FUNNY GIRL STARRING SHERIDAN SMITH
TO BE SCREENED IN CINEMAS ACROSS THE UK
TICKETS ARE ON SALE
***** ‘Sheridan Smith is the greatest star by far.’
Daily Telegraph
***** ‘Michael Mayer’s exhilarating embrace of a production.’ The Independent
Funny Girl starring Sheridan Smith will be broadcast in cinemas nationwide on 24 October, as part of a worldwide release of the smash-hit stage production that played to critical acclaim at the Menier Chocolate Factory, in the West End and on tour. Michael Mayer’s production was filmed during the final week of its run at the Manchester Palace Theatre by Digital Theatre, and will be released in cinemas by Trafalgar Releasing.
Darius Campbell played Nick Arnstein to Smith’s Fanny Brice, and they were joined by Nigel Barber (Florenz Ziegfeld), Zoë Ann Bown (Mrs. Meeker), Martin Callaghan (Mr. Keeney), Jennifer Harding (Emma), Rachel Izen(Mrs Brice), Joshua Lay (Eddie) and Myra Sands (Mrs. Strakosh); with Rhianne Alleyne, Kit Benjamin, Lloyd Davies, Flora Dawson, Joseph Dockree, Abigayle Honeywill, Brontë Lavine, David Mcintosh, Peter Nash, Gillian Parkhouse, Tom Partridge, Nova Skipp, Alexandra Waite-Roberts, Sam Wingfield and Alexandra Wright.
“Fanny Brice was an extraordinary woman who broke the mould for female entertainment, not only that, she was a brilliant comic! Her lack of vanity and her goofiness made her unique and very special, and the role was an utter joy to play. I’m beyond excited to be able to share our production of Funny Girl with audiences across the UK.” Sheridan Smith
“Sheridan Smith gives the performance of a lifetime in this unforgettable production of Funny Girl. We are excited to give audiences the opportunity to see the show in cinemas across the UK. We look forward to collaborating with Digital Theatre, Sonia Friedman Productions and the Menier Chocolate Factory.” Alice De Rosa, Director of Distribution for Trafalgar Releasing
“Funny Girl has been a true collaboration for all those involved, and yet again as we prepare to share the production with cinema audiences across the UK. It’s a privilege for Digital Theatre to have become part of the remarkable story of this production, working with so many fantastic collaborators and to have been able to capture this unforgettable star turn from Sheridan Smith.” Robert Delamere, Founder of Digital Theatre
With music by Jule Styne, lyrics by Bob Merrill and book by Isobel Lennart, the Broadway smash which skyrocketed Barbra Streisand to stardom, was 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 new production was a must-see theatrical event.
‘A winningly exuberant performance. The most brilliant comic actress at work today.’
Sunday Times
‘Michael Mayer’s vivacious production has wit, charm and energy, sparkly choreography, and a strong, ebullient cast.’ Financial Times
“Sheridan Smith is one of British Theatre’s truly golden performers – a versatile star who thrills with her ability to be simultaneously touching and hilarious. Here she’s on glorious form.”
Evening Standard
‘An unforgettable star turn… Smith is hilarious, glorious, touching. With a performance that is all-singing, all dancing, all-joking and, somehow, all-soul too.’ The Times
Sheridan Smith reprises her smash hit performance in the role of Fanny Brice. Her other theatre work includes A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Michael Grandage Company at the Noel Coward Theatre), Hedda Gabler (Old Vic), Flare Path (Theatre Royal Haymarket – Olivier Award for Best Supporting Actress, Evening Standard Theatre Award and Critics’ Circle Theatre Award for Best Actress), Legally Blonde (Savoy Theatre – Olivier Award for Best Actress in a Musical), Tinderbox (Bush Theatre), The People are Friendly (Royal Court) and Into the Woods (Donmar Warehouse). For television, her credits include Clean Break, Ratburger, The Moorside Project, Blackwork, The C Word, Cilla, The Widower, The 7.39, Dates, Mr Stink, Mrs Biggs (BAFTA Award for Best Actress), Accused, Scapegoat, Little Crackers, Jonathan Creek, Gavin & Stacey, Larkrise to Candleford, Grown Ups, Love Soup, Two Pints of Larger and a Packet of Crisps, The Royle Family and Wives and Daughters; and for film, The More You Ignore Me, The Huntsman, Powder Room, Quartet, Tower Block and Hysteria. She released her self-titled debut album Sheridan in November 2017 and embarked on a subsequent sell out tour.
Following runs at the Menier, in the West End and on tour, Darius Campbell plays Nick Arnstein. His theatre work includes in the West End, Chicago, Guys and Dolls, Gone with the Wind, and From Here to Eternity; Carmen (Europe and 02) and The History of the Big Bands (tour). Also a recording artist, his first single Colourblind went to #1 in the UK singles chart.
Michael Mayer directs. His West End credits include Spring Awakening (Lyric Hammersmith and Novello Theatre) and Thoroughly Modern Millie (Shaftesbury Theatre). For Broadway his work includes The Terms of My Surrender, Hedwig and the Angry Inch (Tony Award nomination for Best Director), On a Clear Day You Can See Forever, American Idiot (Drama Desk Award for Best Director of a Musical), Spring Awakening (Tony Award for Best Direction of a Musical), Thoroughly Modern Millie (Drama Desk Award for Best Direction of a Musical) and You’re a Good Man Charlie Brown (Drama Desk Award nomination for Best Direction of a Musical). For television, his work includes Smash and Alpha House, and for film his credits include A Home at the End of the World, Flicka and Chekhov’s The Seagull. He made his Metropolitan Opera debut with a celebrated new production of Rigoletto.
FUNNY GIRL
Music by Jule Styne Lyrics by Bob Merrill
Book by Isobel Lennart from an original story by Miss Lennart
Revised Book by Harvey Fierstein
Directed by Michael Mayer
Choreography is by Lynne Page, with set design by Michael Pavelka, costume design by Matthew Wright, lighting design by Mark Henderson and sound design by Richard Brooker, the musical supervisor is Alan Williams and orchestrations are by Chris Walker.
The capture of Funny Girl is co-produced by Digital Theatre and Sky Arts.
For more information or to find a cinema screening Funny Girl please visit: www.funnygirlincinemas.com
Twitter: @FunnyGirl_UK Facebook: /FunnyGirlUK Instagram: @FunnyGirlUK