Funny Girl’s North American Tour Welcomes New Fanny Brice in Seattle

The North American tour of the classic musical ‘Funny Girl’ is making a big change as it arrives in Seattle, Washington, later this month. Hannah Shankman, a Broadway veteran with credits in shows like ‘Hair,’ ‘Wicked,’ ‘Side Show,’ ‘The Band’s Visit,’ ‘Rent,’ and ‘Les Misérables,’ will take on the iconic role of Fanny Brice starting September 24 at the Paramount Theater. Shankman, who was previously the standby for the role, is stepping in to replace Katerina McCrimmon.

Joining Shankman on stage will be a talented cast, including Grammy-winning singer-songwriter Melissa Manchester as Mrs. Brice, Stephen Mark Lukas as Nick Arnstein, Izaiah Montaque Harris as Eddie Ryan, and Walter Coppage as Florenz Ziegfeld, among others. The ensemble is packed with talent, featuring names like Vinny Andaloro, Jack Bianchi, and Courtney Brady, to name just a few.

Director Michael Mayer, who helms this revival, is full of praise for Shankman. ‘Hannah is a marvelous Fanny Brice. She brings great intelligence, humor, and authenticity to the role, and she’s a terrific singer. I’ve had the pleasure of seeing her rousing theatergoers to their feet for a year now, and I am delighted that new audiences across America will also revel in her performance as she takes on the role full time,’ Mayer said in a statement.

‘Funny Girl’ first hit Broadway in 1964, with music by Jule Styne, lyrics by Bob Merrill, and a book by Isobel Lennart, now freshly adapted by Tony winner Harvey Fierstein for this revival. The show originally launched Barbra Streisand to stardom, and this latest revival continues to capture hearts, charting the journey of real-life performer Fanny Brice from Brooklyn beginnings to Ziegfeld Follies fame.

Synopsis: ‘Funny Girl’ is a musical that follows the life of Fanny Brice, a young Jewish girl from Brooklyn with big dreams of making it in showbiz. Despite being told she isn’t traditionally beautiful or talented enough, Fanny’s unique comedic skills and powerful voice propel her to stardom in the Ziegfeld Follies. Along the way, she falls in love with the charming but troubled gambler Nick Arnstein. The story explores her rise to fame, her tumultuous relationship with Nick, and her relentless drive to stay true to herself despite the obstacles she faces.

The revival, which opened on Broadway in April 2022, features choreography by Ellenore Scott and tap choreography by Ayodele Casel, along with much of the original creative team. Scenic designer David Zinn, costume designer Susan Hilferty, lighting designer Kevin Adams, and sound designer Brian Ronan all return for the tour. New additions include music director Elaine Davidson and co-sound designer Cody Spencer.

Behind the scenes, the production team is led by Jovon E. Shuck as production stage manager, with Kyle Dannahey and Rachael Wilkin supporting as stage managers. Company management is overseen by Justin A. Sweeney, with Ryan Mayfield as associate company manager. The national tour is produced by NETworks Presentations in association with Sonia Friedman Productions, Scott Landis, and David Babani.

As ‘Funny Girl’ continues its journey across the country, it promises to bring the timeless story of Fanny Brice to life for audiences old and new, blending humor, heart, and a bit of Broadway magic.