Theater veteran Tovah Feldshuh has performed in 10 Broadway shows over the last five decades, garnering acclaim and Tony Awards love for Yentl and Goldas Balcony, among others. But theres a unique thrill to her current role on stage, as the endearing mother of Lea Micheles Fanny Brice in Funny Girl.
I get entrance applause at the top of the stairs, she says. Its kind of fabulous.
The crowd at Broadways August Wilson Theatre has been nothing short of euphoric ever since Feldshuh and Michele joined the company of Funny Girl in September. And the stakes couldnt have been higher. When the revival opened in March, 60 years after Barbra Streisands star-making turn in the beloved musical, it was plagued by negative reviews, bad buzz and wilting ticket sales.
Adding to the drama: Beanie Feldstein was originally cast as Fanny Brice instead of Michele, who has a long-publicized obsession with Funny Girl. One thing (criticism about Feldsteins voice) led to another (Feldsteins early exit from the show), resulting in Michele finally getting to take the main stage. The 73-year-old Feldshuh replaced Micheles former Glee co-star Jane Lynch, who initially played Mrs. Brice and left with Feldstein. Throughout the casting choices, surprise departures, and critical pile-on, theres been no shortage of headlines to dine out on the on- and off-stage gossip.
There is a reason its the most publicized show in New York, Feldshuh says over tea and fresh fruit at her Upper West Side apartment on a recent fall afternoon. It has a kernel of the American dream. Lea finally got the part she was destined to play in the first place, and shes brilliant in it.
Feldshuhs certain kind of maternal energy and shes played her share of Jewish mothers on stage and screen in Kissing Jessica Stein and Crazy Ex-Girlfriend seeps into real life as she interjects her musings about the theatre to make sure her company is well fed. Had we been cast in the first place, she says, taking a sip from her mug, this would not nearly have been as interesting a story.
Theres another reason that people have been clinging to the well-documented saga. Its a shot at redemption for Michele, who largely stepped back from the spotlight in 2020 after former Glee co-stars accused her of bad behavior on set. Feldshuh brushes off the idle chatter. I have no interest in reading about or knowing about it, she says in a way that, nonetheless, suggests shes acutely informed of the spectacle surrounding Michele. She adds, The Talmud says its forbidden to gossip.
Spoken like a true Jewish mother.
What has it been like to be back on Broadway?
Its a thrill. This thing fell into my lap. Forget just coming back to Broadway. What is it like to be in Funny Girl? Its like performing with The Beatles. Our performances, thanks to Lea Michele, are theatrical events.
Next year marks your 50th year on Broadway. How will you celebrate?
I want to have a party. We need to stop the conveyor belt and celebrate this accomplishment. Im so grateful I can do eight shows a week. I am an athlete. I am fit. I weigh 111.4 pounds, which is what I weighed in seventh grade. And you dont want to mess with me.
I was at your opening night, and the energy in the audience was electric. What was it like for you?
It was absolutely phenomenal. Basically the audience is saying to you, the second you step on stage, thank you. I feel very good about my work in the show. [The producers] let me say Oy, and they let Lea say Oy gevalt, and theyre letting me go, toi toi toi, which now gets a good laugh.
Has the reception been that enthusiastic every night?
We had no idea we would get that kind of reception. Weve only been doing it for five weeks, but thats the reception we get.
How were you first approached for the role?
I got this call from [producer] Daryl Roth saying Would you be interested in playing Rosie Bryce on Broadway? I said, I wouldnt be uninterested. I went to see the play, looked at the part and said, Maybe I can do something with this. I accepted the offer and saw the play innumerable times. Fanny Brice is the most startlingly brilliant role for a woman in the American musical theater. The rest of us are her spokes. But we dont have to be wallpaper. We function to bring out various assets and liabilities of Fanny Brices character. So I said yes. [But] how can I distinguish this part? Well, I got one advantage: Im Jewish. And Im the first actress of the Jewish religion to play this part on Broadway in 60 years.
