“Funny Girl” is surging at the box office as the production prepares to close over Labor Day weekend.
The fans are turning out to see star Lea Michele play Fanny Brice after her bravura performance on the Tony Awards.
But those fans were surely disappointed this past weekend. Lea Michele missed the shows on Friday night, Saturday, and Sunday. A message posted to the show’s social media said she was “under the weather.”
Standby Julie Benko filled in but she was ready anyway. Benko plays the Thursday night show, where she’s become the Understudy of the Year.
Indeed, the one person who got a lot out of “Funny Girl” is Benko. She started under Beanie Feldstein, who was often MIA. Then Lea Michele’s term brought the Thursday gig and plenty of fill ins.
Benko’s next gig once “Funny Girl” ends is starring in Barry Manilow and Bruce Sussman’s “Harmony.” She finally gets to top line. It’s about time!
