Funny Girl
September 11–20, 2009
Carpenter Performance Hall
Irving Arts Center
With full orchestra—starring Kristin Dausch of Broadway’s Rising Stars
Lyric Stage, Dallas County’s only locally produced professional musical theater company, presented Jule Styne, Bob Merrill and Isobel Lennart’s FUNNY GIRL September 11-20, 2009 in the Irving Arts Center’s Carpenter Performance Hall.
In The Ziegfeld Follies, in Hollywood films and on the radio, Fanny Brice was one of the most celebrated entertainers of her time. Her career spanned from comedienne to Vaudeville star. FUNNY GIRL is her story. To play the role of Fanny Brice, Lyric Stage has cast Kristin Dausch, a June 2009 graduate of the American Musical and Dramatic Academy. Ms. Dausch was selected to perform in Broadway’s Rising Stars concert at Town Hall in New York City this past July. Cabaret Scenes’ Melody Breyer-Grell declared “There are many that might be ready for Broadway or at least summer stock, but the one I would put my bets on was Kristin Dausch. Singing “Men,” a tune from the failed So Long, 174th Street, she delivered a star turn worthy of Carol Burnett. A truly individual character, with an amusingly put upon and almost bent posture, she belted this tune in a shockingly secure and brilliantly loose performance, making it her own. If this gal does not make it big, then there is no justice.”
Suzanna Bowling of The Times Square Chronicle wrote “My favorite by far was Kristin Dausch, who sang “Men” from “So Long 174th Street” and stole the show. Not only could this talented lady sing, she could act—and it was that quality that made the difference.”
Playing opposite Kristin as Nicky Arnstein was Christopher Pinnella, earlier seen at Lyric Stage in his critically acclaimed performance of Billy Bigelow in CAROUSEL. Lois Sonnier Hart was Mrs. Brice and Connie Coit was her friend Mrs. Strakosh. Jeremy Dumont, Action from Lyric Stage’s WEST SIDE STORY, was Eddie Ryan. Nationally syndicated radio talk show host and Fox News contributor Mike Gallagher was vaudeville theater owner Keaney and Mark Oristano was Florenz Ziegfeld. The ensemble included Mikey Abrams, Lon Barrera, Jillian Brown, Ben Giddings, Carlos Gomez, Alan Hanna, Sarah Harder, Babs Ipaye, Summer Kenney, Carleen Kirksey, Jackie Lengfelder, Jason Mayfield, Joy McKay, Angela Moore, Addison Faith Reed, Alex Ross, Kristi Rowan, Brittany Vance, Jordan Vaughn, Lee Jamison Wadley, Keith Warren and Jane Willingham.
Lyric Stage Founding Producer Steven Jones reunited director Cheryl Denson and music director/conductor Jay Dias from Lyric’s critically acclaimed productions of SWEENEY TODD, CAROUSEL and THE KING AND I to helm this production of FUNNY GIRL. Like the aforementioned musicals, this production of FUNNY GIRL featured a full orchestra playing the original Broadway orchestrations. Tracy Jordan choreographed the production with lighting design by Julie Moroney, scenic design by Bryan Wofford, costume design by Drenda Lewis and sound design by Bill Eickenloff. Margaret J. Soch was the stage manager.
FUNNY GIRL opened at Broadway’s Winter Garden theater on March 26, 1964 and ran for 1,348 performances. Jule Styne’s hit-filled score includes People, I’m the Greatest Star, Don’t Rain on My Parade and The Music That Makes Me Dance. FUNNY GIRL launched Barbara Streisand to super-stardom.
Funny Girl: Mark Lowry review for TheaterJones
Lyric Stage’s Funny Girl is So Good…
Lyric Stage’s revival of “Funny Girl” is so good, audience members will think they’re the luckiest people in the world… This production is Lyric’s fourth revival in two years that breathes new life into a classic via a full orchestra (30–45 pieces), following Carousel, West Side Story and The King and I… It’s almost embarrassing how much we critics continue to gush over Lyric’s full-orchestra musical stagings, but honestly, no other musical theater company in North Texas is playing on this level. [ Remainder of review was on TheaterJones site but has been removed. ]
Funny Girl: Lawson Taitte review for Dallas Morning News
Another Star is Born
Another star is born in ‘Funny Girl’…. For its production that opened Saturday, Lyric Stage found 22-year-old Kristin Dausch. This newcomer has everything the role needs – first and foremost, a voice that could belt high notes to the far reaches of the new Cowboy Stadium if need be… Dausch can act, too, and she has a gift for comedy – which you’d better if you’re going to star in a show called Funny Girl… [ Remainder of review was on Dallas Morning News site but has been removed. ]
Funny Girl: Arnold Wayne Jones review for Dallas Voice
Lyric Stage’s Splendid Barnburner Soars
People, people who see ‘Funny Girl,’ are the luckiest people in the world’… Lyric Stage’s positively splendid, old-timey barnburner of a musical… soars. [ Remainder of review was on Dallas Voice site but has been removed. ]
Funny Girl: Martha Heimberg review for Turtle Creek News
Belting, brash Funny Girl lights up Lyric Stage
Funny Girl, the musical based on the career of Ziegfeld Follies star Fanny Brice, made Barbra Streisand famous when it opened on Broadway in 1964. Now, Lyric Stage producer Steven Jones has mounted a production of the Jule Styne-Bob Merrill musical that gives its gifted, 22-year-old leading lady, Kristin Dausch, a terrific platform to strut her stuff.
I love Lyric Stage performances, when Jay Dias’s huge orchestra breaks into the overture from the pit and the house lights start going down. In those opening moments I always feel the excitement of being in a Broadway theater at the Irving Arts Center’s Carpenter Performance Hall, with its huge red velvet curtain and deep proscenium stage. And director Cheryl Denson doesn’t disappoint us when that curtain rises.
Dausch stomps onto the stage insisting “I’m the Greatest Star!” and I believed her instantly. She doesn’t copy Streisand, but delivers her songs with a clear, vibrant style and a voice that projects right to the back row – and reverberates off the walls. She’s moving on “People” and commanding in “Don’t Rain on my Parade.” When she needs to deliver her funny Jewish girl lines, she’s right on the money. I loved her exuberant, comic rendition of “Sadie, Sadie, Married Lady” – one of several songs in the show that makes you want this girl to have it all!
The star stays in the spotlight in this show – and is present in almost every scene! But she also has great support from the 30-member ensemble of dancers, singers and actors. Christopher Pinnella is a handsome and masculine Nick Arnstein, the love of Fanny’s life, and Jeremy Dumont is a crackerjack tap dancer in the big supporting role of her rejected suitor. Connie Coit is a hoot as the gossipy Mrs. Strakosh who understands how tough it can be “If a Girl Isn’t Pretty.” Lois Sonnier Hart is both formidable and fetching as Fanny’s saloon-owner, poker-playing mother.
We know there are some wonderful songs in this show, but it was a treat for me to see the marvelously produced big Ziegfeld Follies numbers. The costumes and chorography are especially superb and hilarious in the comic piece “His Love Makes Me Beautiful.”
It’s hard to find anything bad to say about this production – it’s just another terrific night at Lyric Stage theater!