Thats surprising to learn. What is gained by a Jewish actor playing Fannys mother?
As Katharine Hepburn said, God exists in the details. You want to come to any part youre playing as a sharpened pencil, a really fine point. And theres a difference between an Italian mother, an Irish mother, a Jewish mother, a Swedish mother A lot of Rosie Brice is not on the page. Its not some bravura role. How do you lift it off the page and make it deep, true, real and Jewish? This is a Jewish story about a Jewish girl. What makes it different, being a Jewish mother, is the manner in which a child is loved, cared for, touched. Its very demonstrative. The manner in which a Jew often catastrophizes first, which is written into Fannys part Wheres the torture? she says. The manner in which all is not always well, or all is not ever totally well; the Jew epigenetically has the specter of the possibility of extinction.
Did you do any research, or do you have enough experience from having a Jewish mother and being a Jewish mother?
and a Jewish grandmother. And no divorces in our family. I researched on Wikipedia that [Fannys mother] came here when she was 10 years old from Hungary. Had I been in the original production, I would have asked to explore the Hungarian accent. But I was a replacement, and to come in with that kind of a change would have been too drastic for the production. So I let it go. Other than that, its not that I didnt do research. I have enough in my memory bank.
Whats it like working with Lea Michele?
Lea never talks about herself. Never. The word diva doesnt even apply to her. It doesnt come close. Shes a working actress. Shes very good for the community.
What would surprise someone to know about her?
Her fans could enjoy the fact that her greatness of talent is coupled with her decency as a human being. And those who are not her fans, let me assure you, she is a dream to work with. Shes certainly wonderful to me. She calls me mom.
You were also in Yentl, another show thats closely associated with Barbra Streisand. Do you know each other?
She saw Kissing Jessica Stein and loved it, so she called me.
Have you spoken to her since youve joined Funny Girl?
I have not. I emailed her and said, Dearest Barbra, Im finally playing your mother. Love, Tovah. I dont know that shell come to see it. We all hope she will see it. I dont know. Shes in California, and shes 80.
How do you prepare to perform each day?
Would you like some of this apple? You should try some, its really good I get to the theater early. I like to close my eyes. I put my mask on and my earplugs on and listen to Headspace. I wake up at hour call. Just recalling the image Im starting to yawn. I change into the beginning of my costume and go to the stage to warm up my body and voice. By that time, its the half-hour mark. I get into my corset. Im one of two people who wear a corset in this show. I love wearing it. It makes me stand up straight. And then I start to go over the scenes.
How do you come down after a show?
The curtain call is so insane. It takes a while to relax. I ride my bike to the theater most nights. Now that were in a hit [show], everybodys flocking to the theater. So very often, well go out for a bite and then Ill bike home. I have a neon vest, and I bike up Central Park West. Im very careful. Sometimes I go to bed at 2 in the morning. I take Sleepytime Extra tea and melatonin. It takes tremendous discipline to calm down my mind.
Its a pretty long show. How do you spend time in between your scenes?
Could you pass the berries? When I was following Janes track, the dresser would say, And now Jane goes into the stage management office and sits and chats. I said, You got the wrong actor here. I do not sit. I do not chat. I study my script, like every good Jewish girl.
Is there a plan to record a cast album?
I hope so. What makes me sad is were not eligible for the Tonys. I hope they create something special for us.
Tovah Feldshuh (in red) on the Cannes red carpet for Armageddon Time.Getty Images
Youre also in James Grays new movie Armageddon Time. What was it like working with Jeremy Strong, Anne Hathaway and Anthony Hopkins?
Fabulous. Jeremy Strong as a real standout in that movie. Hes a superb artist and a wonderful man. When he works on set, hes in the tunnel. And, frankly, so are most of us. Tony is a gas. Hes hilarious. He can tell a dirty joke right before they say action and then do the part. And Anne Hathaway is like Lea Michele, just a superb human being. Shes very well brought up, very kind, very warm. Working for James Gray was pretty exciting because, who knew we were going to be invited to the Cannes Film Festival?
