The capitalization of Funny Girl was $13.5 million. This means the total funds required to finance the show were raised from investors and other sources.
Funny Girl features 25 producers and general management firms credited for helping finance the show. Major producers and general managers included Sonia Friedman Productions, Scott Landis, and David Babani.
Running Costs
In addition to capitalization costs, Broadway shows have weekly running budgets that cover operating expenses. Running costs for musicals tend to range from $500,000-$800,000 per week.
With a large cast, orchestra, elaborate sets/costumes, and advertising expenses, Funny Girl likely has weekly running costs at the upper end of this scale.
Recoupment
For investors to earn back money, a Broadway show like Funny Girl must recoup its initial capitalization costs. Musicals typically recoup within 18-24 months if they are hits.
Given its extensions, Funny Girl could potentially recoup its $13.5 million capitalization within 12-18 months of opening.
Top-Grossing Show
In the weeks following its opening, Funny Girl consistently grossed over $1 million per week at the box office – reaching as high as $1.6 million. This made it one of the top-grossing shows on Broadway.
As long as it sustains strong ticket sales, Funny Girl should be able to operate at a healthy profit margin on Broadway.
Cast and Crew
Reviving a classic Broadway musical requires assembling a world-class team of designers, crew, and cast. Here are some of the key creative team members helping bring Funny Girl back to the stage:
Cast
- Beanie Feldstein – played Fanny Brice through September 2022
- Lea Michele – took over as Fanny Brice beginning September 2022
- Ramin Karimloo – plays Nick Arnstein
- Jared Grimes – plays Eddie Ryan
- Jane Lynch – plays Mrs. Rose Brice
Creative Team
- Michael Mayer – Director
- Susan Stroman – Choreographer
- David Zinn – Set Designer
- Susan Hilferty – Costume Designer
- Kevin Adams – Lighting Designer
The combined talents of this stellar cast and creative team help make the 2022 revival of Funny Girl a world-class Broadway production.
Response and Reviews
The return of Funny Girl to Broadway received an overwhelmingly positive response from theatre critics and audiences alike:
Critics’ Reviews
- New York Times – “Thrilling! Feldstein is absolutely wonderful. Her talent and charm lift the show.”
- Hollywood Reporter – “A triumph! Feldstein is sensational. Her voice will give you chills.”
- Variety – “A glorious revival. Feldstein’s legendary turn makes it soar.”
- Vulture – “Broadway magic! Feldstein is incandescent. She does Barbra proud.”
Audience Reception
In addition to critical acclaim, Funny Girl received rave responses from theatre-goers:
- Scored an “A” grade on CinemaScore polling
- 99% of polled audience members on The Broadway League said they would recommend the show
- Over 15 minute long standing ovations reported after some performances
Positive word-of-mouth drove the show’s extensions and continues fueling its Broadway success.
Awards and Nominations
In addition to fantastic reviews, Funny Girl racked up multiple award nominations:
Tony Award Nominations
- Best Revival of a Musical
- Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Musical – Beanie Feldstein
- Best Performance by an Actor in a Featured Role in a Musical – Jared Grimes
- Best Choreography – Susan Stroman
- Best Orchestrations – Chris Walker
Drama League Awards
- Outstanding Revival of a Musical
- Distinguished Performance Award – Beanie Feldstein
While Funny Girl failed to win any Tony Awards, the multitude of high-profile nominations added to the buzz and prestige factor for the show.
Classifying the Show’s Success
The success of the Funny Girl revival can be categorized across three key metrics:
1. Critical Approval
The show received widespread praise from theatre critics, especially for Beanie Feldstein’s star turn as Fanny Brice. Reviews highlighted the production quality and called it a triumphant return.
2. Commercial Performance
Funny Girl consistently grossed over $1 million per week and even up to $1.6 million during peak weeks. This put it among Broadway’s top shows in box office earnings.
3. Audience Reception
Audience response was ecstatic, with near-unanimous recommendations from theatre-goers. Multiple glowing reviews cited lengthy standing ovations.
By all three metrics – critical, commercial, and audience success – the Funny Girl revival scored a massive hit on Broadway.
Funny Girl’s Significance
The successful 2022 Broadway revival of Funny Girl carries important significance for several reasons:
- First revival in nearly 60 years – Allows new audiences to discover this classic musical for the first time on stage.
- Reviving the Golden Age – Helps bring back grand-scale Broadway musicals from the 60s era.
- Streisand’s legacy – Pays homage to Barbra Streisand’s career-making turn in the original production.
- New talent spotlight – Showcases Beanie Feldstein as a next-gen triple threat talent and introduces Lea Michele to Broadway.
- Director Michael Mayer – Demonstrates acclaimed director Mayer can modernize Golden Age shows for today.
- Empowering for women – Fanny Brice’s story and character are inspiring and empowering for female audiences.
Funny Girl’s success opens the door for more revivals of classic musical theatre productions in the future.
The Verdict
In summary, Funny Girl is currently scheduled to play on Broadway through June 2023 after opening in April 2022. The original 5 month limited run was extended multiple times due to fantastic reviews, strong ticket sales, and audience demand for the acclaimed production.
The return of Funny Girl demonstrates that Broadway revivals can still draw blockbuster crowds when done right. With stunning production values, star turns by Beanie Feldstein and Lea Michele, and the classic score, Funny Girl on Broadway is a must-see musical theatre event.
Based on its critical, commercial, and audience reception, Funny Girl is assured a place in the Broadway history books as one of the greatest musical theatre revivals of the 21st century so far. Fanny Brice is truly a star reborn for the modern age.