Funny Girl 1964 Musical
Funny Girl Funny Girl the Broadway musical opened on March 26, 1964 and is set in and around New York City just prior to and following World War I. The musical is a semi-biographical plot based on the life and career of Broadway, film star and comedian Fanny Brice and her stormy relationship with Nick Arnstein. The musical was produced by Ray Stark, Brice’s son-in-law, who was married to her daughter Frances. Barbra Streisand was the star of the musical and the production was nominated for eight Tony Awards but with tough competition from Hello, Dolly!, it failed to win in any categories. Jule Styne and Stephen Sondheim were hired as the songwriters, Jerome Robbins as director, Bob Merrill as lyricist, and Carol Haney as choreographer.
Stark has dreamt of producing a musical of his mother-in-law ever since she died in 1951 and that dream finally came true when he found help from Isobel Lennart to do the books. David Merrick was producing with Stark originally but after a falling out with Stark, Merrick sold his share back to Stark leaving Stark as the sole producer. Mary Martin was the original choice to play Brice but it was decided that someone with a Jewish background was needed. After a pain staking process of trying to find the right person to play the leading role Barbra Streisand ended up as their final decision to play the leading role of Fanny Brice. “Barbra Streisand became a Hollywood star after starring in Funny Girl. She eloquently and memorably recalled the career of Fanny Brice, a great Jewish comedienne and stage personality who starred for years in the Ziegfeld Follies.” (Williams 117) Robbins quit the directing job of the production and Bob Fosse was filled in for the job but eventually also left the job. Sidney Lumet was considered but he refused the job because of the messy script and finally Garson Kanin became the director of Funny Girl. Although, Kanin eventually left the production after the show previewed in Philadelphia and
Stark has dreamt of producing a musical of his mother-in-law ever since she died in 1951 and that dream finally came true when he found help from Isobel Lennart to do the books. David Merrick was producing with Stark originally but after a falling out with Stark, Merrick sold his share back to Stark leaving Stark as the sole producer. Mary Martin was the original choice to play Brice but it was decided that someone with a Jewish background was needed. After a pain staking process of trying to find the right person to play the leading role Barbra Streisand ended up as their final decision to play the leading role of Fanny Brice. “Barbra Streisand became a Hollywood star after starring in Funny Girl. She eloquently and memorably recalled the career of Fanny Brice, a great Jewish comedienne and stage personality who starred for years in the Ziegfeld Follies.” (Williams 117) Robbins quit the directing job of the production and Bob Fosse was filled in for the job but eventually also left the job. Sidney Lumet was considered but he refused the job because of the messy script and finally Garson Kanin became the director of Funny Girl. Although, Kanin eventually left the production after the show previewed in Philadelphia and