What was it like to go to Cannes?
It was exquisite. I was walking home Andy [Levy, Feldshuhs husband] and I rented a beautiful apartment near the Croisette and I met Julia Roberts. Shes a foot taller than me. She threw her arms around me and said, I have loved your work all my life. She started to name my theater credits. I said, You should run for president of the United States.
The rest is here:
- Honoring EFRAT: An organization that provides support to parents - The Jerusalem Post - February 18th, 2024 [February 18th, 2024]
- For the Yehudim There Was Light - COLlive - February 18th, 2024 [February 18th, 2024]
- Book Review: Subculture Vulture, by Moshe Kasher - The New York Times - January 29th, 2024 [January 29th, 2024]
- Palestine, the Jews, the Talmud and the Aleppo Codex | Jaime Kardontchik | The Blogs - The Times of Israel - January 29th, 2024 [January 29th, 2024]
- Israel-Hamas War: Yearning for children lost before their time - The Jerusalem Post - January 29th, 2024 [January 29th, 2024]
- Roots, Midrash and Tu B'Shvat | Gershon Hepner | The Blogs - The Times of Israel - January 29th, 2024 [January 29th, 2024]
- Emotional moments as awards are given out to the talmidim of Talmud Torah Kollel Shomrei Hachomos Rockland Daily - Rockland Daily - January 23rd, 2024 [January 23rd, 2024]
- The People's Talmud Presents: RANDOM Brain Teasers - The Jewish Press - JewishPress.com - January 23rd, 2024 [January 23rd, 2024]
- Why the Jewish Word for Heretic Is Based on Epicurus - Greek Reporter - January 23rd, 2024 [January 23rd, 2024]
- War, Talmud, and agriculture - opinion - The Jerusalem Post - December 28th, 2023 [December 28th, 2023]
- Claims on 'Canaan' by Africans and Arabs in the Talmud - The Times of Israel - December 28th, 2023 [December 28th, 2023]
- Berakhot (tractate) - Wikipedia - January 4th, 2023 [January 4th, 2023]
- Talmud and Midrash | Definition, Books, Examples, & Facts - January 4th, 2023 [January 4th, 2023]
- The William Davidson Talmud The William Davidson Talmud - December 26th, 2022 [December 26th, 2022]
- Switching My Kids to This Jewish Day School from Public School Was a Godsend and Came Just in Time - Kveller.com - December 23rd, 2022 [December 23rd, 2022]
- Humans of Heller High: What nine teens learned on an immersive program in Israel - JTA News - Jewish Telegraphic Agency - December 16th, 2022 [December 16th, 2022]
- Jesus in the Talmud - Wikipedia - November 23rd, 2022 [November 23rd, 2022]
- The Oral Law -Talmud & Mishna - Jewish Virtual Library - October 23rd, 2022 [October 23rd, 2022]
- Creating Humanity and Midrash in the Divine Image - Jewish Exponent - October 19th, 2022 [October 19th, 2022]
- Help Jewish Federation do good that goes everywhere - Jewish Community Voice - October 19th, 2022 [October 19th, 2022]
- On the Turkish-Syrian border, a citys last Jews watch the ending of an epoch - JTA News - Jewish Telegraphic Agency - October 19th, 2022 [October 19th, 2022]
- Cate Blanchett gives what might be her best performance ever in TR - Cult MTL - October 19th, 2022 [October 19th, 2022]
- Revisiting The Campus Archives - New Voices - October 19th, 2022 [October 19th, 2022]
- Opinion | Wood column: Reliever Larry Sherry went from obscurity to fame in a moment - The Daily Advance - October 19th, 2022 [October 19th, 2022]
- The Moon Provides an All-Star Example of Sincere Repentance - Torah.org - October 19th, 2022 [October 19th, 2022]
