Lea Michele's 'Funny Girl' Receives Standing Ovations, Universal Praise

On Tuesday night, the world was introduced to Lea Michele's long-awaited Fanny Brice in the Broadway musical Funny Girl, and she was met with numerous standing ovations and universal praise.

The Glee star returned to the Broadway stage for the first time in 13 years to star in the musical revival, just a few months after the original Brice, played by Beanie Feldstein, decided to step away.

On Tuesday, the crowd went wild for Michele, despite the prediction that some expected her to crash and burn. She received a total of four standing ovations before intermission, including after the show's signature song, "Don't Rain on My Parade."

Two more ovations took place after the second act and at the final curtain, where an emotional Michele took her first bow after the performance.

A Twitter account named @FunnyGirlBwy posted a video of Michele, along with co-star Tovah Feldshuh, who opened on Tuesday night as Fanny Brice's mother, taking their bows and each receiving a large bouquet of white roses.

Michele also appeared to point at her good friend Jonathan Groff, who was in the audience. A video posted on Twitter by New York Times journalist Dave Quinn showed her pointing at Groff, who appears emotional in support.

Although critics will not be in attendance at the show until later this month, the unofficial reviews began to pour in quickly after the show. Twitter user and theater critic Juan A. Ramírez wrote, "oh, honey.. Lea Michele TORE."

"There's no other way to describe Lea Michele's performance in Funny Girl other than unbelievable," said user Logan Leavitt.

One Twitter user wrote, "INTERMISSION AT FUNNY GIRL. I HAVE TO SAY IT. HOW DO WE GIVE LEA MICHELE A F**KING TONY AWARD. HOW. SHE IS F**KING KILLING IT. OH MY GOD SHE IS PERFECT."

While many more commentators on the show have given it praise, one spectator went viral for saying that the audience in the August Wilson Theatre gasped and laughed when Michele made a reference to reading books, playing on a long-winded rumor that Michele can't read or write.

"At Lea Michele's FUNNY GIRL debut and the audience LAUGHED and GASPED when she delivered the like 'I haven't read many books.'" wrote Twitter user @bequietjoe.

Also in the audience on Tuesday night was Michele and Groff's Spring Awakening co-stars, John Gallagher Jr. and Gideon Glick. Producer Ryan Murphy, who worked with Michele in Glee and Scream Queens was also in the crowd, as well as Tony winner Harvey Fierstein, New York Governor Kathy Hochul, and actor Zachary Quinto.

Newsweek reached out to representatives for Michele and Beanie Feldstein for comment.