Dark Monday • Funny Girl

It is almost impossible to believe that just over 50 years ago, A young Barbra Streisand was starring on Broadway as Fanny Brice in the original production of 'Funny Girl'. It is true, for on March 26, 1964, the musical opened at the Winter Garden Theater. At the time, Streisand was just 21 years old. The reviews for her performance were outstanding, and it seemed as though an overnight star was born. However, she had already had a showstopping number in the show 'I Can Get It For You Wholesale', and having carved are out a career as a club singer, both in Manhattan and elsewhere on tour. She also had appeared on 'The Tonight Show' in 1961, and began her recording career, with three albums on the shelves before the opening night. And she had also appeared on 'The Judy Garland Show' the year before, putting in an iconic duet with Garland. So being an 'overnight sensation' was years in the making.

Left: Barbra Streisand as Fanny Brice in 1964. Right: Streisand in concert in 2006.

To celebrate the 50th anniversary of the musical, with music by the great Jule Styne and lyrics by Bob Merrill. The production was directed by Garson Kanin and choreographed by Carol Haney, under the supervision of Jerome Robbins. Streisand was joined on stage by Sydney Chaplin, Kay Medford, Danny Meehan, Jean Stapleton, and Lanie Kazan. The show was nominated for 8 Tony Awards, but won none. Streisand lost out to Carol Channing in 'Hello, Dolly!', which dominated the 1964 award ceremony. I thought I would offer up a track off the Original Broadway Cast album. Picking which one would be a tricky one, especially for me. I love them all so much. So I finally decided on a song that director Kanin wanted to cut from the show, over the objections of Streisand. She recorded the song for her 4th album, and it was the title cut. The song was released early, and became a hit, and convinced Kanin to keep it in the show. It was said early audiences would applaud when the music was played in the overture. This is Barbra Streisand singing "People" from the 'Funny Girl' original cast album.

Now, I couldn't just leave it at that, could I? So jump into the time machine, and set the destination for 42 years later, 2006. Streisand was out on tour, setting house gross records in 14 of the 16 arenas on the tour. At age 64, she was still the hottest ticket to be found. The show covered the music of her storied career, spanning the previous 4+ decades. Among the set list for the concert was music from the show, 'Funny Girl'. I thought I would include two performances from the concert, and show that while she might have been older, she might very well have been as good, if not better. This is Streisand singing the songs "Funny Girl" and "The Music That Makes Me Dance", both from the Broadway musical 'Funny Girl'.

Earlier this year, a special 50th Anniversary version of the album was released. You can find The original Broadway cast album for 'Funny Girl' from iTunes and Amazon. From what I could tell, it was a repackaging of the original release, with an additional 48-page booklet included. I didn't purchase it, for I had to old one I've had forever. That said, you can purchase the 'original' original Broadway cast recording for $2 less from iTunes and Amazon.

Silver Screen Torches

Clockwise: Judy Garland, Barbra Streisand, Liza Minnelli and Doris Day.

Judy, Barbra, Liza and Doris, all names that top the lists of the lovers of the movie musicals. From the 'A Star Is Born' to 'Love Me Or Leave Me' to 'Funny Girl' to 'Cabaret', these ladies had the big musicals covered. While their styles might have differed, the results seldom did. And they could all sing the blues, and earn a standing ovation doing it. They not only sing, but they smoulder while they do, so much you can smell the smoke, and hear the tinkling of the glasses in the club... In the 1955 movie 'Love Me Or Leave Me', Doris Day played jazz singer Ruth Etting, who was married to mobster Mo Snyder, played by James Cagney. Long story short - girl marries mobster to get ahead in her career. She does movies and records, and leaves mobster for piano player. Mobster tries to kill piano man, and the scandal costs the woman her career. A true Hollywood story, and the girl sings "Ten Cents A Dance", with music by Richard Rodgers and lyrics by Lorenz Hart. The soundtrack album topped the Billboard Pop chart for an astounding 17 weeks, a true testament good music and a great performance by the illustrious Miss Day.



In 1954, Judy Garland landed a role that put her back on the map as a Hollywood actress to watch. It had been a couple of years since she and MGM came to an understanding for her release, but that would soon change. She lit up the screen as Esther Blodgett, a small-time singer who gets noticed by the big-time star with a tendency to self-destruct. Played by James Mason, Norman Maine first comes across Esther as she sings "The Man That Got Away", the amazing song by Harold Arlen and Ira Gershwin. This could be the ultimate Torch song ever.



Liza Minnelli had a major role in the 1980 television special 'Baryshnikov On Broadway', starring Mikhail Baryshnikov. On it, she takes a moment to sing "The Music That Makes Me Dance" from the Broadway musical 'Funny Girl'. Liza's mother, Judy Garland, had sung the song as part of her legendary 1964 show at the London Palladium, after the show had opened earlier that year. As a tribute to "Mama", Liza performed the song on her TV Special. I don't blame her. If I could, I would sing that song to Mikhail...



But that does lead me to the original Fanny Brice in the Broadway show, Barbra Streisand. She was just 25 when they shot the movie, her first film. She originated the role on Broadway. For the show, Jules Styne and Bob Merrill wrote "The Music That Makes Me Dance" for the final scene, as the show couldn't get the rights to one of Fanny's biggest songs, "My Man". When making the movie, Streisand wanted to sing the Fanny Brice hit, but writers and producers feared it too old fashioned. Streisand recorded the song for her 1965 album "My Name Is Barbra", and the music from her Emmy-winning television special. Soon, the producers got the clearance for the movie, where it was used in a remarkably memorable scene. Some attribute Streisand's win of the Academy Award to her moving performance of the song.



Those torch singers, they just burn so bright, don't they? No matter the decade, they amazing women burned brighter than the sun.