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"Funny Girl" (benefit) |
Stage Review/September 2002 |
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| For the first time
since its original run ended in the mid-sixties, "Funny Girl" was
performed on Broadway in a truly unique star-studded evening. This
one night only benefit, held at the legendary New Amsterdam Theatre
on 42nd Street, served as this year's annual fundraiser for "The
Actors Fund." |
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The Fanny Brice
Curtain Call:
(A)
Judy Kuhn
(B) Alice Playten
(C) Jane Krakowski
(D) Lillias White
(E) LaChanze
(F) Bebe Neuwirth
(G)
Andrea Martin
(H) Whoopi Goldberg
(I) Carolee Carmello
(J) Anna Gasteyer
(K) Julia Murney
(L)
Idina Menzel
(M) Kristen Chenoweth
(N) Rikki Lake
(O) Spencer Kayden
Absent from curtain call: Sutton Foster |
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A
Bevy
of
Brices
September 23, 2002
Veteran stage, screen and television
performers all showed up tonight to participate in a quite remarkable
evening of entertainment. Broadway leading man Peter Gallagher had the
distinction of portraying Nicky Arnstein opposite 16, count 'em, 16
Fanny Brices in a benefit revival of "Funny Girl." Yes, each of
Fanny's songs was sung by a different actress, making this the most
inventive revival of any show you're likely to see.
The performance began with the most unlikely of Fanny Brices. Whoopi
Goldberg, arriving on stage in the first scene to deliver the show's
signature line, "Hello Gorgeous." She returned again for the final act
and began the reprise of "Don't Rain On My Parade"
before being accompanied on stage by the complete Fanny Brice
line-up.
Sutton Foster had the distinction of performing the evening's
first show-stopper. Her rendition of "I'm the Greatest Star" was
belted out brilliantly. However, her participation in the evening's
festivities was brief. She had to immediately rush across the street
to make the 8 o'clock curtain for her own show, "Thoroughly Modern
Millie." She was not on hand for the "Funny Girl" curtain call.
 Idina
Menzel was one of the evening's many highlights, belting out a rousing
rendition of the Styne and Merrill novelty number, "Cornet Man."
The most creative number was delivered by Kristin Chenoweth as The
Beautiful Bride, camping it up with a cadre of brides-in-drag.
Even Streisand impersonator Steven Brinberg was brought in for the
number, playing The Autumn Bride to the hilt.
The show's first act ended with a fever pitch as Lillias White
delivered a sizzling rendition of "Don't Rain On My Parade" and
stopped the show, cold.And in another amazing
moment, Tony Award winner Bebe Neuwirth brought the house down with
her comic portrayal of Private Schwartz in the second act
sketch number, "Rat-Tat-Tat-Tat."
Kaye Ballard,
who has toured in separate road show productions of "Funny Girl,"
brought her well seasoned portrayal of Mrs. Brice to the New
Amsterdam. And Marcia Lewis, another comic legend of Broadway (and
Tony nominee for "Chicago") was uproarious as Mrs. Strakosh.
Even Stephanie Mills, who wowed audiences years ago in the original
Broadway musical, "The Wiz," made a brief cameo. She only got to sing
one line from the song, "Henry Street," but the audience immediately
knew who she was and erupted in sustained applause. It would have been
great if she had a complete number to perform.
But it was the litany of actresses who played all the Fanny Brice
parts that ultimately made this one of the most memorable "Funny Girl"
performances in history.
That is, unless you've seen Barbra Streisand do it in the original
show.
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The Cast's Notable Credits |
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Fanny
Brice: |
Sutton
Foster
"I'm the Greatest Star"
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Thoroughly Modern Millie |
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Ricki Lake
"Nicky Arnstein"
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Hairspray (film) |
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Spencer
Kayden
(non-singing) |
Urinetown |
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Kristin
Chenoweth
"His Love Makes Me Beautiful"
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Wicked |
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Idina
Menzel
"Cornet Man"
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Wicked |
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LaChanze
"I Want To Be Seen With You" |
Once On
This Island |
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Julia
Murney
"People"
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Lennon |
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Lillias
White
"Don't Rain On My Parade"
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The
Life |
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Ana
Gasteyer
"You Are Woman, I Am Man"
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Wicked |
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Alice
Playten
(non-singing) |
Caroline, Or Change |
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Jane
Krakowski
"Sadie, Sadie"
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Nine |
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Bebe
Neuwirth
"Rat-Tat-Tat-Tat"
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Chicago |
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Judy Kuhn
"Who Are You Now?"
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Les Miz |
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Andrea
Martin
"Funny Girl"
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My Favorite Year |
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Carolee
Carmello
"The Music That Makes Me Dance"
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Mamma
Mia |
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Whoopi
Goldberg
"Don't Rain On My Parade" (reprise) |
A Funny
Thing Happened On The Way To The Forum |
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Nick
Arnstein: |
Peter
Gallagher |
Guys
and Dolls |
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Mrs. Brice: |
Kaye
Ballard |
Funny Girl National Tour |
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Mrs.
Strakosh: |
Marcia
Lewis |
Chicago |
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Eddie Ryan: |
John
Scherer |
Sunset
Blvd. |
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Florenz
Ziegfeld: |
Len Cariou
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Sweeney
Todd |
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Mr. Keeney: |
Gary Beach
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The
Producers |
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The Autumn
Bride: |
Steven
Brinberg |
Simply
Barbra |
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Henry
Street Guest: |
Stephanie
Mills |
The Wiz |
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Looney Who
Teaches Voice: |
Robin Byrd |
The Robin Byrd Show (radio) |
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