If you’ve been humming "Don't Rain on My Parade" in your shower lately, you aren’t alone. The revival of Funny Girl Kansas City is finally hitting the stage at the Starlight Theatre, and honestly, the buzz is a little chaotic. People are arguing about the casting. They’re stressed about the parking. They’re wondering if anyone can actually live up to Barbra Streisand or if the recent Broadway glow-up with Lea Michele actually translated to the touring production.
It’s a lot.
But here’s the thing: Funny Girl isn’t just another musical passing through Missouri. It’s a massive, technical beast of a show that relies entirely on whether the lead actress can carry the weight of Fanny Brice’s ego and heartbreak on her shoulders for nearly three hours.
Why the Funny Girl Kansas City Run is Different This Year
Most people don't realize that the touring version of this show is based on the 2022 Broadway revival. That’s a big deal. For decades, Funny Girl was basically "the show you don't touch" because the 1964 original was so tied to Streisand. It was like trying to remake The Godfather—just a bad idea. But Michael Mayer’s direction for the new version changed the math.
The Kansas City stop is part of the North American tour that has been pulling in massive numbers. When it lands at Starlight, the vibe changes. You’ve got that open-air atmosphere which, frankly, can be a blessing or a curse depending on the humidity.
Is it worth the ticket price?
Probably. If you like high-belt vocals and tap dancing that makes your knees hurt just watching it. The story follows Fanny Brice, a girl from the Lower East Side who doesn’t fit the "pretty" mold of the Ziegfeld Follies but becomes a star anyway. Then she meets Nick Arnstein, a gambler with a questionable mustache and even worse financial sense, and things get complicated.
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The Fanny Brice Problem: Can Anyone Actually Sing This?
Let's get real. The role of Fanny Brice is one of the hardest in musical theater history.
It requires a "vocal athlete." You need a massive belt, a delicate head voice for the sad bits, and the comedic timing of a vaudeville pro. Katerina McCrimmon has been the powerhouse leading the tour, and she’s been getting rave reviews for a reason. She doesn't try to imitate Barbra. Thank god. Instead, she leans into the scrappiness.
- The first act ends with "Don't Rain on My Parade."
- The second act is a downward spiral of a failing marriage.
- The costumes are heavy, glittery, and changed every five minutes.
In Kansas City, audiences tend to be vocal. We cheer for the big notes. We laugh at the self-deprecating Jewish humor. But the show only works if the connection between Fanny and Nick feels authentic. If there’s no chemistry, the second act feels like a long, slow walk to a breakup you already saw coming an hour ago.
What Most People Get Wrong About the Ziegfeld Follies
We see the "Ziegfeld" name and think of glamorous showgirls with feathers. That's part of it. But the Funny Girl Kansas City production highlights the friction between Fanny’s "untraditional" look and the rigid beauty standards of the 1920s.
Florenz Ziegfeld was a real guy. He was a perfectionist. He was a bit of a nightmare. The show captures that tension perfectly when Fanny refuses to play the "beautiful bride" in a number and instead comes out wearing a fake pregnant belly. It’s a riot. It’s also based on a true story. The real Fanny Brice was a genius at subverting expectations, and the musical stays surprisingly close to that spirit.
Navigating Starlight Theatre Like a Local
If you’re headed to see Funny Girl Kansas City at Starlight, you need a game plan. This isn’t a climate-controlled Broadway house.
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First, check the forecast. Seriously. If it’s 95 degrees, that velvet seat is going to feel like a sauna. People forget that the theater is outdoors. If you’re in the back sections, the sound can sometimes drift, so if you’re a die-hard fan of the lyrics, try to snag seats in the Plaza or Orchestra sections.
And the parking? It’s a trek. Give yourself forty minutes more than you think you need. Honestly, the walk through Swope Park is nice, but not when you’re sprinting because the overture has already started.
The Music: Beyond the Hits
Everyone knows "People" and "Don't Rain on My Parade." Jule Styne and Bob Merrill wrote those to be anthems. But the "deep cuts" in the show are where the real character development happens.
"The Music That Makes Me Dance" is arguably the best song in the show, even if it isn't the most famous. It’s Fanny’s moment of realization that she’s addicted to a man who’s bad for her. It’s raw. It’s quiet. In a venue as big as Starlight, those quiet moments are the real test of the actress.
Why Nick Arnstein is the Worst (But We Love Him)
Nick Arnstein is a tough role to play because, on paper, he’s a loser. He gambles away Fanny’s money. He gets involved in bond scams. He leaves her because his ego can't handle her success.
But the actor—Stephen Mark Lukas has been playing him on tour—has to make you understand why Fanny stays. It’s about the charm. The "Nicky Arnstein" song isn't just a fluff piece; it’s a window into why a powerful woman would diminish herself for a man. It’s a theme that, unfortunately, still resonates in 2026.
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Is This Show Actually Funny?
Yes.
But it’s a specific kind of funny. It’s Brooklyn humor. It’s "my mother is a guilt-trip expert" humor. The scenes in the Keeney’s Music Hall and the poker games with Mrs. Brice and her friends (Mrs. Strakosh is a legend) provide the necessary breathing room between the heavy romantic drama.
- The tap battle in "Rat-Tat-Tat-Tat" is a technical marvel.
- The "You Are Woman, I Am Man" seduction scene is peak awkward comedy.
- The ensemble work is tight, especially during the Follies sequences.
Practical Steps for Your Night Out
Don't just show up and hope for the best.
- Arrive early for the atmosphere. Starlight has decent food options, but hitting up a spot in Brookside or Waldo beforehand is the veteran move.
- Rent the binoculars. If you’re in the "Terk" or "Superior" seating levels, you’re going to want to see the detail on those Bob Mackie-style costumes. The beadwork is insane.
- Read the program. The history of the real Fanny Brice is wild. She was one of the highest-paid women in entertainment at a time when women couldn't even vote in some places.
- Wait for the encore. Sometimes the touring cast does a little something extra, or at the very least, you get to appreciate the orchestra. They’re the unsung heroes of this show.
The Funny Girl Kansas City run is a reminder that some stories are timeless because the emotions are messy. It’s not a perfect fairy tale. It’s a story about a woman who wins at her career and loses at her heart, and somehow, we still walk out of the theater feeling like we could take on the world.
Grab your tickets through the official Starlight website or the Broadway in Kansas City portal. Avoid the third-party resellers if you can; the markups are predatory and you might end up with a "view-obstructed" seat that wasn't labeled correctly.
Enjoy the greasepaint and the glitter. It’s Fanny’s world; we’re just living in it.
Next Steps for Your Theater Experience
- Verify your dates: Double-check the Starlight schedule as weekday performances often start at 7:30 PM, while Sunday matinees offer a cooler temperature option.
- Review the bag policy: Starlight has specific size requirements (usually clear bags or small clutches) to speed up security lines.
- Pre-order intermission drinks: This is the only way to avoid the 20-minute line when everyone rushes the concourse at once.