Harvey Fierstein to Rework Book for Sheridan Smith-Led UK FUNNY GIRL Revival

FUNNY GIRL is getting a bit of a makeover! According to the Daily Mail, KINKY BOOTS book writer Harvey Fierstein will rework the book for the upcoming (and already sold-out) London revival of Funny Girl, starring Sheridan Smith.

Menier Chocolate Factory Artistic Director David Babani told the Mail, "Harvey Fierstein will be looking at revising the show's book and making it acceptable for an audience today."

Tony winner Fierstein's CASA VALENTINA just made its UK premiere at Southwark Playhouse -- the play ran on Broadway last year. The writer is currently represented on Broadway by KINKY BOOTS (which just opened in the West End) and is also behind NEWSIES, LA CAGE AUX FOLLES (in which he also starred), A CATERED AFFAIR, LEGS DIAMOND, SAFE SEX and TORCH SONG TRILOGY. He has also starred on Broadway in FIDDLER AND THE ROOF and HAIRSPRAY.

FUNNY GIRL returns to the London stage for the first time since its 1966 premiere, running 20 November - 5 March 2016 at Menier Chocolate Factory before a possible West End transfer. Opening night is slated for 2 December 2015. This production is presented in association with Sonia Friedman Productions and Scott Landis.

With music by Jule Styne, lyrics by Bob Merrill and book by Isobel Lennart, the Broadway smash which skyrocketed Barbra Streisand to stardom is revived with Sheridan Smith playing Fanny Brice, who rose from the Lower East Side of New York to become one of Broadway's biggest stars under producer Florenz Ziegfield. While she was cheered onstage as a great comedienne, offstage she faced a doomed relationship with the man she loved. With a score featuring now-classic songs such as "People", "You Are Woman, I Am Man" and "Don't Rain on My Parade", this brand new production promises to be a major theatrical event.