“Funny Girl” is a star maker. It made a star out of Barbara Streisand first on Broadway, then in film. Vicki Lewis most certainly shines as Fanny Brice the title “Funny Girl” in this the latest Music Circus production of the show.

Everything in the play centers on the character of Fanny Brice. Brice herself was one of the biggest stars of her time. From 1910 through the 1930s on stage, screen and radio, Brice was wildly popular and influential.

Legendary Broadway producer David Merrick worked with lyricist Jule Styne and equally well-known composer Bob Merrill to turn what had started as a screenplay into a Broadway musical.

Having seen Streisand in her first role on Broadway in “I Can Get It For You Wholesale,” Styne hired her for the leading role.

“Funny Girl” opened on Broadway on March 26, 1964. In 1968, “Funny Girl” was released as a film winning Streisand an Oscar for best actress. Both the musical and film were major critical and financial successes, and Streisand is a major star to this day.

This is the Music Circus’ fourth production of “Funny Girl.” The Music Circus applies its magic to what is now nearly a half-century-old play to not just make it alive, but to really make it shine.

The Music Circus magic is the very high production values it uses with everything involved in its productions, starting with casting.

Lewis spoke of pushing hard for the role of Fanny Brice and her lifelong desire to appear in “Funny Girl” in an interview with Dixie Reed published Aug. 6 in The Sacramento Bee. Music Circus artistic director and “Funny Girl” director Glenn Casale was impressed with her audition and wisely cast Lewis in the lead.

From her opening number, “I’m the Greatest Star,” to he finale of “Don’t Rain on My Parade,” Lewis’ powerful, gorgeous voice brought ovations from the audience. Her Fanny Brice was funny, warm and very accessible. She totally fit in the role of a star.

Don’t let my praise of Lewis overshadow the rest of the cast. Everyone’s performance rises  to the level of the star.

Michael Paternostro plays Fannie’s first big supporter, mentor and fellow professional Eddie Ryan. Paternostro is a fine dancer and singer and has several numbers in the show to display his talent.

Veteran Broadway actor Brad Little, best-known for “Phantom of the Opera,” is cast well as Nicky Arnstein, having the right looks and bearing. Sadly, the role does not allow Little to fully exhibit his incredible vocal talent. Oh yes, he does know how to wear a cape well.

Alex Korey as Mrs. Brice and Helen Geller (Mrs. Strakosh), Jennie Scott (Mrs. Meeker) and Kim Arnett (Mrs. O’Malley) do a good job adding a lot of humor to the production.

Ron Wisniski in his third of four Music Circus roles this season is Florenz (not Florence) Ziegfeld Jr. His Ziegfeld is just the right balance of domineering and loving. As a great veteran character actor, Wisniski has made a wonderful contribution to the Music Circus, appearing in five productions in previous years.

A special mention is due to J.D. Daw, who appears as the Ziegfeld Tenor and several incidental roles.

Daw played the role of Jinx beloved by Sacramento audiences in the Cosmopolitan Cabaret’s inaugural one-year production of “Forever Plaid.” Daw gets to show off his great voice in “His Love Makes Me Beautiful,” Fannie’s first big production number with the Follies.

Glenn Casale’s direction and Bob Richard’s choreography make excellent use of all these talented actors. Their expertise at using the Wells Fargo Pavilion to best advantage also shows. They also make great use of Stephen Gifford’s scenic design, lighting design by Pamila Z. Gray and Robert Sereno’s sound design.

The period costumes by Marcy Froehlich and hair, wig and makeup design by Judi Lewin are great fun. The wig Judy Lewin created for Lewis adds much to the sense of her character.

Music direction by Dennis Castellano and the always-excellent Music Circus Orchestra beautifully support this very talented group of singers and dancers.

It never ceases to amaze me how the Music Circus can take a relatively old musical that is so strongly associated with an iconic lead performance and revision and recreate it to be so powerful and new for a contemporary audience.

Photos:  1. Vicki Lewis as Fanny Brice  2.Michael Paternostro as Eddie Ryan  3. Vicki Lewis as Fanny Brice and Brad Little as Nick Arnstein  4. Michael Paternostro as Eddie Ryan and Vicki Lewis as Fanny Brice  5. Vicki Lewis as Fanny Brice and Brad Little as Nick Arnstein,  6. Vicki Lewis as Fanny Brice

All photos by Charr Crail courtsey California Musical Theatre