Funny Girl has become the Menier Chocolate Factory’s fastest ever selling show, cementing its star Sheridan Smith’s standing as one of the London stage’s most popular performers.
Tickets for the classic musical, which will play from 20 November to 5 March, went on sale to the public this morning and had sold out by 10:30. Tantalisingly, the London Bridge venue are now advising people to sign up to their mailing list for “news of a possible extension or transfer”.
Even before today’s record-breaking event, hopes were already high that the musical may find a place in the West End following its Menier run. In doing so, it would follow in a long line of hugely successful transfers for the venue including the Olivier Award-winning Merrily We Roll Along, Sunday In The Park With George and La Cage Aux Folles.
Funny Girl certainly has all the makings of another success for the intimate venue, with the double Olivier Award-winning Smith set to be directed in Jule Styne and Bob Merrill’s much-loved comedy musical by multi award-winning director Michael Mayer, and hit-making producer Sonia Friedman already on board.
Telling the story of one woman’s rise to fame from the Lower East Side of New York to the starry lights of Broadway, today’s lucky ticketholders will be the first to see Smith follow in the footsteps of Barbra Streisand, who played the role on Broadway and in the subsequent film adaptation, to perform Funny Girl’s iconic numbers including People and Don’t Rain On My Parade.