When Lea Michele was cast as Fanny Brice in the Broadway production of Funny Girl earlier this month, it was at Jonathan Groff’s urging.
The Tony Award nominee was in the audience for Lea’s first performance on September 6. He sobbed the whole time, and she could hear him sobbing from the stage.
Jonathan Groff Reveals the ‘Funny Girl’ Change He Encouraged Lea Michele
I was inconsolable. Apparently, she was able to pick up my voice, as she informed me. According to Jonathan’s recent interview with Variety, “she was like, ‘I could hear you sobbing from like the first two minutes of the thing. Stunning me, she did. I had no doubt that she would be wonderful, but I had no idea that this lady would arrive with such poise and elegance.
In addition, Jonathan disclosed his role in encouraging Lea to make the adjustment.