Lea Michele is saying goodbye to Funny Girl ahead of her final show!
The 37-year-old actress and singer posted an emotional tribute to the musical on her Instagram before she takes the stage for her last performance as Fanny Brice tonight (September 3).
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In the lengthy post, Lea described playing Fanny as “the role of a lifetime” and wrote, “I’ve always felt a deep love and connection to this story, and to Fanny, a remarkable woman who relentlessly blazed a trail in the entertainment industry. Somehow her essence has continuously been there serving as inspiration and motivation throughout the most pivotal corners of my life.”
Lea also took the opportunity to thank the cast and crew of Funny Girl, as she remarked, “Because of you, I’ve learned the true importance of connection, community, and fun! And I am damn proud of what we accomplished together.”
Prior to performing in Funny Girl for the last time, Lea expressed her gratitude for her experience on Broadway.
She wrote, “As I take my final bow tonight, I’m carrying all of these overwhelming emotions with me as I end an unbelievable chapter of my life. Broadway has changed my life in the most unforgettable ways and I am so grateful for the opportunity to be a small part of its remarkable history.”
Lea took over the role of Fanny Brice in September 2022, replacing Beanie Feldstein who played the character beginning in April of the same year.
Funny Girl marked Lea‘s return to Broadway since the beginning of her career when she appeared in productions such as Les Misérables, Ragtime, and Fiddler on the Roof as a child. The former Glee star’s last Broadway appearance before Funny Girl came in 2008 in Spring Awakening.
If you didn’t see already, screen icon Glenn Close supported Lea Michele at her recent Funny Girl performance!