After months addressing allegations of bullying and racism and illiteracy rumors, Lea Michele made her highly anticipated debut in Broadway’s Funny Girl revival. On Sept. 6, she triumphantly graced the August Wilson Theatre in New York, and it seemed to be a true spectacle.
Funny Girl is Michele’s return to Broadway after a 13-year absence. According to Variety, before the star could belt a single note, she was met with uproarious applause from the crowd.
Michele’s debut in Funny Girl didn’t come without controversy. A few days prior to opening night, Michele spoke with The New York Times and addressed replacing Feldstein, accusations of improper behavior on the set of Glee, and those online rumors that she can’t read.
With a lush bouquet of white roses in hand, you can clearly see how elated the singer is to be in this role. It’s understandable why, given Michele has openly yearned about playing this role since her early days on Glee.
During Michele’s time as Rachel Berry on Glee, the singer regularly sang popular hits from the Funny Girl musical, including “Don’t Rain on My Parade,” “I’m the Greatest Star,” and “People.”
Deadline reported actor (Michele’s BFF) Jonathan Groff, Glee co-creator Ryan Murphy, and actor Zachary Quinto were all in attendance for her debut.
The crowd not only applauded Michele at the beginning of her performance. According to People, she received a total of six standing ovations throughout the show.