Jane Lynch addresses why she and Lea Michele won’t work together in Broadway’s ‘Funny Girl’

NEW YORK — Jane Lynch is keeping quiet on any drama surrounding this week’s shakeup at Broadway’s “Funny Girl.”

The 61-year-old Emmy winner — whose role on “Only Murders in the Building” scored her another nomination Tuesday — is shedding light on why she and former “Glee” co-star Lea Michele won’t be sharing the stage when the latter takes over Beanie Feldstein’s starring role as Fanny Brice in “Funny Girl” this fall.

“We have been in touch about it,” Lynch told Deadline. “It was just a really strong idea to have [Tovah] Feldshuh [who will succeed Lynch as Mrs. Brice] and Lea premiere together. That’s the only reason [we won’t appear together].”

Michele, 35, in 2020 faced a slew of allegations of misconduct from former colleagues, including Samantha Ware.

Ware, 30, came forward to accuse Michele of having made “Glee” a “living hell” for her, pointing to alleged microaggressions.

But Lynch clarified this week that she has nothing but love for Michele.

“I adore her,” she told Deadline. “She’s just going to take this show and make it her own. I’m so glad she’s getting the opportunity in real life to do the show and not just on ‘Glee.’”

Michele’s character on “Glee,” Rachel Berry, performed some of the famed songs from the theatrical and cinematic adaptation, both starring Barbra Streisand as Fanny.

Feldstein shared on Instagram Sunday that despite the role being “a lifelong dream” for the “Booksmart” star, she’d be leaving the show at the end of this month, the second time her end date was moved up.

“Once the production decided to take the show in a different direction, I made the extremely difficult decision to step away sooner than anticipated,” she said.

On Monday, the production announced that Michele would replace Feldstein, and Feldshuh will take Lynch’s part, with both actresses debuting onstage on Sept. 6. After Feldstein leaves the role at the end of this month, Julie Benko will play Fanny in August, before Michele takes over.

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