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Jane Lynch Reacts to 'Glee' Drama With Lea Michele Amid 'Funny Girl' Exit

Home / Stars / Jane Lynch Reacts to 'Glee' Drama With Lea Michele Amid 'Funny Girl' Exit

By MLC on August 10, 2022 at 9:00 AM PDT

Jane Lynch is getting the last laugh.

Hot on the heels of her “Funny Girl” departure capturing headlines, the former “Glee” star is explaining whether or not her former co-star, Lea Michele, had anything to do with her decision to quit Broadway’s run “Funny Girl.”

Lynch has been part of the ‘FG’ production since it opened on Broadway on April 24th.

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Jane Lynch Is Leaving "Funny Girl" On Broadway

Jane Lynch at Harrah's Resort Southern California formally inaugurated iconic actor, author and comedian Jane Lynch, Funner, CA's first female mayor and third celebrity mayor
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She plays the role of Mrs. Brice, mother to main character, Fanny Brice.

Fanny was played by Beanie Feldstein (“Booksmart”) until she was diagnosed with tonsillitis. Feldstein had to end her run with the production much too early.

Her last show was on July 31st, but was originally set for a September out date.

Now, Lynch has announced she will also be exiting the show much sooner than expected.

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Jane's Vacation & Awards Show Added To Decision To Leave

Prior to taking her role and Mrs. Brice, the actress had a pre-planned vacation that runs from August 15 – August 23.

Lynch’s final curtain call will be on August 14.

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Jane Lynch at The 88th Annual Drama League Awards
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She was initially supposed to step out for her vacation and return to finish out the performance; however, Lynch is attending the Creative Arts Emmy Awards in LA on September 1.

Rather than going back and forth between Los Angeles and New York City, Lynch decided it would be best if she called it day on August 14.

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Was There Any Drama Between Jane & Lea???

News of her departure came after it was announced her former co-star, Michele, would join the production as (the new) Fanny Brice starting September 6.

In the past, the “Scream Queens” star has been infamous for her negative attitude and snotty behavior on set.

She had multiple “Glee” co-stars speak out about her diva behavior and demands.

Lea Michele at the 2019 New York Stage and Film Winter Gala
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Given Lynch and Michele worked together for years on “Glee,” many wondered if Michele joining the cast on “Funny Girl” had any effect on Lynch’s decision to say “Adios.”

In a statement to Playbill, Lynch explained there is absolutely no drama behind the scenes at “Funny Girl.”

No Drama Here!

“I have a vacation August 14th, and then I had just like five shows after that, and it’s a six-hour flight, so I thought, ‘let’s end it now,’” she explained. “It has nothing to do with not wanting to see Lea. I text with Lea. She and I are fine. I’m thrilled for her.”

Lynch continued to gush over her current and past co-stars too.

“I love working with Julie. I loved working with Beanie. There’s no drama here. None,” she admitted.

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Lea Michele replaces Bernie Feldstein in Broadway "Funny Girl"
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Upon leaving her role as Fanny Brice, Feldstein shared a message to Instagram on July 10.

"Playing Fanny Brice on Broadway has been a lifelong dream of mine, and doing so for the last few months has been a great joy and true honor," she wrote. "Once the production decided to take the show in a different direction, I made the extremely difficult decision to step away sooner than anticipated."

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Five days later she shared a video explaining her tonsilitis diagnosis.

"I cannot wait to do my last two weeks and ... you gotta laugh at a certain point," she said. "When it rains, it pours on your old pal Bean."

This is the first time in 58 years that “Funny Girl” has been on Broadway.

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