For all of us following the current run of Funny Girl on Broadway, the interim period between Beanie Feldstein and Lea Michele has arrived – as has Julie Benko AS Fanny Brice. She did a wonderful interview with independent Jewish newspaper The Forward, or, as her family calls it, ‘the Forverts’.

Thank you @jdforward for spotlighting my time as Fanny! I can't tell you what an honor it is to be included in this historic publication. Also, can I call you the Forverts? It makes my @duolingo Yiddish learning soul happy 🙂 https://t.co/7uooygMyOd

— Julie Benko (@JujujulieBee) August 3, 2022

Within the article, she mentions that there isn’t a dramaturg for Funny Girl – she states – ” I’ve explained certain Jewish things about the character or what’s happening in a certain moment.” (A dramaturg or dramatist is a member of the production whose job is to provide the cast and crew with vital knowledge, research, and interpretation about the theatrical work in question so that they are—in turn—better equipped to do their jobs.)

She’s also the fourth person ever to have a contract that says ‘Fanny Brice’ – Barbra, Mimi Hines, Beanie and now her (eventually Lea). Overall a very interesting read.

Julie on Twitter, the full article on The Forward, where I got the definition of dramaturg from.

ONTD, what shows are you planning on seeing? Local, regional, Broadway, West End?