Broadway

Rock on! And on! And on! Broadway currently sports three very different shows featuring rock music, a diverse and exciting genre that never gets old. Not to mention, the shows feature rock legends like Pete Townshend, Huey Lewis, and (sort of) Fleetwood Mac.

These shows include the new musical [*The Heart of Rock and Roll*](https://www.newyorktheatreguide.com/show/36584-the-heart-of-rock-and-roll) at the [James Earl Jones...

Rock music takes the stage in three Broadway shows this spring

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Songs by rock bands The Who and Huey Lewis and The News appear in high-energy musicals alongside a new play with music inspired by the 1970s rock scene.

Welcome to the Russian countryside! Here's your first look at [*Uncle Vanya*](https://www.newyorktheatreguide.com/show/33211-uncle-vanya) on Broadway, with [Steve Carell](https://www.newyorktheatreguide.com/stars-on-stage/steve-carell) making his Broadway debut in the title role. The starry cast, directed by Lila Neugebauer, also includes [Anika Noni Rose](https://www.newyorktheatreguide.com/stars-on-stage/anika-noni-rose) (*Caroline, or Change*), [Alfred...

See photos of Steve Carell and the cast of 'Uncle Vanya' on Broadway

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The star of *The Office* makes his Broadway debut in the latest revival of the classic play, which also stars Anika Noni Rose, Alfred Molina, and more.

You're gonna hear her roar! Maya Boyd will be the next Juliet in [*& Juliet*](https://www.newyorktheatreguide.com/show/25598-and-juliet-tickets) on Broadway, beginning performances on May 14 at the [Stephen Sondheim Theatre](https://www.newyorktheatreguide.com/theatres/stephen-sondheim-theatre).

Boyd made her Broadway debut earlier this year in the cast of *Merrily We Roll Along*. In *& Juliet*, she will now replace [Lorna...

Maya Boyd to join '& Juliet' Broadway cast

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After making her Broadway debut earlier this year, the actor will now replace Tony Award nominee Lorna Courtney in the title role of the acclaimed musical.

See two stars, alike in dignity! [Rachel Zegler](https://www.newyorktheatreguide.com/stars-on-stage/rachel-zegler) and [Kit Connor](https://www.newyorktheatreguide.com/stars-on-stage/kit-connor) will lead a new revival of [*Romeo + Juliet*](https://www.newyorktheatreguide.com/show/40696-romeo-and-juliet-on-broadway) on Broadway. The Shakespeare production, directed by Sam Gold, will run this fall, with a theatre and dates to be announced.

Zegler is best known for starring as Maria in Steven...

Rachel Zegler, Kit Connor to star in ‘Romeo + Juliet’ on Broadway

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The *West Side Story* and *Heartstopper* stars will play Shakespeare’s tragic young lovers in the production, which features music by Jack Antonoff.

As the star of *The Office*, [Steve Carell](https://www.newyorktheatreguide.com/stars-on-stage/steve-carell) may be known for his comedic chops, but the roles he's played since that show’s Emmy Award-winning run have shown he can do so much more. He earned an Oscar nomination for playing a maniacal wrestling coach in *Foxcatcher*, played the father of a drug addict (played by Timothée Chalamet) in *Beautiful Boy*, and now makes his Broadway debut in the title role in Anton Chekhov’s [*Uncle...

All the celebrities who have starred in 'Uncle Vanya,' including Steve Carell

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The award-winning actor, best known for starring in *The Office*, is the latest person to tackle the coveted title role of Chekhov's classic family drama.

Great news for Huey Lewis fans: You can hear his music live again. For the first time since Meniere's disease impaired the '80s rock star's ability to hear music, forcing him to stop performing with his band The News, his songs are back on not one stage, but two.

Lewis isn't singing them, but those familiar with the Huey Lewis and The News hits "The Power of Love" and "Back in Time" will thrill to hear them nonetheless. Both those songs appear in this season's Broadway musical adaptation of...

