Come the 12th of November, the ADC theatre will see not just one Funny Girl, but four. Musical Director Ben Glassberg (The Twits; Nine; Merrily We Roll Along) explains this radical change to the show: “Obviously, as all musicals are, it’s flawed, and that’s why we’re putting a new spin on it.” Without wanting to give too much away, he explains, “we’re having four Fannys, and it’s ambiguous as to whether they are four of the same person – we wanted it to be left open.” The risk of adding something  fresh to this well-known musical seems to have paid off – rehearsals have shown that this idea, conceived by director Emily Burns, “really works”.

The semi-biographical musical (based on the book by Isobel Lennart, with music by Jule Styne and lyrics by Bob Merrill) was inspired by the life and career of the Broadway star Fanny Brice, and her turbulent relationship with gambling addict and entrepreneur Nick Arnstein. The show, which originally opened on Broadway in March 1964, is usually set in pre- and post- First World War New York. The re-imagining of the show for the ADC production, however, brings it into the 21st century, with what Glassberg describes as “quite a few significant changes. Certain parts are bigger, and certain parts have been subsumed.”

One aspect of the show that definitely is big is the band. In fact, not just big but “huge”. Glassberg tells me that “it’s one of the best show bands,” perfect for a show with “quite a ‘Hollywood-y’ score.” Come show week, this band will be on stage on three tiered platforms, with what I have been told is “a massive bandstand-like thing.” If this isn’t exciting enough, the classic numbers ‘Don’t Rain On My Parade’ and ‘People’ will be played by a band which has a heavy emphasis on sparkles. There will be lots of sparkles, not to mention a shiny podium for the conductor, and maybe even, (so I have heard), a glittering conducting baton.

The big band will be sharing the stage with what Glassberg describes as an “amazingly talented cast”. He adds: “there are a lot of people who are very experienced, but also lots of people that are either new or just haven’t done much and are amazing.” The cast, he says, have been having lots of fun with the show so far. Even I had fun just listening to the band play the overture in the last ten minutes of the sitzprobe. If the snippets of the show I’ve heard are anything to go by, Funny Girl deserves to be a sell-out. And a sparkling one at that.

Funny Girl is on at the ADC Theatre from Tuesday 12th November - Saturday 16th November at 7.45pm