Funny Girl (Broadway Touring) at The Music Hall, Kansas City MO (2024-12-03 through 12-08)

“Hello (again) Gorgeous!”

Featuring one of the most iconic scores of all time by Jule Styne and Bob Merrill and a revised book from Harvey Fierstein based on the original classic by Isobel Lennart, the anticipated revival of the Broadway classic, Funny Girl has made a tour stop in downtown Kansas City. It's playing now through Sunday at The Music Hall, and we were fortunate enough to catch opening night.

First staged in 1964, it’s rightfully best-known as the star launching pad for a young Barbra Streisand, who made her film debut in the William Wyler directed 1968 version, after her successful run in the original Broadway cast, and then taking it to London’s West End.

This bittersweet comedy is the story of plucky Fanny Brice, a girl from the Lower East Side who dreamed of a life on the stage, eventually becoming one of the stage’s beloved performers, and her stormy relationship with entrepreneur and gambler Nicky Arnstein.

This revival originated on Broadway in 2022 starring Beanie Feldstein and later Lea Michelle and is out on its first nationwide tour starring Hannah Shankman as Fanny Brice, Stephen Mark Lukas as Nicky, Grammy Award-winner Melissa Manchester as Fanny’s mother, and Izaiah Montaque Harris as friend Eddie.

Harris is stunning in an Act I tap dance, with tap choreography by Ayodele Casel, and there’s another fun tap routine in Act II along with several cast dance numbers, courtesy of choreography by Ellenore Scott, with direction from Michael Mayer.

Shankman was unfortunately called away on short notice on opening night, so the role fell effortlessly to NYC-based Leah Platt, who typically plays Emma, and also understudies and takes on the lead role on most Thursday performances. Platt’s voice proved her range by the first few numbers, and seemed to grow stronger and slightly more confident as the show continued.

The songs themselves should have at least a few familiar to most, with several becoming modern stage standards – “People,” “I’m the Greatest Star,” “Sadie, Sadie Married Lady,” “You are Woman,” and “Don’t Rain on My Parade” are among the just over two-dozen selections.

At 71 years young, Bronx native Manchester (who really leans into that NYC accent) showed she still has plenty of lung power left on “Who Taught Her Everything?” sung by her Mrs. Brice and the Eddie Ryan character.

Kansas City’s own Walter Coppage as Flo Zeigfield (of Follies fame) is another welcome addition to the cast, featuring a booming speaking voice that is part Giancarlo Esposito, part James Earl Jones. The other 20 or so members of the company get involved in several of the full cast song and dance routines that embody that of timeless and classic Broadway performances.

Costumes by Susan Hilferty are often lush, especially as Brice’s star rises and pay homage not only to the now 1924-set year the musical inhabits but also are a slight nod to the designs from the late 60’s film, that many will recognize. Lighting by Kevin Adams stays effective throughout without trying to be obtrusive or extreme, and thanks to the many backdrops, scenes moved quickly and without a hitch.

The weakest part may be in the narrative itself and trying to get every little part of the story in during the run time. Brice is a struggling up-and-comer as the musical begins, but within some 20min, she becomes a lead performer and is in deep as a couple with entrepreneur Nicky, quickly getting rich and famous. The Follies numbers could be bigger in scale as well but is likely limited by the size of the company.

All said, those are minor quibbles for a classic musical that’s taken sixty years to have a revival. Funny Girl has been away too long; but now’s your chance, to again say “Hello Gorgeous!” to this timeless production.

Funny Girl plays in Kansas City at The Music Hall through Sunday, December 8 with Tickets available here: Funny Girl (Touring) Tickets | Event Dates & Schedule | Ticketmaster

  (National Tour Photos by Matthew Murphy and provided by their website) / Click on any image to enlarge and see in full)