Brilliant, dazzling, gorgeous, lustrous, lavish, superb, glorious, ravishing, magnificent … Okay, got the picture?

We could list dozens more superlatives from Roget, but cut to the chase: Funny Girl, now at the Philadelphia Academy of Music, is unmissable. You have only until July 28 to see it, and then it is gone. 

Ensemble Arts Philly and the Shubert Organization have brought a spectacular production of Funny Girl into town, and like anything this amazing, it is a must-see.

We all know that Funny Girl was a legendary film, enjoyed Broadway revivals, and seldom have these iterations been so wonderful as this. Direct from Broadway, this touring production has already wowed thousands across America. Now it is right here in your own backyard, with fabulous dancers, singers, musicians, costumes, technical splendor, and, yes, tap dancing!

Katerina McCrimmon is Fanny Brice, and she is a knockout. She’s loud, she’s brassy, she’s perfectly idiomatic in her acting. Then, she starts singing with beauty, force, and boundless energy. A true star, for sure. 

While Streisand was perfect in the part of Fanny Brice, McCrimmon is perfect, too. She sings “I’m the Greatest Star,” “People,” “Don’t Rain On My Parade,” and others with a startling force, subtlety, and style sure to become legendary. The audience roared its approval after each one of her big numbers. and it was well-deserved. You will wonder how any human could do this eight times a week.  

Enough praise for Katerina McCrimmon. Okay, maybe not, but we must go on to praise the other outstanding cast members in this large and lavish production. 

Melissa Manchester, yes, the pop legend, is a sterling Mrs. Brice. She’s funny, she’s sassy, and commands the stage. As Fanny’s best friend (and seemingly her adoring gay mentor) Izaiah Montaque Harris is Eddie Ryan. Among his talents is tap dancing, which he thankfully busts out into several times in the production. Ayodele Casel is listed as Tap Choreographer. Nicky Arnstein, the man who prompts the eternal line, “Hello, Gorgeous,” is played by the gorgeous Stephen Mark Lucas. In the Monte Carlo scene, we get to see him shirtless. Hubba-hubba. On the theme of tall, hot, and handsome, the two Rat-Tat-Tat-Tat Men are Jack Bianchi and Travis Ward-Osborne. The Music Director/Conductor was Elaine Davidson, rousing up a storm with her musicians in the pit. The Revised Book is credited to the mastermind Harvey Fierstein. Choreography was by Ellenore Scott, Direction by Michael Mayer, and the Technical Staff all were award-winners. What a show!

If you love the Broadway classical musical, you must see Funny Girl.

For information and tickets, visit www.ensembleartsphilly.org .