April 15, 2010
Two intriguing audio recordings of Mimi Hines performing on Broadway in "Funny Girl" have recently been unearthed. Both can be streamed on YouTube. Hines' renditions of  "Don't Rain On My Parade" and "Cornet Man" were both recorded on July 1, 1967 during Mimi's closing night in the show at New York's Broadway Theatre. You'll note that Mimi's performance of "Don't Rain On My Parade" was an abridged version.

From a historical perspective, these audios represent the last time an official production of "Funny Girl" was ever performed on a Broadway stage.

Mimi Hines was selected to permanently replace Barbra Streisand in the Broadway run of "Funny Girl" when Barbra took the show to London in 1966. Hines was a smash as Fanny Brice, and was able to keep the show alive (and with a healthy box office) for a year and a half after Streisand left.

Hines opened in "Funny Girl" at the Majestic Theatre on March 14, 1966 (above, right). On November 28 of that year, the show was transferred to the slightly smaller Broadway Theatre for the duration of the run. Mimi's version of "Funny Girl" lasted about as long as Barbra's.
 

Mimi Hines and "Funny Girl"

Then ...
Here's a fascinating look at Mimi Hines, Phil Ford and the cast of "Funny Girl" as they performed two familiar numbers on a television variety show in 1967 (right). "Funny Girl" was still running on Broadway at the time these performances were broadcast.

On the broadcast, Hines sings "Who Are You Now" and "Rat-Tat-Tat-Tat."

The novelty number shows how Barbra Streisand's version might have been similarly choreographed.

Now ...
During March and April, 2005, Mimi Hines performed a very special series of shows at Feinstein's cabaret in New York (right). The occasion allowed Mimi to offer a tribute to her run in "Funny Girl" which was coming up on its 40th anniversary.

Mimi's cabaret performance included nostalgic renditions of "People," "Don't Rain On My Parade," "I'm The Greatest Star," and "You Are Woman, I Am Man" among others.