O.C.-Bound ‘Funny Girl’ Hits a Bump

Now that “Applause” has been replaced by “Camelot” at the Orange County Performing Arts Center because of poor response on the road, word comes that “Funny Girl,” a national touring musical due here in February, has run into trouble and will close temporarily.

A center spokesman said Tuesday, however, that “Funny Girl,” which stars Debbie Gibson, “will appear as scheduled” in a reworked version and that “there is no indication” Gibson will be replaced.

When “Applause” closed, one reported problem was that star Stephanie Powers, a TV celebrity, didn’t seem to have crossover allure for Broadway musical fans. The question might be raised whether Gibson’s pop-teen image will draw those fond of golden oldies.

“Funny Girl” producer Gary Young has said the show will continue its tour in Seattle in January. But given Young’s concerns about the cost of fully union-professional tours, it remains to be seen whether the reworked version will suffer in production or casting quality.

The quality of the “Funny Girl” production came into question when it failed to open at the Denver Center for the Performing Arts on Nov. 12 as scheduled.

Randy Weeks, executive director of Denver Center Attractions, would not comment on “Funny Girl,” according to the entertainment trade paper Variety, and he was not available Tuesday for comment.

Weeks is said to have dropped the show after seeing a preview. Assistant Andrea Grotty confirmed that “it was canceled because it was not up to the standards of what we present.” Young has said the issue is a matter of a “contract dispute.”