Tuesday, March 19, 2024

Broadway: Is “Funny Girl” Cursed? Lea Michele Out for a Week with COVID After Just 4 Days On Stage

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On Tuesday, Lea Michele played her first performance as Fanny brice in “Funny Girl” on Broadway. It didn’t last long.

Lea was already on Friday and Saturday with suspected case of COVID. Now it’s been confirmed and she won’t return until September 20th.

Once again, understudy Julie Benko– who’s filled in many times as Fanny since the show opened in April — will take her place on stage. I haven’t seen her, but Benko has built up a loyal and passionate following. She’s said to be terrific as Fanny.

But what a situation for this cursed show. Beanie Feldstein took off the show’s first weekend to attend a wedding. She started not showing up, claiming illnesses of various sorts, until she finally stepped down from the role in mid July.

Roger Friedman
Roger Friedmanhttps://www.showbiz411.com
Roger Friedman began his Showbiz411 column in April 2009 after 10 years with Fox News, where he created the Fox411 column. His movie reviews are carried by Rotten Tomatoes, and he is a member of both the movie and TV branches of the Critics Choice Awards. His articles have appeared in dozens of publications over the years including New York Magazine, where he wrote the Intelligencer column in the mid 90s and covered the OJ Simpson trial, and Fox News (when it wasn't so crazy) where he covered Michael Jackson. He is also the writer and co-producer of "Only the Strong Survive," a selection of the Cannes, Sundance, and Telluride Film festivals, directed by DA Pennebaker and Chris Hegedus.
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