Actor's Fund Cancels FUNNY GIRL LA Benefit

The Actors Fund production of Funny Girl, originally scheduled for March 14 in Los Angeles, has been cancelled. In a statement released today, Joe Benincasa, President of The Actors Fund said:

"To produce a one-night-only benefit event takes an incredible team of performers, stage managers, producers and many others, all of whom donate their time and talent to The Fund. We are grateful to everyone who was ready to do so yet again on March 14, and we extend our thanks to the entire entertainment community, whose continued support helps assure that our programs and services are available to nearly 12,000 people across the country people every year."

On February 21, The Fund will honor Carol Channing's 90th Birthday, with host Bruce Vilanch, at The Pantages Theatre in Los Angeles. For more information, visit www.actorsfund.org.

The concert, which was supposed to take place at the Pantages Theater in LA was to star a host of stage and screen actresses sharing the role of Fanny Brice, including Tony winners Laura Benanti and Lillias White, from the original Broadway cast Lainie Kazan, Broadway favorite Julia Murney and acclaimed comedienne Sarah Silverman. FUNNY GIRL features music by Jule Styne, lyrics by Bob Merrill, and a book by Isobel Lennart. The concert was to feature Musical direction by Seth Rudetsky with the evening directed by Peter Flynn.

Set in New York City in the 1920s, FUNNY GIRL tells the story of legendary actress and comedienne Fanny Brice, from her rise to fame in the Ziegfeld Follies to her marriage to gambler Nick Arnstein, and their inevitable breakup when Nick finds himself in trouble with the law. Its memorable score includes "Don't Rain on My Parade," "I'm the Greatest Star," "Sadie, Sadie" and "People." FUNNY GIRL first opened on Broadway on March 26, 1964 at the Winter Garden Theatre, launching a young Barbra Streisand into stardom.

Photo Credit: Walter McBride/WM Photos