How Huey Lewis shaped 'The Heart of Rock and Roll' on Broadway

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The new musical is set to nearly 30 hits by Huey Lewis and The News, and the band's frontman was a crucial and active collaborator throughout its journey.

Family trees are in bloom on Broadway this spring. Beginning with Joshua Harmon’s *Prayer for the French Republic* at the top of the year, numerous family dramas have proved the staying power of the fertile, timeless genre. Not to mention, these shows' families include the likes of actors Steve Carell, Jessica Lange, and Sarah Paulson.

Playing right now are Paula Vogel’s [*Mother Play*](https://www.newyorktheatreguide.com/show/31354-mother-play-on-broadway) at the [Hayes...

Learn about all the family dramas on Broadway this season

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Each play in the genre is just as unique as any given family, as evidenced by this spring's star-studded shows *Mother Play*, *Appropriate*, and *Uncle Vanya*.

And they were roommates! Per an April 11 [report from the New York Post](https://nypost.com/2024/04/11/entertainment/patti-lupone-mia-farrow-to-star-in-broadways-the-roommate/), three-time Tony Award winner [Patti LuPone](https://www.newyorktheatreguide.com/stars-on-stage/patti-lupone) and seven-time Golden Globe nominee Mia Farrow will co-star in the new Broadway play *The Roommate* this fall. According to the report, performances will run at the [Booth...

Patti LuPone, Mia Farrow reported to star in 'The Roommate' on Broadway

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According to a report in the New York Post, the actresses will perform in the 2015 play by Jen Silverman for a limited engagement beginning in August.

Home to historic rock bands like The Velvet Underground and The Ramones, New York City is a rock and roll lover’s paradise. Even though many of the popular venues that used to host rock and punk artists in the ‘60s and ‘70s have since closed, there are still plenty of ways to enjoy the history of rock and roll while visiting New York City. 

Take your own rock-and-roll tour of NYC with these classic rock attractions, with something for every rock fan. Pick up some records; pay homage to late,...

Check out these classic rock musicals and attractions in NYC

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Make a day out of seeing a rock show on Broadway, including *The Who's Tommy*, Huey Lewis's *The Heart of Rock and Roll*, or the '70s rock-inspired *Stereophonic*.

Photos have been released of [*Patriots*](https://www.newyorktheatreguide.com/show/38891-patriots) on Broadway, starring *Boardwalk Empire* and *Dopesick*'s [Michael Stuhlbarg](https://www.newyorktheatreguide.com/stars-on-stage/michael-stuhlbarg). Russia meets New York at the [Barrymore Theatre](https://www.newyorktheatreguide.com/theatres/barrymore-theatre), where this new play by Peter Morgan is in performances through June 23.

The playwright, who created Netflix's Emmy Award-winning show...

See photos of Michael Stuhlbarg and the cast of 'Patriots' on Broadway

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The Emmy and Tony Award-nominated actor stars as the late Russian politician Boris Berezovsky in the newest play from the creator of Netflix's *The Crown*.

Hello, gorgeous! The first revival of&nbsp;<a href="https://www.newyorktheatreguide.com/show/funny-girl" target="_blank">Funny Girl</a>&nbsp;has paraded onto Broadway. <a href="https://www.newyorktheatreguide.com/actor-profile/beanie-feldstein" target="_blank">Beanie Feldstein</a> leads the cast as Fanny Brice, alongside Ramin Karimloo as Nicky Arnstein and Jane Lynch as Mrs. Rosie Brice. The musicalized account of the real Ziegfeld Follies star Fanny Brice's life follows her fell into a whirlwind romance with the gambler Nicky Arnstein. Although she wagered that his past wouldn't affect their relationship, she may have bet over her head.Ahead of Funny Girl's official opening on April 24 at the <a href="https://www.newyorktheatreguide.com/theatres/august-wilson-theatre" target="_blank">August Wilson Theatre</a>, new photos of Feldstein and the cast have been released. See all the greatest stars in this old-fashioned musical revival below!Photo credit: Matthew Murphy

