Lea Michele Sarfati, an American actress, singer, songwriter, and novelist, was born on August 29, 1986. She debuted on Broadway as a young actress in the 1995–1996 seasons of Les Misérables, Ragtime, Fiddler on the Roof, and Spring Awakening (2006–2008). With her role as Rachel Berry on the Fox television program Glee (2009–2015), she was nominated for an Emmy, two Golden Globes, four People’s Choice Awards, three Teen Choice Awards, and a Satellite Award; Michele rose to fame.
Michele and the rest of the Glee ensemble received three Grammy Award nods for the music created for the show, which also produced numerous singles on the Billboard charts and four Screen Actors Guild Award nominations for Outstanding Ensemble in a Comedy Series. Later, Michele appeared as Valentina Barella on the ABC sitcom The Mayor and as Hester Ulrich on the Fox series Scream Queens (2015–2016).
Lea Michele Receives 6 Standing Ovations at First Funny Girl Performance
Before saying a word, Lea Michele received a standing ovation during her much-anticipated Broadway debut in Funny Girl on Tuesday night. After a 13-year absence, the 36-year-old actress made a victorious comeback to the stage by taking on the role of Fanny Brice in the musical revival, which is currently playing in New York City’s August Wilson Theatre.
An enthusiastic group of friends and admirers cheered her on, including her best friend Jonathan Groff and their co-stars from the movie Spring Awakening, John Gallagher Jr. and Gideon Glick. Actor Zachary Quinto, Tony winner Harvey Fierstein, New York Governor Kathy Hochul, and acclaimed producer Ryan Murphy, who collaborated with Michele on Glee and Scream Queens, were all there. The audience was so enthralled with Michele that she was given six standing ovations before Act 1 came to a close, including one after the show’s anthem, “Don’t Rain on My Parade.” In the second act of the play, there were two more.
At intermission, the audience members crowded the aisles raving about Michele’s singing, her comic timing, and the general energy in the room. As he returned to his seat, Fierstein, who pounded up the musical’s book, said to a friend, “I haven’t had a night like this in the theatre in years.” During the musical’s curtain call, Michele and Tovah Feldshuh, who made her debut in the production on Tuesday as Fanny’s mother, were again praised.
They each received a bouquet of roses from their fellow cast members. The two actors shared a collective bow while holding hands before Michele took the stage alone. Before hurrying backstage, she made eye contact with a crying Groff in the audience, pointed at him, and grinned at him. As they left the theatre, one fan exclaimed about one of Funny Girl’s well-known songs, “She’s the best star, okay.” “I’ll have to return this Friday to watch it again.”
The actress told PEOPLE that she was thrilled to have some friends and family cheering her on in the audience before her debut performance. The actress claimed that after learning she would join the Spring Awakening revival after original star Beanie Feldstein left in July, her Spring Awakening group chat was only flooded with congratulations. She praised her Spring Awakening cast members, saying they were all supportive. It’s essentially just a constant source of encouragement for all of us,
When Michele learned she had been chosen to play the part Barbra Streisand created in 1964, she claimed that she and Groff toasted the news with a bottle of champagne. “We simply toasted to that while sitting in the living room. However, I also had a weekend with a getaway and a celebration. So, she said, “We’ve had these little mini festivities. The former Glee star shared a particularly memorable experience with former Spring Awakening ensemble member Gideon Glick.
Lea Michele takes her bow after her first performance in Broadway’s FUNNY GIRL — and waves at pal Jonathan Groff in the audience. pic.twitter.com/QQrURTfE7k
— Dave Quinn (@NineDaves) September 7, 2022
“My agents called to tell me I got the part. I was clueless. I was feeding my son Ever, age 2, buttered noodles and vegetables while sitting outside at Bubby. My representatives then called me and informed me that I would be playing Fanny Brice in Funny Girl. I began sobbing uncontrollably as I glanced up, thinking, “Oh my God.” I then turned to look up and saw Gideon Glick. And he said, ‘Hi,’ she continued. And he witnessed my tears. She added that people had been enquiring about the post, but I was unsure what would transpire. “Oh my God, did you just get the part? He exclaimed. I was also nodding. He then took a photo of me sobbing uncontrollably in public to cast me as Fanny Brice.
“Gideon was my previous roommate. Additionally, he was present when I received the phone informing me that I would also be in Les Miz. For me, it was simply a tremendous full-circle experience. The musical includes tap numbers by Ayodele Casel and choreography by Ellenore Scott, as well as the Jule Styne and Bob Merrill standards “People,” “I’m the Greatest Star,” and “Don’t Rain on My Parade,” as well as a revised script by Tony Award winner Fierstein and more than 150 costumes created by Susan Hilferty.
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