Beanie Feldstein announced tonight that she’ll depart the starring role of Broadway’s Funny GirlShe will perform her final performance on the show, July 31, as previously announced.
“Playing Fanny Brice on Broadway has been a lifelong dream of mine,”Feldstein uploaded this Instagram photo tonight. “and doing so for the last few months has been a great joy and true honor. Once the production decided to take the show in a difference direction, I made the extremely difficult decision to step away sooner than anticipated. I will never forget this experience and from the bottom of my heart, I want to thank every single person who came to the August Wilson for the love and support you have shown me and our amazing cast and crew. The people I have had the great joy of bringing Funny Girl to life with every night, both on and off the stage, are all remarkably talented and exceptional humans and I hope you continue to join them on Henry Street after I depart on July 31st.”
Feldstein didn’t explain how the production was done. “in a different direction.”
Deadline has reached out the production.
No announcement was made about her replacement, but rumors have circulated for weeks that producers are considering Lea Michele as a replacement, possibly in tandem with Feldstein’s understudy Julie Benko. The speculation is not confirmed by producers.
The production announced via Twitter tonight that they will make casting announcements Monday at 1 pm. ET.
Feldstein has missed an increasing number of performances in recent weeks, including yesterday’s matinee. Due to her positive Covid-test, Feldstein missed a number of performances last month.
Feldstein had been expected to remain in the production after the show’s opening (to mixed reviews) April 24. But producers last month announced that she and Jane Lynch would leave the show on Sept. 25, as per the announcement by producers. Lynch was not mentioned in today’s announcement.
Although the production was initially a success at the box-office, it has been unable to win any big Tony nominations or wins. Box office figures for the week ending July 3 – the most recent figures available – indicate Funny GirlOnly 75% of houses were filled.
Stay tuned, gorgeous… pic.twitter.com/s9DIfSq2Jg
— Funny Girl on Broadway (@FunnyGirlBwy) July 10, 2022