By Joe Contreras, Latin Life Denver Media

How would you like to treat yourself and or some others to an extra special early Christmas gift that will be remembered and talked about for years to come. If so, then ‘Funny Girl’ is the ticket for you. This production currently at the Buell Theatre thru December 22nd is like experiencing a magical flying sleigh ride through the Denver skyline weaving in and out of LOL comedy and “oh my” drama. It’s one of those shows/rides with ups and downs that you hate to see come to an end.

The live orchestra, the show girls, the tap dancing, the acting, the huge cast and of course the songs, “People”, “Don’t Rain On My Parade” and many others are enough to leave an audience gasping for air.

Who can forget Barbara Streisand’s rendition of “People” in the 1968 film version of Funny Girl. It garnered 8 Academy Award nominations, with Streisand winning Best Actress for her film debut. Well, dare I say that the lead actress, Hannah Shankman, who plays Fanny Brice, rivals Streisand’s voice in this revival of the Broadway production that opened in March 1964? Yes, I do. Shankman’s hits all the notes with a powerful voice that may be the best I have heard in a theatrical production.

FUNNY GIRL is set in the lower east side in NYC during the early 1900s. The costumes from the Vaudeville era of Broadway are designed by the Tony award-winning Susan Hilferty. They are stunning and glamorous.

Funny Girl is a bittersweet musical comedy about the humble beginning and rising stardom of Fanny Brice, a Jewish comedian and Broadway Star. As a quirky teenager Fanny Brice dreams of becoming a theatre star. Problem is she is not all that good looking. Something her mother and her card playing friends are constantly reminding her of.

Her mother, Mrs. Brice is played by Melissa Manchester, who is celebrating her 50th year on the theatrical stage. Manchester, is a Grammy award winning singer and songwriter. She was the first artist to have two Oscar nominated songs in the same year.

“Honey, your theatrical antics were cute when you were a child, but you are not a child anymore,” her mother tells her. “And your not cute anymore either” snappily states one of the mothers friends. The third then chimes in with “Men are not going to pay good money to see someone the likes of you”. Seems like everyone wants to rain on Fanny Brice’s parade. But she is not having it. She follows her dreams, seemingly searching for that pot of gold at the end of rainbow that everyone tells her doesn’t exist. Franny is convinced that you do not need to be pretty to succeed.

Fanny is a stage-struck Jewish teenager who lands her first job in vaudeville. Her mother believes in her but her mother’s friends are more than skeptical. Fanny overwhelms a vaudeville hoofer with her iron will to succeed and her unshakable self confidence. He agrees to coach her in singing and dancing. She soon rises in show business through sheer moxie and sensational talent.

Fanny is quickly smitten by Nick Arnstein, played by Stephen Mark Lukas. He is an elegant man, who has come to the theatre to pay off a gambling debt. Fanny is a hit in her first Ziegfeld Follies appearance, and Nick is coincidentally on hand to offer congratulations. Fanny cannot leave Nick ever again. Fanny decides to leave the company and follow her love. She feels this is her one chance for happiness and is determined not to let anything stand in her way. Well, things don’t always turn out like you want but that’s no reason to let anyone rain on your parade.

There are Broadway shows and then there are Broadway shows that rise above the rest. For me, this travelling Broadway production of Funny Girl is one of those productions that stands out from the others. One that I would enjoy to experiencing over and over again. Like a favorite roller coaster ride. Some call it bittersweet but I found it to be as delicious as a candy cane. Be good to yourself and others and give the treat of “Funny Girl” this year.

This is the first National Tour of FUNNY GIRL, and audiences may know the previous leading ladies of FUNNY GIRL (Barbra Streisand, Lea Michele, Beanie Feldstein). The revival features an all-star creative team: Direction from Tony award-winner Michael Mayer and revised book by Tony award-winner Harvey Fierstein
Funny Girl plays the Buell Theatre at the Denver Center for the Performing Arts through December 22, 2024. TICKETS