Barbara Tirrell News

Freestyle Digital Media, the digital film distribution division of Byron Allen's Allen Media Group, has acquired North American VOD rights to QUEEN OF KNIVES. BroadwayWorld can exclusively report that the comedy feature film will be available to rent/own on all digital HD internet, cable, and satellite platforms worldwide, as well as on DVD.

 Fania Borch was one of early 20th century vaudeville’s greatest stars.  Fania??  Oh, Fanny Brice, as she was known on the Ziegfeld Follies circuit, and is the nominal subject of FUNNY GIRL, now on stage at the Connor Palace as part of the Key Bank Broadway Series. 

Funny. In 1964 a newcomer named Barbra Streisand was the third or fourth choice  to take on the role of Fanny Brice in the new Jule Styne musical FUNNY GIRL. The result catapulted a gawky Jewish girl from Brooklyn to superstar status. And the musical has never been revived again on Broadway.

The laughs keep coming with Funny Girl at the Fabulous Fox! Originally staged with Barbra Streisand in 1964 and revived to great acclaim on Broadway in 2022, this playful romp about the life of comedian, actress, model, singer, and radio star Fanny Brice, is highlighted by great performances and spry musical numbers.

What did our critic think of FUNNY GIRL at Orpheum Theatre Minneapolis? Featuring one of the most iconic scores of all time by Jule Styne and Bob Merrill, an updated book from Harvey Fierstein based on the original classic by Isobel Lennart, tap choreography by Ayodele Casel, choreography by Ellenore Scott and direction from Michael Mayer, this love letter to the theatre has the whole shebang!

What a way to open a brand-new year of live theater in Nashville: in Funny Girl, audiences may have found exactly what they were longing for as Tennessee Performing Arts Center’s touring presentation provides a portentous kick-off to 2024. In fact, we can’t recall a standing ovation more gratifyingly sincere and genuine in the 35+ years we’ve been reviewing shows at TPAC than the one with which the company was rewarded on opening night in Andrew Jackson Hall. It was appreciative and effusive – downright enthusiastic and straight from the heart – the thunderous and sustained reaction to two-and-a-half hours of gloriously exhilarating musical theatre straight out of the golden age.

The producers of FUNNY GIRL, the sensational musical comedy revival, are delighted to announce full casting for the North American Tour coming to the Fabulous Fox Theatre in St. Louis for a limited two-week engagement from January 23 to February 4.

Early on, when Katerina McCrimmon breaks into “I’m the Biggest Star” — one of the beltier Brice numbers — it’s easy to think that lighting has struck thrice. There isn’t a note in the sweeping scale of this score that escapes her rangy, room-rattling voice. But when it comes time for the iconic “Don’t Rain On My Parade'...

Funny Girl is a semi-autobiographical comedic musical about the life and times of comedian and Broadway star Fanny Brice, and her tumultuous relationship with entrepreneur and gambler Nick Arnstein. With a musical score by Jules Styne, lyrics by Bob Merill, and featuring a book by Isobel Lennart, Funny Girl first opened on Broadway in 1964 featuring Barbara Streisand in the starring role, and was produced by Fanny’s own son-in-law Ray Stark. The first Broadway production received 8 Tony Nominations at the 18th Annual Awards Ceremony, and the OBC (Original Broadway Cast) Recording was inducted into the Grammy’s Hall of Fame in 2004.

Funny Girl is a semi-biographical musical that follows real-life actress, singer, and comedian Fanny Brice. The story explores her humble beginnings as a struggling stage performer who dreams of making it big with the famed Ziegfeld Follies as well as her stormy relationship with entrepreneur and gambler Nick Arnstein. Through it all, Fanny defies the odds and becomes one of the greatest stars of her generation. Following out-of-town tryouts in Boston and Philadelphia, the original production starring Barbra Streisand opened on March 26th, 1964 at the Winter Garden Theatre on Broadway.

Paolo Montalban and Anne L. Nathan will assume the roles of Florenz Ziegfeld and Mrs. Strakosh in Funny Girl on Broadway. We have all the details!

Producers Sonia Friedman, Scott Landis and David Babani announced today that Emmy Award nominee Lea Michele, Tony and Olivier Award nominee Ramin Karimloo, 2022 Tony & Drama Desk Award nominee and Chita Rivera Award winner Jared Grimes and four-time Tony Award nominee Tovah Feldshuh have extended their critically acclaimed, record-breaking run in Broadway’s FUNNY GIRL through Sunday, September 3, 2023, when FUNNY GIRL will play its final performance at the August Wilson Theatre (245 West 52nd Street).

The New Broadway Cast Recording of Funny Girl is now available wherever CDs are sold!  All new Behind-the-Scenes photos have been released of the cast recording session.

Watch a new commercial for Funny Girl on Broadway, featuring Lea Michele singing 'I'm the Greatest Star' and 'Don't Rain On My Parade'!

BroadwayWorld has learned that Funny Girl will be launching a national tour, with dates already confirmed for 2024 as part of Atlanta's 2023/2024 Broadway touring season, which also features the pre-Broadway national tour of The Wiz.

The revival of FUNNY GIRL set a new box office record at the August Wilson Theatre for the week ending January 1, 2023. Learn more about the cast of Funny Girl, and how to get tickets.

Watch Funny Girl on Broadway's Julie Benko, Tovah Feldshuh & Ephie Aardema light the menorah for Hanukkah backstage. 

The revival of FUNNY GIRL shattered the all-time box office record at the August Wilson Theatre. Read more about FUNNY GIRL's record-breaking run!

The New Broadway Cast Recording of Funny Girl has been officially released digitally, November 18, 2022, on streaming platforms. Listen to the full album here!

The New Broadway Cast Recording of Funny Girl will be released digitally tomorrow, Friday, November 18, 2022 at 12:01AM ET. Plus check out a teaser video, featuring Lea Michele singing Don't Rain on My Parade!