Track #2: “Funny Girl” @Reynolds Hall, Smith Center
Some Broadway shows truly have “legs,” and “Funny Girl” is one of them. Amazingly, it first opened 60 years ago in 1964, with Barbra Streisand in the lead role of Fanny Brice, the strong-willed comedian and Broadway/”Ziegfeld Follies” star.
Primarily set in NYC right before and after World War I, the musical recently had another Broadway run (2022-2023) and is now a national touring production with a memorable cast.
At the neo-art deco palace The Smith Center, the love-and-heartbreak story that’s semi-based on the life and career of Brice dazzled with its multiple charms: one show-stopping song-and-dance number after another; convincing period sets and costumes; and compelling dialog.
Ultimately, “Funny Girl” is all about female strength and boldness during a time when women were especially held back. Katerina McCrimmon shines as Brice, as does Grammy-winning singer-songwriter Melissa Manchester in the role of Fanny’s mom: “I love playing Rose Brice,” Manchester told me. “She’s the spirit of all the women who helped my mother raise me, aunts and neighbors, plus my experience of raising my own two kids. It’s a fascinating and heartfelt journey.”
Meanwhile, look for more Broadway shows coming this year to The Smith Center, including “The Wiz,” “Hamilton,” and “The Cher Show.”
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