“Don’t rain on my parade…;” be sure to catch the blockbuster classic musical, “Funny Girl!” Based on the life of famed Follies headliner Fanny Brice, and made popular by the 1968 film starring Barbra Streisand and Omar Sharif, “Funny Girl” is a beloved gem in the musical theatre catalog. Don’t miss your chance to catch this multi-Tony nominated, recently Broadway revived hit, fully LIVE Arts Express Theatre, running January 23-February 15. Performances are Fridays and Saturdays at 7 p.m., and Saturday and Sunday Matinees at 2 p.m.
Fanny Brice (Julia Waters) dreams of one day becoming a “Ziegfeld” girl, only there’s one problem… all the neighbors agree, an Atlantic City beauty queen she is not. But Fanny is talented and full of wit, comedy, and plenty of drive, so when Fanny meets vaudeville dancer, Eddie (Kevin Orduño), she convinces him to help her get her foot in the door.
Soon Fanny’s off-beat, star-like quality propels her to the Ziegfeld follies, and after a show she meets handsome, charming high roller Nick Arnstein (Matt Milne). As Fanny’s fame grows and she headlines a tour, Nick is her biggest fan, and soon Nick and Fanny fall in love. Despite warnings about his gambling ways, Fanny grows tired of people telling her what to do and decides to go after Nick to become a “Sadie,” married lady.
While Fanny has achieved fame, money, and now a husband and a baby, Nick, ever eager to be the breadwinner, continues to take bigger risks to win money for his lifestyle. Desperate for investors in his latest scheme, Nick approaches Mr. Ziegfeld (Tom Spencer) himself, but he declines, and Fanny uses her fortune instead. As Nick and Fanny’s relationship problems comes to a head, Fanny’s mother, Mrs. Brice (Amy Williams), holds up a mirror to her life and shows her the reality. Hopeful to the last, even after Nick has served prison time for fraud, Fanny tries to reconcile. Knowing it can’t ever work, Fanny finally comes to terms with who she is and realizes she’s “beat” her drum and given life her all, and forges ahead into her new path without Nick.
With billboard top hits like “People,” a stunning score by Jule Styne, lyrics by Bob Merrill, and book by Isobel Lennart, every musical theatre lover won’t want to miss the chance to see “Funny Girl!”
“Funny Girl” is Directed by Dana Milne, with Music Direction by Luke Diamond and Choreography by Simone Jolivet-Manuel.
For tickets, visit www.arts-express.org or call the Arts Express Theatre Box Office at (520) 319-0400.
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