The actress wrote on Instagramthat the decision was made because the show’s producers “decided to take it in a different direction.” She didn’t say more, though.
Beanie Feldstein is leaving the new version of Funny Girl on Broadway before she was supposed to.
In an Instagram post on Sunday, the actress said that she would be leaving the show on July 31. Last month, producers said that she and another star, Jane Lynch, would leave their roles on September 25, instead of at the end of the year as had been expected.
Feldstein said in her post that the decision was made because the show’s producers “decided to take the show in a different direction.” She didn’t say more, though.
“I’ve always wanted to play Fanny Brice on Broadway, and the last few months have been a great joy and a real honor,” she wrote. “Once the production decided to go in a different direction with the show, I made the very hard decision to leave earlier than I had planned.”
She then praised the rest of the cast and crew and thanked the people who had come to see her show.
“I will never forget this experience, and from the bottom of my heart, I want to thank everyone who came to the August Wilson for the love and support you showed me and our amazing cast and crew,” she wrote. “The people I’ve worked with every night to bring Funny Girl to life, both on and off the stage, are all incredibly talented and special, and I hope you’ll keep joining them on Henry Street after I leave on July 31.”
The show’s official Twitter account said on Sunday that at 1 p.m. ET on Monday, “exciting casting announcements” would be made. According to a tweet that was shared by the official account, the role was played for the first time by Ephie Aardema, who was the backup.
The revival opened in April to mixed reviews. Many people said that she didn’t do as well as Barbra Streisand, who played the role for the first time on Broadway in 1964 and won an Oscar for her performance in the 1968 movie version.
The Hollywood Reporter’s David Rooney wrote in his review that Feldstein “has a lovely, light singing voice in a part that often calls for big-belt power.” He also said that Streisand’s “legacy is a lot for any performer to live up to.”
Feldstein missed a number of shows last month because he tested positive for COVID-19.
At the Tony Awards in 2022, supporting actor Jared Grimes was the only one nominated for this revival. Lynch plays her mother, while Grimes is Eddie Ryan and Ramin Karimloo is Nick Arnstein.
In a statement from last month, the show’s producers said that Games and Karimloo would be back.
“Beanie will be back on Monday!” The official Twitter account for the show put up a post on June 15. “You still have 14 weeks until September 25th to see Beanie Feldstein and Jane Lynch. Keep an eye out for more news about who will join Ramin Karimloo and Jared Grimes in Funny Girl.