One year after its debut, Calgary’s Jewish community theatre company stages the beloved musical about comedian Fanny Brice, November 24 to December 3 at Temple B’nai Tikvah.
By Sandy Hershcovis
(Calgary) – Just one year ago, Chai Life Productions launched with its very first show, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat. This fall, the company returns with Funny Girl, running November 24 to December 3, 2026.
Chai Life was founded to revive Jewish theatre in Calgary after a forty-year absence. Joseph was followed by The Last Yiddish Speaker, a powerful work that challenged audiences to imagine a world free from hatred, intolerance and antisemitism. Together, the two productions earned the company nine nominations at the 2026 Calgary Alliance of Community Theatre (Calgary-ACTs) CAT Awards.
“Not too shabby for a first year,” says Chai Life board member Laura Shuler.
Funny Girl tells the story of Fanny Brice, a young Jewish woman from New York’s Lower East Side who was told she didn’t look like a star and became one anyway. Her talent and comic timing carried her to the Ziegfeld Follies and to national fame, while her marriage to the charming gambler Nick Arnstein tested everything she had built. With showstoppers like “Don’t Rain on My Parade” and “People,” the show has entertained audiences for more than six decades.
The musical also has a place in Calgary’s own Jewish theatre history. Forty-eight years ago, the Beth Israel Players mounted Funny Girl, and in 1979 they took the production on tour to Vancouver. To our knowledge, Calgary audiences have not seen the show since then.
The show’s director, Paige Fossheim, is excited to be part of this production. “I’ve always loved taking on challenges and finding fresh perspectives on classic shows. Funny Girl is such an iconic musical, but its themes of ambition, individuality, love, and the courage to be unapologetically yourself are still incredibly relevant today. As a director, I love finding ways to honour what makes a show special while bringing something fresh to the storytelling. My hope is that the audiences leave not only entertained, but feeling a genuine connection to Fanny’s journey.” One of Fossheim’s previous directing credits was a gender-swapped production of Gilbert and Sullivan’s The Pirates of Penzance, “which was another opportunity to challenge traditional expectations and explore a classic story from a different perspective.”
Julia Rosenblum takes on the role of Fanny Brice, made famous by Barbra Streisand. “I have been performing in plays since I was in my 4th grade production of the Lion King at the Calgary Jewish Academy. Having been away from the stage while attending university, I am thrilled to be back and surrounded by such a supportive and diverse theatre community. Fanny Brice’s is a story that every Jewish Bubby knows well, and I can’t wait to hopefully make my own Bubby kvell.”
The production brings together a creative team that includes Paige Fossheim (Director), Winnifred Hume (Musical Director), Shari Finkleman (Choreographer), and Tracy Smith (Producer), along with an outstanding production team, a talented cast of 21 and orchestra of 12 and a dedicated production crew. Audiences can expect a lot of laughs and maybe some tears as they get to enjoy the antics of the spirited Fanny Brice and the theatrical tradition she came from.
“Producing Funny Girl has been a lot like Fanny Brice’s career: ambitious, unpredictable, and full of big personalities (and even bigger hearts). Our cast, band, and team bring such amazing talent to the stage. This production is proof that with enough passion and teamwork, a community theatre can deliver a show that’s every bit as funny, heartfelt, and unforgettable as its title promises.” says producer Tracy Smith.
Funny Girl plays November 24 through December 3 with performances starting at 7pm (evenings) and 3:30pm (Sunday matinee). Tickets are $30 for adults and $25 for students/seniors, and are available at www.chailifeyyc.ca.
About Chai Life Productions
Chai Life Productions is a Calgary-based Jewish community theatre company committed to reviving Jewish theatre in the city. Since launching in 2025, it has staged Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat and The Last Yiddish Speaker, earning nine CAT Award nominations. Learn more at chailifeyyc.ca and follow along on Facebook (Chai Life Productions) and Instagram @chailifeproductions.
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