![Funny Girl Beanie Feldstein - 750 - NYTG](//images.ctfassets.net/6pezt69ih962/4KdHxgANsQgKh8z4uzZcPU/2597a0ae7956d43aeed15b7d1e3c8d1b/funny_girl_2-750.jpg)

![Funny Girl Beanie Feldstein - 750 - NYTG](//images.ctfassets.net/6pezt69ih962/1U6XcFmHOoBfsy5SKa7J2r/1e5ed9a3cc4a37837e0b223cc26460e0/funny_girl_5-750.jpg)

See new photos of Beanie Feldstein in 'Funny Girl' on Broadway

Funny Girl

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Genre: Musical (US and AUS)

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Life's candy and the sun's a ball of butter now that Funny Girl is on Broadway! Lea Michele stars as Fanny Brice through September 3 only.

Funny Girl has become a musical theatre classic most notable for the song "Don't Rain On My Parade." Though it has been produced on the West End and worldwide, it has not had a Broadway revival until now.

The Funny Girl musical tells the semi-autobiographical story of Fanny Brice, a real-life Ziegfeld Follies star who entered into a turbulent relationship with the gambler Nicky Arnstein. As she waits for him to return from prison, she reflects on her relationship with Arnstein and how she met him at the outset of her performance career. Fanny falls into a luxurious life with him and is determined not to let his past dealings in gambling interfere with their love. By choosing to stay with Nick, however, Fanny is making a big wager of her own in more ways than one.

Funny Girl first opened on Broadway in 1964 with Barbra Streisand in the title role. The production ran for more than 1,300 performances over three years and received eight Tony Award nominations. A hit film adaptation was released four years later, gathering eight Academy Award nominations. Streisand, reprising her leading role, won Best Actress.

## How long is *Funny Girl* on Broadway?

*Funny Girl* is 2 hours and 50 minutes, including an intermission. Children under 4 are not permitted in the theatre.

## When does Lea Michele start in *Funny Girl*?

Lea Michele started in *Funny Girl* on September 6, 2022. Lea Michele performs in *Funny Girl* seven performances a week. On Thursday nights, Julie Benko plays the role of Fanny Brice.

Get ready to hear the music that makes you dance once again.

Funny Girl - NYC - New York Theatre Guide

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Get tickets to Funny Girl on Broadway from the official New York Theatre Guide. See Lea Michele play an iconic role in the first revival of this musical classic.

Funny Girl Broadway Tickets | The Official NY Theatre Guide

*Glee*'s Lea Michele plays the title role famously originated by Barbra Streisand. Experience this raucous Broadway revival, *Funny Girl*'s first, and hear the gleeful anthem "Don't Rain on My Parade" and more. Don't miss Michele as the greatest star in *Funny Girl*; learn more about tickets now.

The *Funny Girl* musical tells the semi-autobiographical story of variety performer Fanny Brice, who defied the odds to become a comedy actress in the legendary Ziegfeld Follies. She falls in love with the suave gambler Nick Arnstein, but Nick’s shady past casts a shadow on their relationship. Can she have fame and love at once, or does choosing one mean losing the other? 

*Funny Girl*'s story of determination, romance, and life in the theatre is perfect for anyone looking to laugh, and Fanny is relatable to anyone who's ever taken a chance on a dream.

The original *Funny Girl* Broadway production, featuring a book by Isobel Stennart, music by Jule Styne, and lyrics by Bob Merrill, premiered in 1964 to critical acclaim. Within four years, a film adaptation came out that made a household name — and an Academy Award winner — out of Barbra Streisand.

Both iterations of the show have cemented their legacy in performing arts history: *Funny Girl*'s original Broadway cast recording is in the Grammy Hall of Fame, and the *Funny Girl* movie is in the National Film Registry as a culturally significant movie.

