Lea Michele off from 'Funny Girl' due to COVID-19
Lea Michele, who recently began playing the role of Fanny Brice in Broadway's "Funny Girl," has tested positive for COVID-19. Credit: Getty Images / TNS / Dia Dipasupil
Fans of Lea Michele hoping to finally see her singing and dancing in "Funny Girl" on Broadway will have to be patient.
The "Glee" actor has tested positive for COVID-19 — missing Saturday's matinee and evening performance — and must now quarantine, slated to return to the show on Tuesday, Sept. 20. She only started on Tuesday.
The bittersweet comedy tells the tale of Fanny Brice, a Jewish girl from New York in the 1920s who went from burlesque to Broadway stages despite criticism that she wasn't conventionally beautiful.
"Funny Girl" is a musical that celebrates the oddballs, the kooky and the misfits, with Jule Styne-penned gems of songs like "Don't Rain on My Parade," "I'm the Greatest Star" and "People." Barbra Streisand played her on stage and on film.
Julie Benko, who had been slated to play Fanny on Thursdays in the revival, will be performing the role now until Michele is back. Michele, 36, took over from Beanie Feldstein and said the role was a lifetime goal.
"We are so thankful to the entire 'Funny Girl' company, including our standbys, understudies, swings and everyone working on the production for their remarkable commitment to keeping the show going and ensuring audiences have a great experience at every performance," the show said in a statement.
Starting in July, vaccine requirements for Broadway audience members were lifted and theatergoers had the option to wear a mask in all 41 of New York's Broadway theaters.
One production, "The Kite Runner," pushed back, asking audiences at Wednesday matinees and Friday night to mask up.
Gov. Kathy Hochul last week lifted the state's mandatory mask rules in schools and public transit, making face coverings encouraged but optional on buses and trains.
