Funny Girl Revival to Play Broadway's Imperial Theatre

The forthcoming Broadway revival of Funny Girl, starring Lauren Ambrose as Fanny Brice and Bobby Cannavale as Nick Arnstein, has booked the Imperial Theatre for an as-yet unspecified opening night in April 2012. The Imperial is currently home to Billy Elliot, which is set to close on January 8, 2012. Additional casting, preview and opening dates for Bartlett Sher’s production of Funny Girl will be announced shortly.

Before arriving at the Imperial, Funny Girl will debut at Center Theatre Group’s Ahmanson Theatre in Los Angeles, running from January 15 through February 26. The show has not been seen on Broadway since its 1964 premiere production, which starred Barbra Streisand and Sydney Chaplin.

Funny Girl features music by Jule Styne, lyrics by Bob Merrill and book by Isobel Lennart. The musical tells the road-to-stardom story of legendary entertainer Fanny Brice (Ambrose), from her start in a Brooklyn music hall to her meteoric rise as a headliner in the Ziegfeld Follies. While her career soars, she falls in love with charming gambler Nick Arnstein (Cannavale), just as his own lucky streak is running out. The show’s beloved score includes “Don’t Rain on My Parade,” “I’m the Greatest Star,” “The Music That Makes Me Dance” and the iconic hit “People.”

Scenic design for Funny Girl is by Michael Yeargan, costume design by Catherine Zuber, lighting design by Donald Holder and sound design by Scott Lehrer. Music director is Kimberly Grigsby. Choreographer is Christopher Gattelli.

Funny Girl will be produced in Los Angeles at the Ahmanson Theatre by Center Theatre Group, with special permission from Bob Boyett, Sonia Friedman Productions, Jean Doumanian, Stacey Mindich and Tim Levy. The Broadway production will be produced by Bob Boyett, Sonia Friedman Productions, Jean Doumanian, Stacey Mindich, Tim Levy and Center Theatre Group.