- Was the fruit of the Tree of Life from which Adam and Eve ate really an apple? J-Wire - J-Wire Jewish Australian News Service - October 19th, 2022 [October 19th, 2022]
- Major raids into Al-Aqsa and the Occupation prevents worshipers from entering - Middle East Monitor - October 17th, 2022 [October 17th, 2022]
- No-bake 'millionaire' bars are a rich treat for a sweet Simchat Torah J. - The Jewish News of Northern California - October 15th, 2022 [October 15th, 2022]
- Jewish donations to support abortion rights groups are booming J. - The Jewish News of Northern California - October 15th, 2022 [October 15th, 2022]
- Superminis Remix Of The Phantom Of The Operas Title Song is Out Now - Yahoo Entertainment - October 15th, 2022 [October 15th, 2022]
- Joey Weisenberg coming to S.F. to help build 'singing communities' J. - The Jewish News of Northern California - October 15th, 2022 [October 15th, 2022]
- Islamic Tahrif Began With The Samaritans OpEd - Eurasia Review - October 13th, 2022 [October 13th, 2022]
- Rosh Hashanah threats show that Jewish students are being targeted - JNS.org - October 13th, 2022 [October 13th, 2022]
- Freedom to cycle The female Afghan refugees rediscovering life on the bike in Italy - CyclingWeekly - October 13th, 2022 [October 13th, 2022]
- Rabbi: Lets recommit to one another and get the polio vaccine | Opinion - NJ.com - October 13th, 2022 [October 13th, 2022]
- How and when did the first synagogues appear in Ukraine, and why is this an important aspect of Ukrainian history (Pt. 1) - UJE - Ukrainian Jewish... - October 13th, 2022 [October 13th, 2022]
- The Facts about Pope John Paul I Novus Ordo Watch - October 11th, 2022 [October 11th, 2022]
- My ApologiesKanye West Isn't What I Told You - The Epoch Times - October 11th, 2022 [October 11th, 2022]
- A new cookbook highlights women of the Talmud - Press Herald - October 8th, 2022 [October 8th, 2022]
- The greatest contemporary teacher of Judaism is a van driver in Israel - Religion News Service - October 8th, 2022 [October 8th, 2022]
- Letter to the Editor: Rabbis do take political stands when morality, ethics and national threats are involved - Summit Daily - October 8th, 2022 [October 8th, 2022]
- Taking inspiration from the Talmud to feed the needy - Australian Jewish News - September 11th, 2022 [September 11th, 2022]
- Kenden Alfond Finds Culinary Inspiration from the Talmud - aish.com - Aish.com - September 11th, 2022 [September 11th, 2022]
- Missouri bagel shop goes viral for effort to feed the needy J. - The Jewish News of Northern California - September 11th, 2022 [September 11th, 2022]
- What Do Some of YU's Torah Leaders Think of the Five Torot? - The Commentator - The Commentator - September 11th, 2022 [September 11th, 2022]
- Gorbachev was different he had a heart - The Jewish Standard - September 11th, 2022 [September 11th, 2022]
- Love is a Skeleton Key - aish.com - Aish.com - September 11th, 2022 [September 11th, 2022]
- 50 Best Wine Quotes That Will Have You Breaking Out a Bottle Stat! - Parade Magazine - September 11th, 2022 [September 11th, 2022]
- We have faced Amaleks like Putin forever, but with morality we can prevail J. - The Jewish News of Northern California - September 11th, 2022 [September 11th, 2022]
- Being On The Team - The Jewish Press - JewishPress.com - September 11th, 2022 [September 11th, 2022]
- Twelve more Slovaks awarded Righteous Among the Nations - The Slovak Spectator - September 11th, 2022 [September 11th, 2022]
- West Temples Rabbi Lader to retire in June 2023 - Cleveland Jewish News - September 11th, 2022 [September 11th, 2022]
