By Associated Press
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Lea Michele has been tapped to step in and lead the Broadway revival of the beleaguered ‘Funny Girl.’ AP PHOTO
NEW YORK: Lea Michele has been tapped to step in and lead the Broadway revival of the beleaguered "Funny Girl" this fall, an announcement made just hours after current star Beanie Feldstein revealed she was leaving the musical sooner than anticipated due to the show taking a "different direction."
The high-profile casting change rocked the Broadway community and represents another step toward a return to the spotlight and respectability for Michele after former "Glee" castmates in 2020 accused the actor of behavior that was interpreted as racist and bullying.
Michele, who started her career on Broadway and starred in the original "Spring Awakening" recently returned to the work with the documentary "Spring Awakening: Those You've Known." In many ways, her ascension to playing Ziegfeld Follies comedian Fanny Brice — the role Barbra Streisand famously played on film — was foreshadowed by Michele singing several "Funny Girl" songs during the run of "Glee."
After the show's formal announcement, Michele hailed her next career step, saying "a dream come true is an understatement" on Instagram. She did not mention Feldstein.