## What to Watch For

- *Glee* fans will recognize *Funny Girl* as lead character Rachel Berry’s (played by Lea Michele) favorite musical. Rachel even auditions for a fictional revival of the show during Glee’s fifth season, lands the role of Fanny, and wins a Tony Award for it. How fitting, then, that Michele landed the role in real life! 
- This *Funny Girl* Broadway revival features a revised book based on Stennart’s original, penned by four-time Tony winner Harvey Fierstein. A 2015 London revival of Funny Girl was the first to use his book.
- *Fanny Brice* performed in Broadway shows including *Fioretta*, *Sweet and Low*, and *Billy Rose's Crazy Quilt*.
- Brice’s son-in-law Ray Stark, who was married to Brice’s daughter with Nick Arnstein, produced the original *Funny Girl* musical.
- The original Broadway production was nominated for eight Tony Awards in 1964 but won none. Granted, *Funny Girl* had stiff competition — the show lost in five categories, including Best Musical, to *Hello, Dolly!* starring Carol Channing.
- Carol Burnett originally turned down the starring role in the ‘60s, as Fanny was Jewish, but Burnett wasn’t. Styne thought of Streisand after seeing her on Broadway in *I Can Get It For You Wholesale*, and the rest is history!

Funny Girl - NYC - TodayTix

Lea Michele in *Funny Girl* on Broadway is the theatre event of the season. It’s live theatre at its finest. It’s the perfect marriage of actress and role. The very nature of attending this show is theatrical.

For the uninitiated, Lea Michele is a seasoned Broadway performer, who made her debut in *Les Misérables* at age 8 and rose to fame in her early 20s in the cult hit *Spring Awakening* before going on to more mainstream television roles, namely the ambitious and talented Rachel Berry on Ryan Murphy’s show choir dramedy *Glee* from 2009-15.

On said series, Michele played a ruthless teenager dead set on making it on Broadway, namely in the titular role in *Funny Girl*. She sang the iconic Act 1 finale “Don’t Rain on My Parade” during the first season and later performed the number on the Tony Awards. In the show’s final season, the character made her Broadway debut in *Funny Girl* and won the Tony for her performance. 

While Michele won’t win a Tony Award for this outing – Tonys are only given to performers who originated the role, and Michele replaces [Beanie Feldstein](https://www.newyorktheatreguide.com/stars-on-stage/beanie-feldstein), who left the production over the summer – she is making quite the splash in her first time on Broadway in over a decade. It’s impossible to parse out every layer of meta-theatricality at play here, not least because the show itself is a show-within-a-show about a starry-eyed Ziegfeld comic hoping to become the “greatest star.”

But even without all the added contextual layers, Michele stands alone as a singular Broadway performer, one who can pack a house and command a crowd and also hit all the right notes and laughs. And even years on, she brings the same bright-eyed optimism and ingenuity that made audiences fall in love with her. When she sings “Don’t Rain on My Parade,” the audience feels as if they are somehow fulfilling a dream alongside her, and while premature claps and mid-song standing ovations can seem distracting, it’s all a part of this singular theatregoing experience. You, the audience, are also part of this spectacle.

Broadway and television favorite Tovah Feldshuh joined the company with Michele as Fanny’s overprotective mother, and she chews on all the scenery, stealing the show with numbers like “Henry Street” when Fanny returns home to a party the neighborhood where she grew up. Jared Grimes, who earned a Tony nomination for his jubilant and tap-tastic performance as Fanny’s friend Eddie Ryan, continues to give 110% in a thankless side role. With Grimes in the tap shoes, though, Eddie’s energy jumps right off the stage. 

Ramin Karimloo stars as Nick Armstein, Fanny’s gambling addict of a manager-turned-husband, and while the role turns back the clock on feminism several years, Karimloo is charming and endearing even where his character falls short. 

Directed by Michael Mayer, the production is cool and crisp, with stylish throwback choreography by Ellenore Scott (and gorgeous tap choreography by Ayodele Casel) and seamless sets by David Zinn and eye-popping costumes by Susan Hilferty. 

