Tornado warning, flooding interrupts Fierstein’s “Funny Girl” in Bushnell

Harvey Fierstein, who revived the recent revival of “Funny Girl,” had a turbulent experience at the Bushnell Performing Arts Center on Saturday when a storm swept through Hartford during intermission, triggering a tornado warning.

The musical “Funny Girl” concludes its run at the Bushnell, continuing its first tour since the show returned to Broadway stages in 2022.

Fierstein – known for “Mrs. Doubtfire,” “Hairspray” and “Mulan” – contributed a revision of the book to the revival of the show when it returned to Broadway with stars such as Beanie Feldstein and Lea Michele in the lead roles.

Fierstein said in a Facebook post that he drove to Hartford to see the matinee performance on Saturday, but only saw half of the show – during intermission, tornado alarms sounded and then water started pouring in.

As a heavy storm pelted down over the city, water seeped into the lower floor of the theater and into the orchestra pit.

“Crazy matinee!!!!” he wrote. “During intermission, all the audience phones started ringing and there were emergency alerts about a tornado warning. And then it started to rain! And I mean, it really started to rain!”

Fierstein said the rainstorm occurred between the first and second acts.

“Before the second act could begin, the orchestra pit was flooded, as were the first rows of the theater. … Because the weather could not be predicted, the rest of the show had to be canceled. BOO!” he wrote.

But his experience at the Bushnell wasn’t over yet. Fierstein was able to visit the actors behind the curtain.

“But I got to go backstage and visit the amazing cast. What a wonderful day to hug Melissa Manchester, Katerina McCrimmon and the rest of the cast.”

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The playwright urged theatergoers to watch their local production.

“Don’t miss this tour when it comes through your town,” he wrote.

Stephanie Fried, chief operating officer of the Bushnell, said the flooding came into the theater from the Trinity Street side of the Bushnell building.

“Due to the flooding, we had to interrupt the show and ultimately cancel the second half of the performance,” said Fried. “The evening show went as planned.”

Fried said Bushnell staff have been calling and emailing people who attended the flooded show to try to get them new seats for the final two Sunday performances. The tour then continues to Washington, D.C., and Philadelphia.