Lea Michele performs the Funny Girl classic People on The Tonight Show and discusses joining the musical: ‘I am so grateful’
Lea Michele appeared on The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon and performed the song People from her hit Broadway production Funny Girl on Friday.
The Glee star is playing Fanny Brice in the revival of Funny Girl at the August Wilson Theatre, a role she recently took over after Beanie Feldstein left the production midway through its run.
Michele delivered a show-stopping performance for the television audience and discussed returning to Broadway after more than a decade.
Show stopper: Lea Michele appeared on The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon and performed the song People from the hit Broadway production Funny Girl on Friday
‘I’ve been wanting to come back to Broadway for so many years; I was gone for 15 years; Spring Awakening was the last show I did. To be back and to be in the show that I’ve loved for so many years, but I’m such a fan of this production. Incredible cast. Incredible score,’ Michele said.
On Thursday, the New York Times published a rare re-review of the musical and praised Lea in the starring role.
After Jimmy Fallon read some of the critical accolades for Michele’s performance in Funny Girl, the actress talked about her character on the cult high school show Glee, which had a Funny Girl arc for her character.
Backstage: Jimmy and musical guest Michele pose together backstage on Friday
Back on Broadway: Michele delivered a show-stopping performance for the television audience and discussed returning to Broadway after more than a decade
‘Now I’m doing it. I’m 36 now, and the story of Funny Girl spans through the course of many years. You see her love and her loss and her failures and her successes and becoming a mom and a wife… I feel like, at this point, being where I am right now, it’s just perfect. Timing is everything and I am so grateful,’ Michele said.
The brand-new version of Funny Girl is a bittersweet comedy about a girl from the Lower East Side who dreams of a life on the stage but is told by everyone that she will never be a star.
One day her luck changes when something funny happens, and she becomes one of the most beloved performers to ever shine on Broadway.
The plot: Funny Girl is a bittersweet comedy about a girl from the Lower East Side who dreams of a life on the stage but is told by everyone that she will never be a star. One day her luck changes when something funny happens, and she becomes one of the most beloved performers to ever shine on Broadway
Glee star: After Fallon read some of the critical accolades for Michele’s performance in Funny Girl, the actress talked about her character on the cult high school show Glee
Stunning: Actress Lea Michele arrives on the set of Jimmy Fallon on Friday in a short black dress that showcased her fabulous figure
The broadway story was revised by Tony Award winner Harvey Fierstein and is based on the original book by Isobel Lennart.
The show is directed by Tony Award winner Michael Mayer and features the classic score by Tony, Grammy, and Academy Award–winner Jule Styne.
The Tonight Show has been an American television institution for nearly 70 years. It is the most viewed late-night program on digital, bringing the biggest names in celebrity guests and a stage for top musical and comedic talent to viewers worldwide. Fallon, known for his comedic background and seemingly endless talent, also performs sketches with his celebrity guests as well as musical parodies.
Enjoying her return: ‘I’ve been wanting to come back to Broadway for so many years; I was gone for 15 years; Spring Awakening was the last show I did. To be back and to be in the show that I’ve loved for so many years, but I’m such a fan of this production. Incredible cast. Incredible score,’ Michele said