Lea Michele won’t take part in ‘Funny Girl’ on Broadway after testing positive for COVID-19
Fans of Lea Michele who are eager to see her perform in “Funny Girl” on Broadway will have to be patient a little longer.
The “Glee” performer has tested positive for COVID-19 and must now remain in quarantine. He will return to the show on Tuesday, September 20 after missing Saturday’s matinee and evening performances because of his positive result. It was only on Tuesday that she began her new job.
The story of Fanny Brice, a Jewish girl from New York in the 1920s who rose from burlesque to the Broadway stages despite criticism that she was not conventionally attractive, is told through the lens of a bittersweet comedy in this production.
Jule Styne wrote songs like “Don’t Rain on My Parade,” “I’m the Greatest Star,” and “People,” which were featured prominently in the musical “Funny Girl,” which celebrated society’s eccentrics, kooks, and outcasts.Both on stage and in the movie, Barbra Streisand portrayed her.
In the revival, Julie Benko, who was originally set to portray Fanny on Thursdays, will now be playing the part in the interim until Michele is able to return. Following in Beanie Feldstein’s footsteps, Michele took on the job, citing it as a “lifetime dream” of hers.
“We are so thankful to the entire ‘Funny Girl’ company, including our standbys, understudies, swings and everyone working on the production for their remarkable commitment to keeping the show going and ensuring audiences have a great experience at every performance,” the show said in a statement.
In the month of July, vaccination requirements for Broadway audience members were removed, and theatergoers in any of New York City’s 41 Broadway theaters were given the choice to wear a mask if they wanted to do so.
One production, “The Kite Runner,” pushed back, asking audiences at Wednesday matinees and Friday nights to mask up.
The restrictions that required students to wear masks in schools and on public transportation in New York have been repealed by Governor Kathy Hochul. On subways, buses, and trains, wearing a cover over one’s face is not required.
