The Playhouse is tackling Broadway and Hollywood classic "Funny Girl," which was made memorable by its leading lady: Barbra Streisand.
“ 'Funny Girl' is the classic story of the ugly duckling that makes the best out of all of her talents. And I really love the message behind it," said Asia Ciaravino, president of The Playhouse.
“You don’t have to be a Barbie. You just really have to have tenacity and moxie to make it,” she said.
I noted to Ciaravino that it sounded as though at the play's core was an empowering concept.
“It absolutely is," she said. "It’s great for young women and young men. I think it’s a story kind of of the underdog.“
"Funny Girl" starts this weekend and runs through June 29. The "Funny Girl" cast is a big one.
"All together, with Fanny included, it’s about 60 roles that 30 actors are playing," said Rick Sanchez, who directs the show.
"The music is from a 12-piece orchestra, led by Music Director Hendrew Hendley," Sanchez said. "And it's pretty much staying true as possible to the score. It’s a nice, rounded sound. Definitely a live orchestra."
In Broadway plays there’s usually a certain magic, so I asked Ciaravino where the magic is in The Playhouse production.
“The magic I feel is really in the songs, and it’s also in the set," she said. "Remember, there’s something like 17 or 18 locations."
It’s a musical, with dozens of songs, including some popular ones you probably already know.
“The magic is in these voices. Once you hear them — Oh! It’s incredible!” Ciaravino said.
- For more on "Funny Girl" visit: www.theplayhousesa.org