- A Texas rabbi is fighting Jewish stereotypes on Chinas TikTok - The Times of Israel - August 29th, 2022 [August 29th, 2022]
- I'm a Gamblin' Man: The 17th Century Rabbi who Battled Addiction - aish.com - Aish.com - August 29th, 2022 [August 29th, 2022]
- Q & A: The Mantle Of Leadership (Part II) - The Jewish Press - JewishPress.com - August 29th, 2022 [August 29th, 2022]
- Anger, Procrastination, and Elul - The Jewish Press - JewishPress.com - August 29th, 2022 [August 29th, 2022]
- What Is the Talmud? - Christianity.com - August 25th, 2022 [August 25th, 2022]
- The Choice: A Novel of Love, Faith, and the Talmud - reviewed by Rabbi Jeffrey Cohen J-Wire - J-Wire Jewish Australian News Service - August 25th, 2022 [August 25th, 2022]
- What If It Were 'Zalman'? - The Jewish Press - JewishPress.com - August 25th, 2022 [August 25th, 2022]
- Jewish law symposium to tackle the ethics of cancel culture and redemption - The Jewish Standard - August 25th, 2022 [August 25th, 2022]
- What I'm Reading (Aug. 25) | American Council on Science and Health - American Council on Science and Health - August 25th, 2022 [August 25th, 2022]
- Apples of Our Eyes: Stories of the Unforgettable Teachers Who Illuminated Our Minds and Marked Our Lives - Jewish Journal - August 25th, 2022 [August 25th, 2022]
- Here Comes the Judge - Jewish Exponent - August 25th, 2022 [August 25th, 2022]
- Asking the Clergy: Your faith and recreational marijuana - Newsday - August 25th, 2022 [August 25th, 2022]
- When Judaism considers the future, it looks to the past - Jewish Community Voice - August 25th, 2022 [August 25th, 2022]
- The Judaism And Zionism Of David Sarnoff - The Jewish Press - JewishPress.com - August 25th, 2022 [August 25th, 2022]
- Blessings From Studying The Zera Shimshon - The Jewish Press - JewishPress.com - August 25th, 2022 [August 25th, 2022]
- You Say it but Do You Believe it? - The Jewish Press - JewishPress.com - August 25th, 2022 [August 25th, 2022]
- Facing a personal reckoning, with a dose of absurdity, on a bus tour of Naziland - Forward - August 25th, 2022 [August 25th, 2022]
- Ezra Furman and the Tireless, Sacred Work of Being Alive | Interview - The Line of Best Fit - August 25th, 2022 [August 25th, 2022]
- The Long and Short of a Well-Rounded Shabbos - The Jewish Press - JewishPress.com - August 25th, 2022 [August 25th, 2022]
- At many Bay Area synagogues, the real action is social action J. - The Jewish News of Northern California - August 25th, 2022 [August 25th, 2022]
- Abortion is a religious issue, but not in the way you think - Santa Fe New Mexican - August 6th, 2022 [August 6th, 2022]
- Jews and Muslims are fasting next week. Let's hold the interfaith activities another time. - Cleveland Jewish News - August 6th, 2022 [August 6th, 2022]
- A Pennsylvania candidate for governor cuts ties with Gab, and antisemitism on the site spikes - Forward - August 6th, 2022 [August 6th, 2022]
- Reading the Book of Psalms in the Twenty-First Century - Jewish Journal - August 6th, 2022 [August 6th, 2022]
- Rabbi's Caroline's invocation kicking off the Mayoral debate - Islander News.com - August 6th, 2022 [August 6th, 2022]
- Jewish Perspectives On Termination Of Pregnancy - Los Alamos Daily Post - August 6th, 2022 [August 6th, 2022]
- Tuesdays primaries offered a glint of hope for Democrats this fall - The Guardian - August 6th, 2022 [August 6th, 2022]
- Why Are There So Many Jewish Lawyers? - The Jewish Press - JewishPress.com - August 6th, 2022 [August 6th, 2022]