‘Funny Girl’ Producers Weren’t Blindsided by Beanie Feldstein’s Early Exit

variety.com:

Rebecca Rubin Film and Media Reporter“Funny Girl” producers are attesting they knew about Beanie Feldstein’s earlier-than-expected exit from the Broadway musical.Amid the whirlwind drama over the actor’s abrupt departure — and Lea Michele’s replacement as Fanny Brice — rumors began to circulate that Feldstein caught the show’s production team by surprise when she announced on social media that her final curtain call would be on July 31.

She was initially slated to stay until Sept. 25, but she changed those plans after producers “decided to take the show in a different direction.”Now, representatives for “Funny Girl” are insisting that Feldstein’s mid-summer farewell had been jointly arranged with the revival’s producers, who “support” her decision. “The producers of ‘Funny Girl’ were not blindsided by Beanie’s social post,” representatives for the show and Feldstein said in a statement that was first obtained by People. “The producers decided to take the show in a different direction and end Beanie’s contract on Sept.

25, six months earlier than anticipated. A month after that decision, Beanie decided it was best for her to leave on July 31.

The producers were aware of and in support of her decision. The producers and Beanie worked on this together professionally, respectfully and graciously.”Michele, who was long-rumored to be taking over for Feldstein, will assume the role of Fanny Brice on Sept.