A Classic Comedy That Cannot Be Missed- Funny Girl is On Stage Through July 28th

-Brenda Hillegas
photo by Evan Zimmerman for MurphyMade

Walking up the steps to the Academy of Music, you’ll see the doors covered in Funny Girl production photos and quotes praising the show. Katrina McCrimmon, as Fanny Brice, covers one doorway and above her are some words from the LA Times…

“McCrimmon is a powerhouse…she brings the house down as Fanny.”

I can’t think of a better way to describe her in this role. Fanny Brice was a beloved American comedian, who made many appearances on stage, in movies, and on a top-rated radio comedy series. She was a young girl from NYC’s Lower East Side who let absolutely nothing stand in her way. Her story, first made famous by Barbra Streisand on stage in 1964 and in the film adaptation a few years later, is filled with girl power, as Fanny rose to the top and made sure everyone knew her name. McCrimmon does the same on stage, and the on-going cheers and applause from the audience will tell you so. This may be the story of Fanny Brice, but for a couple hours each night at the Academy of Music, you’re also going to be a part of the Katrina McCrimmon show. Wait until you hear her voice! My eyes were wide and my jaw dropped during “Don’t Rain On My Parade”.

Philadelphia’s theatre community absolutely must see this show. Not only is Funny Girl a classic-they just don’t make ’em like this any more- but the cast is absolutely stellar. Along with McCrimmon, who I’d watch in this role again and again if I could, this is a stacked ensemble that pulls you in from the very first note. Melissa Manchester (Mrs. Brice) has a 50+ year career on stage, television, and in music. She was the first artist to have TWO Oscar-nominated songs in the same year and her 25th studio album was released earlier this year. Stephen Mark Lukas could easily convince me to fall in love too and push aside the fact that Nick Arnstein is a con-artist. He understudied the role on Broadway and it’s great to have his voice on board for the national tour. Incredible. You’ll also be wowed by Izaiah Montaque Harris as Eddie. He is a tap dancing king and you won’t want to take your eyes off him for even a second!

I saw Funny Girl on Broadway in 2022. It’s a big production and I knew it would do well on tour, but I was also curious who else could possibly take on a role as dynamic as Fanny Brice. Seeing the show again last week at Ensemble Arts, I’m thrilled that the characters were brought to life on tour with a group of performers who truly love this story. It’s obvious. You have until Sunday, the 28th, to witness some comedic theatre at its finest. Click here now for tickets and be transported back to the early 1900s, because Fanny is performing and you don’t want to miss it!