While Harvey Fierstein’s revision of the book can’t do much to save the dated show (original book by Isobel Lennart), the audience isn’t coming to see the show for the plot. They’re coming for Jule Styne and Bob Merrill’s iconic songs, sung by the titular girl. After all, people who need people are the luckiest people in the world, and this crowd needs Lea Michele. 

[*Funny Girl* is running at the August Wilson Theatre on Broadway. Get *Funny Girl* tickets on New York Theatre Guide. 
](https://www.newyorktheatreguide.com/show/24232-funny-girl-tickets)

'Funny Girl' review — Lea Michele is the greatest star in her triumphant Broadway return

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Read our review of Lea Michele in Funny Girl on Broadway on New York Theatre Guide.

Funny Girl starring Lea Michele Broadway Review | New York Theatre Guide

Lea Michele currently stars in *Funny Girl* on Broadway.

Lea Michele Sarfati is an actor and singer best known for playing Rachel Berry in the television series *Glee* and originating the role of Wendla in the Tony Award-winning musical *Spring Awakening* on Broadway. 

Born August 29, 1986, in The Bronx, New York, Michele made her Broadway debut early in life. While attending an audition with a friend at age 8, Michele unexpectedly auditioned for and landed the role of Young Cosette in *Les Misérables*. Later, she joined a Toronto-based production of *Ragtime* in 1998 and returned to Broadway in 2004 for the revival of *Fiddler on the Roof* as Shprintze. 

As a high school student in New Jersey, Michele attended the Stagedoor Manor performing arts training center, where she was in productions such as *Side by Side by Sondheim* and *The Who’s Tommy*. During her final year, she landed the role of Wendla in the workshop of Duncan Sheik’s *Spring Awakening*, which she would also perform off Broadway. During this time, Michele was accepted into New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts but turned it down to continue performing on stage.

*Spring Awakening* opened on Broadway in 2006, with Michele portraying Wendla alongside Jonathan Groff as Melchior. She turned down an offer to play Éponine in *Les Misérables* on Broadway, choosing to stay with *Spring Awakening* instead. She exited the production alongside Groff in 2008.

Michele made her silver screen breakout in 2009 as Rachel Berry on the hit comedy musical series *Glee*. Michele received Golden Globe and Emmy Award nominations for her portrayal of Rachel and remained a regular on the show for six seasons. Michele has also starred in other television shows, including *Scream Queens*, alongside Jamie Lee Curtis, and *The Mayor*, alongside Brandon Micheal Hall and Yvette Nicole Brown.

In addition to her stage and screen work, Michele has released three studio albums. Her first album, 2014’s *Louder*, debuted at number 28 on the Billboard 200 chart. In 2017, she released *Places*, followed by *Christmas in the City* in 2019. 

Michele reunited with her *Spring Awakening* cast for a performance at the 75th annual Tony Awards and a one-night-only concert, which became the documentary *Spring Awakening: Those You’ve Known*. 

In 2022, Michele returned to Broadway and took over the role of Fanny Brice in the *Funny Girl* revival alongside [Ramin Karimloo](https://www.newyorktheatreguide.com/stars-on-stage/ramin-karimloo) and Tovah Feldshuh.

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Ramin Karimloo plays Frederick Barrett in the Encores! production of [*Titanic*](https://www.newyorktheatreguide.com/show/31940-encores-titanic) at [New York City Center](https://www.newyorktheatreguide.com/theatres/new-york-city-center) from June 12-23, 2024.

Ramin Karimloo was born in Tehran, Iran, on September 19, 1978. He moved to Canada at a young age and attended the Alexander Mackenzie High School in Richmond Hill, Ontario. After leaving school at 18, Ramin jobbed for the next few years in rock bands and on ship cruises. After moving to England, his first major professional job came in 2001, when he joined the UK touring cast of&nbsp;The Pirates of Penzance&nbsp;and eventually took over the role of the Pirate King in 2002. He moved straight onto his next UK Tour that same year, playing Artie Green in&nbsp;Sunset Boulevard, until he was able to secure his West End debut, joining the cast of London's long-running musical&nbsp;Les Misérables.

