Sheridan Smith Takes Break From London's Funny Girl Due to 'Stress & Exhaustion'

After much speculation in the British media, Sheridan Smith has taken a two to four week break from the London revival of Funny Girl due to "stress and exhaustion." Natasha J. Barnes will take on the role of Fanny Brice at the West End's Savoy Theatre in her absence. Directed by Tony winner Michael Mayer, with a revised book by Tony winner Harvey Fierstein, two-time Olivier winner Smith had received acclaim for her performance and there had been murmurings of a Broadway transfer.

The tuner, which catapulted Barbra Streisand to stardom on stage and screen, first played London in 1966. Funny Girl tracks the rise of Fanny Brice’s career as one of Broadway’s biggest stars by way of the Ziegfeld Follies, as well as her doomed romance with Nicky Arnstein. The score by Jule Styne and Bob Merrill features such iconic show tunes as “People,” “Don’t Rain on My Parade” and “I’m the Greatest Star” and a book by Isobel Lennart.

The production originally started out at the Menier Chocolate Factory and also stars Darius Campbell as Nick Arnstein and Valda Aviks as Mrs. Meeker.