Full Company Announced for Shoshana Bean-Led FUNNY GIRL at North Shore Music Theatre

Bill Hanney's award winning North Shore Music Theatre (NSMT) is announcing full cast and creative team is being announced for the sparkling new production of FUNNY GIRL. They will be joining Shoshana Bean who was previously announced in the role of Fanny Brice. FUNNY GIRL starts performances on Tuesday, June 7 and plays thru Sunday, June 19, 2016.

"Over the past six seasons, I have purposely started each season with a classic show that stars a fantastic leading lady," said NSMT owner and producer Bill Hanney. "Funny Girl is a project I have wanted to do for a long time, but I needed to wait for the timing and casting to be right. Along with our producing Artistic Director Kevin P. Hill and the shows director and choreographer James Brennan, we have assembled an amazing cast led by the powerhouse talent of Shoshana Bean,. These artists will bring this rarely seen musical treat to life in a way that our audiences will remember for a long time."

Funny Girl is the hit Broadway musical that tells the story of Fanny Brice's rise from the stages of Vaudeville to become a world-renowned Ziegfeld star. But while she was cheered onstage as a great comedian, she has a more troubled private life. The musical, with music by Jule Styne, lyrics by Bob Merrill, and a book by Isobel Lennart, propelled Barbra Streisand to superstardom and features the songs; People, Don't Rain on My Parade and I'm the Greatest Star.

Recording artist and Broadway veteran Shoshana Bean will play Fanny Brice. Ms. Bean's independent solo releases have topped the iTunes R&B and Blues charts in the US and UK in peak positions 5, 3 and #1 with the release of her latest EP Shadows to Light. Shoshana is a veteran of the Broadway stage having debuted in the original cast of Hairspray and starred as the very first replacement for Elphaba, the green-skinned witch, in Wicked. Most recently she appeared in the pre-Broadway production of the new musical Beaches as CeeCee Bloom, and inked a deal with ABC Signature for a new musical pilot she co-created and for which she will compose the music. She has sold out solo concerts around the globe and performed alongside Brian McKnight, Bebe Winans and sang back up for Michael Jackson for his 30th anniversary concert at Madison Square Garden. Shoshana arranged vocals for Jennifer Lopez's American Idol performance of "I Luh Ya Papi" and her music has been featured in television shows on NBC, MTV, Oxygen and Showtime.

Joining Shoshana Bean (Fanny Brice) will be Bradley Dean (Nick Arnstein), Susan Cella (Mrs. Brice), Rick Faugno (Eddie Ryan), Brittney Morello (Emma, u/s Fanny Brice), Sandy Rosenberg (Mrs Strakosh, u/s Mrs. Brice), and James Van Treuren (Florenz Ziegfeld, Jr.)

The cast of FUNNY GIRL also includes Purdie Bauman, Courtney Brady, J.D. Daw, Brandon Haagenson, Kimber Hampton, Brooke Lacy, Kathleen LaMagna, Con O'Shea-Creal, Ellen Peterson, Emily Jeanne Phillips, Robbie Smith, Richard Vida, and David Visini

FUNNY GIRL will be directed and choreographed by James Brennan. The creative team also includes Mark Hartman (Music Direction), Stephen Dobay (Scenic Design), Mark Nagle (Costume Coordination), Jack Mehler (Lighting Design), Charles Coes (Sound Design), Natalie Lynch (Production Stage Manager), Zachary Tucker (Assistant Stage Manager), Austin Davey (Assistant Music Direction) and Binder Casting (Casting). FUNNY GIRL is produced for North Shore Music Theatre by Bill Hanney (Owner/Producer), Kevin P. Hill (Producing Artistic Director), and Tom Amos (Associate Producer).

Tickets for FUNNY GIRL are priced from $54 - $79. Performances are June 7 - 19, Tue - Thurs at 7:30 pm, Fri & Sat at 8 pm, matinees Wed, Sat and Sun at 2 pm. Kids 18 and under save 50% at all evening performances. For tickets and information call (978) 232-7200, visit www.nsmt.org, or visit the box office in person at 62 Dunham Rd., Beverly, MA. FUNNY GIRL is sponsored by ASR Roofing Specialists.

Additional Free Audience Enrichment events: Meet the Theatre: post-show audience discussion with the artists on June 14 after the 7:30 pm performance and June 18 after the 2 pm performance; OUT at the North Shore, an evening for the Gay and Lesbian Community with a post-show reception (sponsored in part by Ryan & Wood Inc.) on June 16 after the 7:30 pm performance.