The Schönberg-Boublil musical would play a major part in his life and Ramin would return to the West End production in 2004 to play the role of Enjolras, which he would reprise at the acclaimed 25th Anniversary Concert at The O2 Arena in 2010. He first played the lead role of Jean Valjean in the West End in 2011 and went on to reprise his performance in Toronto in 2013. Finally, Ramin made his Broadway debut as Jean Valjean in Cameron Mackintosh's&nbsp;2014 revival and went on to earn his first&nbsp;Tony Award nomination in the category of Best Actor in a Leading Role in a Musical.

Ramin also played the role of Chris in the 2005 UK Tour of another popular Schönberg-Boublil musical -&nbsp;Miss Saigon.

The other musical that has undeniably propelled Ramin's stage career into stardom is Andrew Lloyd Webber's&nbsp;<a href="https://www.newyorktheatreguide.com/show/the-phantom-of-the-opera" target="_blank">The Phantom of the Opera</a>. He first played the role of Raoul, Vicomte de Chagny, in the West End production in 2003, and returned to the same production in 2007 to play The Phantom himself. He reprised the role at The Phantom of the Opera at the Royal Albert Hall&nbsp;in 2011. Ramin also originated the role of The Phantom in the world premiere of the sequel&nbsp;Love Never Dies&nbsp;in 2010 at London's Adelphi Theatre, earning his first Olivier Award nomination for Best Actor in a Musical.

Other notable credits in Ramin's career include the world premiere of&nbsp;Prince of Broadway&nbsp;in Japan in 2015, the Lincoln Center concert productions of&nbsp;Parade&nbsp;in 2015 and&nbsp;Secret Garden&nbsp;in 2016, as well as&nbsp;a West End run as Tom in&nbsp;Murder Ballad.&nbsp;He returned to Broadway and took on the roles of Gleb Vaganov in the new stage adaptation of&nbsp;<a href="https://www.newyorktheatreguide.com/show/anastasia" target="_blank">Anastasia</a>&nbsp;in March 2017 and the role of Nick Arnstein in the first Broadway revival of Funny Girl in 2022.

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CABARET at the Kit Kat Club on Broadway - NYC

CABARET at the Kit Kat Club on Broadway

The August Wilson Theatre has gone through a number of name changes. The building originally opened as the Guild Theatre in 1925 and went on to be used as a Radio Playhouse (WOR Mutual Radio) from 1943 to 1950.

From the 1950s, the venue became a theatre again, operating under the name of the Anta Playhouse (aka Anta Theatre). In 1981, the building was re-christened the Virginia Theatre, before assuming its present name on October 16, 2005 — two weeks after the death of the American playwright August Wilson. Wilson became the first Black person to have a Broadway theatre named for them.

## How to get to the August Wilson Theatre on Broadway

To get to the August Wilson Theatre, take the C, E, or 1 line to 50th Street and walk two blocks; the theatre is located on 52nd Street between Eighth Avenue and Broadway. Audiences can also take the M20 or M104 bus line to the 8th Ave/W 52nd St. stop.

## Restaurants near the August Wilson Theatre

Popular restaurants near the August Wilson Theatre include Haswell Green's (American), Gallagher's Steakhouse, and Rosie O'Grady's (steak and seafood). Ellen's Stardust Diner, a famous restaurant featuring singing waitstaff, is also nearby.

[Learn more about popular pre- and post-show restaurants in the Theatre District.](https://www.newyorktheatreguide.com/theatre-news/news/where-to-eat-before-and-after-a-broadway-show)

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August Wilson Theatre

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Hello, gorgeous! The first revival of Funny Girl has paraded onto Broadway. Beanie Feldstein leads the cast as Fanny Brice, alongside Ramin Karimloo as Nicky Arnstein and Jane Lynch as Mrs. Rosie Brice. The musicalized account of the real Ziegfeld...

See new photos of Beanie Feldstein in 'Funny Girl' on Broadway

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