Wednesday, March 26, 2014

Funny Girl Opening Night on Broadway--50 years ago today!

50 Years Ago Today...

Chaplin and Streisand in Funny Girl on Broadway
.... Funny Girl opened on Broadway!

Funny Girl cast album
Here is today's official press release about the new Funny Girl Broadway Cast Album, due April 29th:
It has been 50 years since Barbra Streisand portrayed Fanny Brice in the 1964 Broadway stage production of Funny Girl, and 46 years since she reprised her critically acclaimed role for the 1968 feature film. On April 29, Capitol/UMe will release the Gold-certified Funny Girl: Original Broadway Cast Recording in a 50th Anniversary Deluxe Edition boxed set with a digitally remastered CD and vinyl LP, as well as a 48-page book featuring exclusive photos from the production and a new essay by Jay Landers. The remastered original cast recordingwill also be available for digital purchase, including 192k and 96k high definition audio on HDtracks.
[Pre-Order FUNNY GIRL 50TH from Amazon.com here]
By 1964, Streisand’s star was on a rapid rise. She was already a two-time GRAMMY® winner, earning 1963’s Album of the Year and Best Female Vocalist awards for her solo album debut, The Barbra Streisand Album. On March 26, 1964, Funny Girl opened on Broadway at the Winter Garden Theatre, with Streisand in the musical’s lead role of Fanny Brice.
With music by Jule Styne and lyrics by Bob Merrill, Funny Girl was produced by Ray Stark, directed by Garson Kanin, and choreographed by Carol Haney under the supervision of Jerome Robbins. In addition to Streisand, the show’s original cast included Sydney Chaplin, Kay Medford, Danny Meehan, Jean Stapleton, and Lainie Kazan, who also served as Streisand's understudy. The production earned rave reviews and eight Tony® Award nominations, in every major category.
Funny Girl’s Original Broadway Cast Recording album was recorded in one session, 10 days into the show’s run, with seasoned Broadway cast recording producer Dick Jones at the helm. Released one week later by Capitol Records, the album climbed to No. 2 on the Billboard 200 albums chart, just behind The Beatles’ Second Album (also released by Capitol), and Streisand’s rendition of “People” became an instant classic. The album won the year’s GRAMMY® Award for Best Original Cast Album.
After more than 1,300 performances at the Winter Garden Theatre, the Majestic Theatre, the Broadway Theatre, and a triumphant run in London’s West End, Funny Girl closed on July 1, 1967. The next year, Streisand made her Hollywood film debut, once again wowing critics and fans alike and earning the Best Actress Academy Award® for her portrayal of Fanny Brice in the Funny Girl motion picture.
[Pre-Order FUNNY GIRL 50TH from Amazon.com here]
  1. Overture
  2. If a Girl Isn't Pretty [Jean Stapleton, Kay Medford, Danny Meehan and Ensemble]
  3. I'm the Greatest Star [Barbra Streisand]
  4. Cornet Man [Barbra Streisand]
  5. Who Taught Her Everything? [Kay Medford and Danny Meehan]
  6. His Love Makes Me Beautiful [John Lankston, Barbra Streisand and Ensemble]
  7. I Want to Be Seen With You Tonight [Sydney Chaplin and Barbra Streisand]
  8. Henry Street [Ensemble]
  9. People [Barbra Streisand]
  10. You Are Woman [Sydney Chaplin and Barbra Streisand]
  11. Don't Rain on My Parade [Barbra Streisand]
  12. Sadie, Sadie [Barbra Streisand and Ensemble]
  13. Find Yourself a Man [Danny Meehan, Kay Medford and Jean Stapleton]
  14. Rat-Tat-Tat-Tat [Danny Meehan, Barbra Streisand and Ensemble]
  15. Who Are You Now? [Barbra Streisand]
  16. The Music That Makes Me Dance [Barbra Streisand]
  17. Don't Rain on My Parade (Reprise) [Barbra Streisand]

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