Music by Jule Styne, Lyrics by Bob Merrill
Book by Isobel Lennart from an original story by Miss Lennart

January 10th - 27th, 2013

One of Broadway’s most acclaimed musicals and the show that catapulted the career of Barbra Streisand, Funny Girl tells the rise-to-stardom story of legendary entertainer Fanny Brice, from her start in a Brooklyn music hall to her improbable rise as a headliner in the Ziegfeld Follies. While her career soars, she falls in love with a charming gambler, Nick Arnstein, just as his own lucky streak is running out. The show’s inspiring and beloved score includes classic favorites “Don’t Rain on My Parade,” “I’m the Greatest Star,” “The Music That Makes Me Dance” and the iconic hit, “People.”

FANNY BRICE
October 29, 1891 - Fannie Borach born in New York City to Saloon Owners of Hungarian Jewish Decent

1905 - Fanny makes her first stage appearance at a theatre in Brooklyn where she wins $5 in an amateur singing contest

1907 - Fired from the chorus by George M. Cohan because Fanny "couldn't dance"

1908 - Dropped out of school to become a entertainer full time

1910-1931 - Appeared in the Ziegfield Follies for 16 of these 22 years

1911 - 1st Marriage - to Frank White, a barber. The marriage only lasted a few days

1918 - 2nd Marriage - to gambler turned criminal Nick Arnstein

1921 - Performed "My Man" and "Second Hand Rose" for the first time, which would become her two signature songs

1927 - Divorced Nick Arnstein

1928 - Starred in her first film My Man

1929 - 3rd Marriage - to Producer Billy Rose

1931 - Appeared in the movie Everybody Sing with Judy Garland

1936 - Played herself in the film The Great Ziegfield

1936 - Created her radio character "Baby Snooks" which she would continue to perform until her death

1937 - Divorced Billy Rose

1937 - Became a regular on NBC Radio

1938 - Moved to CBS Radio

1944 - Went from the feature to the star on radio as the "Baby Snooks Show" debuts

1950 - Made her only Television appearance, as Baby Snooks, on the Popsicle Parade of Stars

May 29, 1951 - Fanny Brice dies in Hollywood at the age of 59

1964 - Funny Girl opens on Broadway starring Barbara Streisand

1968 - The Movie Funny Girl debuts winning an Academy Award for Barbara Streisand as Best Actress

1975 - As sequel to the film Funny Girl called Funny Lady premieres

1991 - Fanny Brice is featured on the US Stamp