Stars come out for opening night of "Funny Girl" on Broadway

NEW YORK -- It was an unforgettable opening night on Sunday as a classic made its return to Broadway for the first time in 58 years.

"Funny Girl" catapulted Barbra Streisand to fame in the 1960s and now a new cast and crew are carrying on the legacy she built, CBS2's Lisa Rozner reported.

The story of Fanny Brice is one that's truly stood the test of time. It's about being yourself and owning it, and you could feel the energy  from everyone who was in the audience and on stage on Sunday.

Beanie Feldstein fulfilled a lifelong dream by playing Brice on Broadway in the revival.

"I love this story my whole life. A dream coming true, literally," Feldstein said.

She's the 28-year-old sister of actor Jonah Hill, who was in the audience. As was composer Stephen Schwartz, Tony Award winner Adrienne Warren, and film actress Kristen Bell.

Jane Lynch of "Glee" fame plays Brice's mother, Rosie Brice.

"When I would get like a guest spot on a sitcom my mother would leave a message on my answering machine, singing, 'Who taught her everything she knows,' ... and that's the song I get to use, so it's a full-circle moment that is really wonderful," Lynch said.

"It's amazing and I feel like every night is opening night because everybody's just so excited for this to start," said actress Liz McCartney, who is the standby for Rosie Brice.

Julie Benko will fill in as Fanny Brice next weekend.

"She did so much for Jewish women and to be a Jewish woman representing that on stage is a true honor," Benko said.

Fanny Brice was the child of Jewish immigrants who dropped out of school in New York City in the eighth grade. In the 1920s she broke the glass ceiling held by society by snagging roles based on her talent and comedy and not her looks.

"I think Fanny Brice shows you that beauty isn't up to your standards; it's how I feel on the inside, so I've always resonated with that story," actress Alex Newell said.

Brooklyn native Harvey Fierstein recently revised the "Funny Girl" book.

"I love the golden age of Broadway. I was raised on that on those kinds of shows, that's what this is," Fierstein said. "The old fashioned kind of telling, seriously overture starts to play and the audience hears people and 'Don't rain on my parade.' And that's the business we're in, to make people happy."

The original production in 1964 starring Streisand received eight Tony Award nominations. A few years later, for the film adaptation, Streisand won the Oscar for Best Actress.

"This is a show that takes place in a theater. It is about memory and for us to be in a theater together and celebrate it on stage has been a huge gift honor," costume designer Susan Hilferty said.

"I'm excited to see one of my favorite movies, favorite Broadway stories that was a film when I was younger come to life on stage," Broadway star Peppermint said. "I've obviously never had the opportunity to see this on Broadway."

"I think people are just anxious to get out again and to feel the energy of the people sitting next to you," legendary actor Bryan Cranston said. "No matter how old you are you always want to be told a story and this is one more chance. Timeless story!"

"My dear friend Zac Posen made this for me, of course inspired by the iconic Funny Girl leopard. Hello gorgeous!" theater owner Jordan Roth said. "This show is like the holy grail of Broadway musicals because its beloved by so many and seen by so few."

And Sunday is Streisand's 80th birthday. She was not in attendance, but CBS2 has learned she sent a note of support to the lead a few weeks ago.