Connie Fisher for New West End Funny Girl???

While Some Like It Hot is probably now off, another Jule Styne musical may be on. We hear that Andrew Lloyd Webber wants to revive the 1964 Broadway classic, based on the life of comedienne Fanny Brice, in the West End in 2008 as the next vehicle for his current Sound of Music leading lady Connie Fisher, who won the job after triumphing in How Do You Solve a Problem Like Maria?. In fact, Lloyd Webber has one of the other Maria finalists to thank for the idea (See The Goss, 11 Sep 2006). When the impresario failed to save Abi Finley from crashing out of last year’s reality TV competition, he explained that, while he thought the “Tomboy Maria” was talented, he didn’t think she was right for Maria von Trapp. “If I were casting Funny Girl,” Lloyd Webber began before Abi interjected, “I think you should!” Later, the Lord commented to his fellow producer and judge David Ian. “Funny Girl… that’s quite a good idea!” Whoever plays Fanny Brice has some big shoes to step into - the role was created on stage and screen by the one-and-only Barbra Streisand.

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