Funny Girl

Music by Jules Styne; Lyrics by Bob Merrill : Book by Isobel Lennart from an original story by Miss Lennart based on incidents in the life of Fanny Brice.

Produced on the Broadway stage by Ray Stark : New York production supervised by Jerome Robbins : Original production directed by Garson Kanin

Winter Garden, New York - 26 March, 1964 (1348 perfs)
Prince of Wales Theatre, London - 13 April, 1966

Funny Girl is based on incidents in the life of the Ziegfeld Follies star Fanny Brice shortly before, during and after World War I and chronicles her rise from being an awkward, unattractive, stage-struck teenager to national stardom. It also covers the story of her love for and subsequent failed marriage to Nick Arnstein, an elegant, sophisticated an whose charm Fanny finds irresistible. The show is full of the kind of good music that we come to expect from Jule Styne and included several show-stopping numbers including "People" and "Don't Let It Rain on My Parade".

Cast

Male - 19; Female - 16; plus showgirls, dancers and chorus.

Fanny Brice
Mrs Brice, her mother
Mrs Strakosh
Tom Keeney
Eddie Ryan
Nick Arnstein
Florenz Ziegfeld Jnr.
Emma
Jenny

Mrs Meeker, Mrs O'Malley, Heckie, John, Bubbles, Polly, Maude, Mimsey, Ziegfeld tenor, Jody, Adolf, Mrs Nadler, Paul, Cathy, Vera, Ben, Mr. Renaldi, etc.

Musical Numbers:

Cornet Man
Don't Rain On My Parade
Find Yourself a Man
Henry Street
His Love Makes Me Beautiful
I Want To be Seen With You Tonight
If a Girl Isn't Pretty
I'm the Greatest Star
The Music That Makes Me Dance
People
Rat-Tat-Tat-Tat (Private Schwartz)
Sadie, Sadie (Married Lady)
Who Are You Now?
Who taught Her Everything?
You Are Woman

Orchestration

Reed 1, 2, 3, 4 & 5; Horn; Trumpet 1, 2 & 3; Trombone 1, 2 & 3; Percussion 1 & 2; Violins; Cello; Bass; Guitar/Banjo; Piano/Celeste