Photo: Rodin Eckenroth/WireImage
Idina Menzelisn’t letting a missed Broadway opportunity rain on her parade.
TheTony Awardwinner, 51, revealed on Thursday’s episode ofWatch What Happens Livethat she almost playedFanny Bricein aBroadwayrevival ofFunny Girlbut that “it didn’t work out.”
“Yes, I was supposed to,” Menzel explained of taking on the musical’s leading lady. “But I always thought I’d be too old. They were gonna maybe go to the Brice estate and see if they could sort of encapsulate more of her life. Yes, but it didn’t work out, COVID happened.”
“Lea’s the right choice,” Menzel added of her formerGleeonscreen daughter, noting: “I haven’t seen her [in the show] yet because I live in L.A., and I haven’t been back.”
She also recounted performing the show’s act 1 finale “Don’t Rain on My Parade” at theKennedy Center Honorsin 2008 for honoree Streisand, who originated the real-life role of Brice in the 1964 musicalFunny Girland again in the 1968 movie adaptation.
Lea Michele as Fanny Brice inFunny Girl.Bruce Glikas/WireImage
“It was daunting. It was horrifying, actually. But the most horrifying part was after,” Menzel said.
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After her performance, Menzel was seated at the same table as Streisand, 80: “And she didn’t recognize me at the table for about an hour.”
“And then at one point, she had her fan and her glasses, and she lowered her glass, and she said, ‘Did you sing ‘Don’t Rain on My Parade’ for me tonight?’ And I said, ‘Yes I did, Ms. Streisand.’ She said, ‘You were good,’ " she recounted in her best Streisand voice.
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“And then she got up and left. I’ve since met her. Since then, she’s been completely gracious,” Menzel said. “But that night, I thought, ‘Is that good? Was that a good compliment or a bad compliment?’ "
When Michele debuted as Fanny Brice in September, following a 13-year absence from the Broadway stage, shereceived four standing ovationsbefore the end of act 1 and another two in the second act.
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After shewas announced to replaceFeldstein in July, Michele told PEOPLE that speculation ofbehind-the-scenes dramaaround the casting decision is not true.
“I saw the show. I wrote her and told herwhat an incredible job I thought that she did,” Michele said in September. “I think that everybody just thinks everything is so drama-filled. I also think that people really love the excitement of pitting women against each other, which I think is really sad and unfortunate.”
Michele can currently be seen in Broadway’sFunny Girlat the August Wilson Theatre.
source: people.com
