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HELLO, GORGEOUS! @EnsembleArtsPhilly (Facebook/Instagram)/@ensembleartsPHL (Twitter/X) is thrilled to present the Philadelphia premiere of @funnygirlbroadway (Facebook/Instagram/Twitter/X) at the Academy of Music from 7/16-7/28! For more info, visit www.ensembleartsphilly.org.
Press Contacts:
Lauren A. Woodard Hall
484-832-1963
lhall@ensembleartsphilly.org
Jesse Cute
267-765-3721
jcute@alliedglobalmarketing.com
Aliena Walrond
267-765-3711
awalrond@alliedglobalmarketing.com
ENSEMBLE ARTS PHILLY AND THE SHUBERT ORGANIZATION PRESENT THE PHILADELPHIA PREMIERE OF THE HIT BROADWAY REVIVAL, FUNNY GIRL, AT THE ACADEMY OF MUSIC, JULY 16 – 28, 2024
“Vivacious and delightfully glitzy.” – Michelle Ruiz, Vogue
“FUNNY GIRL is the exact musical that we need right now!” – Maggie Lovitt, Collider
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE (May 22, 2024) – Hello, gorgeous! Ensemble Arts Philly, the new presenting brand of the Kimmel Cultural Campus, and The Shubert Organization present the Philadelphia premiere of the sensational Broadway comedy revival, Funny Girl, at the Academy of Music from July 16 – 28, 2024, featuring Grammy® Award-winner Melissa Manchester (Mrs. Brice) and introducing rising star Katerina McCrimmon (Fanny Brice).
Welcome to musical comedy heaven! Featuring one of the most iconic scores of all time by Jule Styne and Bob Merrill, an updated book from Harvey Fierstein based on the original classic by Isobel Lennart, tap choreography by Ayodele Casel, choreography by Ellenore Scott, and direction from Michael Mayer, this love letter to the theater has the whole shebang! After debuting on Broadway in 1964, Funny Girl made its way to the big screen in 1968, with Barbra Streisand in the titular role, and became the highest grossing film in the U.S. that year.
“Mirroring the meteoric rise of Fanny Brice, new arrival Katrina McCrimmon is capturing the hearts of audiences as the titular heroine, supported by a fantastic cast including Grammy® winner Melissa Manchester,” said Frances Egler, Vice President of Theatrical Programming and Presentations. “This iconic musical, known for its rich storytelling and unforgettable music, is a summer highlight of our Broadway season.”
The sensational Broadway revival dazzles with one of the most celebrated musical scores of all time, including classic songs “Don’t Rain on my Parade,” “I’m the Greatest Star,” and “People.” This bittersweet comedy is the story of the indomitable Fanny Brice, a girl from the Lower East Side who dreamed of a life on the stage. Everyone told her she’d never be a star, but then something funny happened – she became one of the most beloved performers in history, shining brighter than the brightest lights of Broadway.
Funny Girl is directed by Tony® Award winner Michael Mayer (Thoroughly Modern Millie) and features the classic score by Tony®, Grammy®, and Academy® Award winner Jule Styne and lyrics by Tony® Award nominee and Grammy® Award winner Bob Merrill, with additional songs from Styne & Merrill. The original book by Isobel Lennart, from an original story by Miss Lennart, is revised by Tony® Award winner Harvey Fierstein (Kinky Boots, Newsies).
Funny Girl features choreography by Ellenore Scott (Falsettos); tap choreography by Ayodele Casel; scenic design by Tony® Award winner David Zinn (SpongeBob SquarePants: The Musical); costume design by Tony® Award winner Susan Hilferty (Wicked); lighting design by Tony® Award winner Kevin Adams (Hedwig and the Angry Inch); sound design by Tony® Award winner Brian Ronan (Beautiful: The Carole King Musical) and Cody Spencer; hair and wig design by Campbell Young Associates; music supervision by Emmy® Award winner Michael Rafter; casting by Jim Carnahan, CSA, and Jason Thinger, CSA; orchestrations by Chris Walker; dance, vocal, and incidental music arrangements by Alan Williams, and additional arrangements by David Dabbon and Carmel Dean. The associate director is Johanna McKeon; the associate choreographer is Jeffrey Gugliotti; the assistant director is Torya Beard; the assistant tap choreographer is Dre Torres.
The Funny Girl tour stage management team is led by Production Stage Manager Jovon E. Shuck and is supported by Stage Manager Mariah Young and Assistant Stage Manager Rachael Wilkin. The company management team is led by Company Manager Justin Sweeney with Associate Company Manager Ryan Mayfield. The tour music director/conductor is Elaine Davidson.
The Broadway production of the latest Funny Girl revival began performances at the August Wilson Theatre on March 22, 2022, with the official opening on April 24, 2022, where it continued its record-breaking run through September 3, 2023. Sonia Friedman, Scott Landis, and David Babani together with Gemini Theatrical, Accidental Jacket, and Sony Masterworks Broadway released Funny Girl – New Broadway Cast Recording, which is now available wherever you stream music. Produced by David Caddick and David Lai and featuring the classic score by Jule Styne (music) and Bob Merrill (lyrics), the album is co-produced by Sonia Friedman, Scott Landis, David Babani, Michael Mayer, Brian Gillet, Huck Walton, Sean Keller, and Marc Levine. The album is executively produced by Evan McGill and the associate producers are Joanna Drowos, Abby Green, and PickleStar Theatricals.
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TICKETS
Tickets can be purchased by calling 215-893-1999 or online at ensembleartsphilly.org. In-person ticket sales can be conducted daily from 10 a.m. - 6 p.m. at the Academy of Music Box Office, located at 240 S. Broad Street. See ensembleartsphilly.org for more information.
For more information about FUNNY GIRL please visit https://funnygirlonbroadway.com/tour/
Follow FUNNY GIRL on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and TikTok. #FUNNYGIRL
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THE SHUBERT ORGANIZATION
The Shubert Organization is America’s oldest professional theatre company and the largest theatre owner on Broadway. Since the dawn of the 20th century, Shubert has operated hundreds of theatres and produced hundreds of plays and musicals both in New York City and throughout the United States. Shubert currently owns and operates 17 Broadway theatres, six off-Broadway venues, and the Forrest Theatre in Philadelphia. Under the leadership of Robert E. Wankel, Chairman and CEO, The Shubert Organization continues to be a leader in the theatre industry. Shubert delivers innovative ticketing solutions via its Telecharge interface, API distribution, and private-label technology, offering unparalleled distribution and marketing to the theatre industry and beyond. Its consumer-facing brands—Telecharge for retail ticket sales and Broadway Inbound for group buyers, tour operators, and the travel industry—sell millions of tickets each year. The Shubert Foundation, sole shareholder of The Shubert Organization, Inc., is dedicated to sustaining and advancing live performing arts in the United States. The Foundation provides general operating support to not-for-profit theatres and dance companies. Foundation grants in 2022 totaled $37.6 million to 609 grantees.
ENSEMBLE ARTS PHILLY
For more information about ENSEMBLE ARTS PHILLY, visit www.ensembleartsphilly.org.
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For photography, please visit https://ensembleartsphilly.smugmug.com/
For a PDF version of this press release, click here.