“A dream come true is an understatement. I’m so incredibly honored to join this amazing cast and production and return to the stage playing Fanny Brice on Broadway,” Michele wrote on her Instagram on July 11. The Spring Awakening alum is replacing Beanie Feldstein, who is departing the show early. While Michele will make her debut as Fanny on Sept. 6, she is no stranger to the musical. On the Golden Globe-winning series Glee, which ended in 2015, the Scream Queens star performed several songs from Funny Girl, including “Don’t Rain On My Parade,” “You Are Woman, I Am Man,” and “People.” Her character Rachel even went on to land the coveted role of Fanny in a revival of the show during Season 5. Before we say “hello, gorgeous” to our new real-life Fanny, take a look back at Michele’s Funny Girl performances on Glee.
Lea Michele Performing Funny Girl Songs on Glee
“Don’t Rain On My Parade” - Season 1, Episode 13 (“Sectionals”)
Hey, Mr. Arnstein, there she is! Michele’s character belted out “Don’t Rain On My Parade” during the New Directions’ appearance at sectionals.
“My Man” - Season 2, Episode 21 (“Funeral”)
Although “My Man” isn’t on the original 1964 Broadway cast album, Barbra Streisand, who originated the role of Fanny, performed the song in the 1968 film. Rachel picked the tune to audition for a solo at Nationals in Episode 21 of Season 2. “I’ll be singing the most difficult song I’ve ever sung,” she said at her audition, noting that the song is “Barbra’s closing number to my favorite movie, Funny Girl.”
“You Are Woman, I Am Man” - Season 5, Episode 5 (“The End of Twerk”)
Sporting a Fanny-do, Rachel rehearsed “You Are Woman, I Am Man” with her Funny Girl co-star Paolo San Pablo. “You really were our Fanny up there,” the director told her after their performance.
“People” - Season 5, Episode 14 (“New New York”)
Rachel left Kurt, Blaine and Artie to do sound and mic checks at the theater, where she crooned “People.” A montage of her people (friends) in New York played as she sang the song on stage.
“I’m The Greatest Star” - Season 5, Episode 17 (“Opening Night”)
The opening night of Funny Girl finally arrived in Episode 17 of Season 5! While Gleeks were deprived of the entire production of Funny Girl (to be fair, the episode is less than an hour), viewers got to see Rachel, who had her confidence shot early on in the episode, perform “I’m The Greatest Star”…and boy, there is no denying she is a true star!
“Who Are You Now?” - Season 5, Episode 17 (“Opening Night”)
Rachel, as well as Sue Sylvester (Jane Lynch), sang “Who Are You Now?” from the Broadway production in Episode 17. Funny enough, Lynch was cast as Feldstein’s mother in the revival of Funny Girl, but won’t be sharing the stage with her former Glee costar. Tovah Feldshuh is taking over the role from Lynch and will make her debut as Mrs. Brice on the same night as Michele. Next, get the scoop on the upcoming Back to the Future Broadway show.
