LEGENDS #8 BARBRA STREISAND
2015 was the year that Broadway Cares brought out the Barbra Streisand Christmas ornament. It, of course, was to commemorate her star making performance playing Fanny Brice in "Funny Girl."
Ray Stark had planned a biopic on the life of his mother-in-law, Fanny Brice with Isobel Lennart to pen the screenplay. Upon completion, it fell into the hands of Mary Martin who suggested it was better suited to a stage musical. Stark discussed the possibilities with Producer David Merrick who suggested it be written by Jule Styne and Stephen Sondheim. Sondheim turned it down feeling Martin was all wrong for the project and insisted the role should be played by a "jewish girl." And Martin bowed out gracefully.
Eventually, the show was written with music by Julie Styne and lyrics by Bob Merrill. Jerome Robbins was brought into the project to direct. Initially, Ann Bancroft was to play Fanny and then Eydie Gorme was contacted. She would only take the role if her husband, Steve Lawrence could co-star. This was nixed and eventually the role was given to Ms. Streisand.
Robbins wanted Lennart fired citing that she was unable to adapt her screenplay for the stage. When this didn't happen, Robbins dropped out and Bob Fosse was hired for a time but left for "artistic differences." Then Garson Kanin was brought in to Ms. Streisand's objections. She wanted Robbins back and, indeed he agreed to oversee the choreography by Carol Haney. After numerous out of town tryouts, many rewrites and changes, it eventually made it to Broadway in 1964 where it received eight Tony nominations but, facing tough competition from "Hello, Dolly," didn't win any. (As a side note: I saw this show three times.)
Columbia pictures acquired the rights for a movie and wanted Shirley MacLaine to play Fanny. Stark flat out refused saying he would scrap the whole thing before he would see anyone but Streisand in the role. Columbia relented and it won an Oscar for Ms. Streisand in 1968 (in a rare tie with Katharine Hepburn for "A Lion in Winter) and was nominated for eight in all. Best Picture that year was "Oliver."
Before that, however, casting for the movie was a nightmare. Frank Sinatra said he would play the male lead if the role of Nicky Arnstein could be expanded with some new songs written (for him). It didn't happen. Cary Grant, Gregory Peck, Marlon Brando, Sean Connery and James Garner were also considered but the role fell to Omar Sharif. And the rest is history.....
The Streisand ornament and the photo from the Broadway show that inspired it (along with the song "I'm the Greatest Star) are pictured below.
Ray Stark had planned a biopic on the life of his mother-in-law, Fanny Brice with Isobel Lennart to pen the screenplay. Upon completion, it fell into the hands of Mary Martin who suggested it was better suited to a stage musical. Stark discussed the possibilities with Producer David Merrick who suggested it be written by Jule Styne and Stephen Sondheim. Sondheim turned it down feeling Martin was all wrong for the project and insisted the role should be played by a "jewish girl." And Martin bowed out gracefully.
Eventually, the show was written with music by Julie Styne and lyrics by Bob Merrill. Jerome Robbins was brought into the project to direct. Initially, Ann Bancroft was to play Fanny and then Eydie Gorme was contacted. She would only take the role if her husband, Steve Lawrence could co-star. This was nixed and eventually the role was given to Ms. Streisand.
Robbins wanted Lennart fired citing that she was unable to adapt her screenplay for the stage. When this didn't happen, Robbins dropped out and Bob Fosse was hired for a time but left for "artistic differences." Then Garson Kanin was brought in to Ms. Streisand's objections. She wanted Robbins back and, indeed he agreed to oversee the choreography by Carol Haney. After numerous out of town tryouts, many rewrites and changes, it eventually made it to Broadway in 1964 where it received eight Tony nominations but, facing tough competition from "Hello, Dolly," didn't win any. (As a side note: I saw this show three times.)
Columbia pictures acquired the rights for a movie and wanted Shirley MacLaine to play Fanny. Stark flat out refused saying he would scrap the whole thing before he would see anyone but Streisand in the role. Columbia relented and it won an Oscar for Ms. Streisand in 1968 (in a rare tie with Katharine Hepburn for "A Lion in Winter) and was nominated for eight in all. Best Picture that year was "Oliver."
Before that, however, casting for the movie was a nightmare. Frank Sinatra said he would play the male lead if the role of Nicky Arnstein could be expanded with some new songs written (for him). It didn't happen. Cary Grant, Gregory Peck, Marlon Brando, Sean Connery and James Garner were also considered but the role fell to Omar Sharif. And the rest is history.....
The Streisand ornament and the photo from the Broadway show that inspired it (along with the song "I'm the Greatest Star) are pictured below.
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