Funny Girl: Bobby Cannavale to star

Bobby Cannavale will star as 'Nick Arnstein' opposite the previously announced Lauren Ambrose, who will star as 'Fanny Brice,' in the first Broadway revival of Funny Girl since the original 1964 production.

Funny Girl, which features music by Jule Styne, lyrics by Bob Merrill and book by Isobel Lennart, will be directed by Tony Award-winner Bartlett Sher.

Bobby Cannavale commented, "It's always been my dream to star in a Broadway musical. This is a terrific role for my musical theatre debut and an exciting challenge for me. I look forward to working with the brilliant Bartlett Sher and the amazingly talented Lauren Ambrose."

Bobby Cannavale made his Broadway debut in 2007 in Theresa Rebeck's 'Mauritius,' for which he received a Tony Award nomination and last season, starred in Stephen Adly Guirgis' 'The Motherf**ker with the Hat,' for which he received a second Tony nomination. TV work includes NBC's "Will & Grace" (Emmy Award), Showtime's "Nurse Jackie," HBO's "Six Feet Under" and the starring role in ABC's "Cupid."

Funny Girl will play at Center Theatre Group/Ahmanson Theatre in Los Angeles from 15 Jan through 26 Feb 2012 prior to opening in spring 2012 on Broadway at a theatre to be announced.

Funny Girl is the road-to-stardom story of legendary entertainer Fanny Brice, from her start in a Brooklyn music hall to her meteoric rise as a headliner in the Ziegfeld Follies. While her career soars, she falls in love with charming gambler Nick Arnstein, just as his own lucky streak is running out.

For Funny Girl, Bartlett Sher reunites the design team of his acclaimed Tony Award-winning production of 'South Pacific': scenic design by Michael Yeargan, costume design by Catherine Zuber, lighting design by Donald Holder and sound design by Scott Lehrer. Music director is Kimberly Grigsby. Choreography is by Christopher Gattelli.