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Lea Michele has officially tested positive for COVID-19 just hours after revealing she was beginning to show ‘early signs and symptoms’ of the virus.
The Glee star confirmed the news via her Instagram Story, adding that ‘production protocols’ will require her to take a temporary absence from Broadway’s Funny Girl.
‘Unfortunately, I have officially tested positive for COVID. In following production protocols, I cannot return to the theater for 10 days,’ began Michele, who made her debut as Fanny Brice earlier this week.
Positive: Lea Michele has officially tested positive for COVID-19 just hours after revealing she was beginning to show ‘early signs and symptoms’ of the virus; Michele seen in June
She went on to explain that the musical’s cast and crew have been dealing with a COVID-19 crisis behind-the-scenes which has led to substantial absences in recent weeks.
‘Thankfully staying home today and catching this early protected so many members of our company from being exposed. Funny Girl has been and still is tackling a tremendous wave of COVID with close to a dozen company members currently out,’ she wrote.
‘We are almost on the other side of this and our swings and understudies are doing such an incredible job to keep our show on its feet.’
Despite her current health woes, Michele took a moment to gush over nabbing her ‘dream role’ of Fanny Brice and how she’s looking forward to returning to the stage.
Statement: The Glee star confirmed the news via her Instagram Story, adding that ‘production protocols’ will require her to take a temporary absence from Broadway’s Funny Girl
‘This week has been a dream come true and I cannot wait to get back — You better get ready. See you soon,’ concluded Michele, followed by a red heart emoji.
Earlier in the day Michele shocked fans as she clued them in on her potential COVID-19 diagnosis and that she would ‘not [be] allowed’ to perform in Saturday’s matinee or evening show.
She made her Fanny Brice debut just four days ago in the problem-plagued revival of Jule Styne, Bob Merrill and Isobel Lennart’s 1964 musical,.
‘I’m devastated to say that due to early signs and symptoms of COVID and an inconclusive test result — due to the production’s safety protocols I’m not allowed to perform for today’s shows,’ she revealed on her Instagram Story.
Debut: ‘Unfortunately, I have officially tested positive for COVID. In following production protocols, I cannot return to the theater for 10 days,’ began Michele, who made her debut as Fanny Brice earlier this week (pictured)
The Glee star continued: ‘I will be testing again and will know more about tomorrow’s performance soon.’
‘Julie is going to crush it today as Fanny — as are all of our amazing understudies who have stepped up so incredibly this week while we battle a very intense covid outbreak in our theater,’ she assured fans.
After her debut in the show after taking over the role from Beanie Feldstein, Michele received a rapturous reception at Manhattan’s August Wilson Theatre.
Earlier in the day Michele shocked fans as she clued them in on her potential COVID-19 diagnosis and that she would ‘not [be] allowed’ to perform in Saturday’s matinee or evening show
Following the performance, People published an interview with Lea in which she delved into the emotional circumstances under which she learned that she had gotten the role of her lifetime.
‘Funny story: I got the call from my agents that I got the part. I had no idea. I was literally sitting out at Bubby’s with my child [two-year-old son Ever], feeding him buttered pasta and broccoli. And I get a call from my agents, and they said, ‘You are going to be Fanny Brice in Funny Girl.’
‘And as I looked up, I start hysterically crying, and I’m like, oh my God,’ she gushed.
Massive hit: After her debut in the show after taking over the role from Beanie Feldstein, Michele received a rapturous reception at Manhattan’s August Wilson Theatre
It was clear that Lea’s opening-night performance was a smashing success when she received four standing ovations before intermission.
Although her performance seemed to be a hit with audiences as the musical hit the half-way mark, she also had to contend with viewers allegedly laughing at a line about reading books after online trolls claimed that she can’t read.
‘Lea Michele has gotten four standing ovations at Funny Girl so far, and it’s only intermission,’ one fan tweeted. ‘I’ve stood for all four of them. The Gleek jumped OUT.’
Impressive: It was clear that Lea’s opening-night performance was a smashing success when she received four standing ovations before intermission (pictured in June 2022)