There’s probably no superstar as lovable as Beanie, which is essential when it comes to playing Fanny Brice. Fanny has to be too lovable to ignore, but she also has to be too talented to slight. Historically played by Barbra Streisand in the film and original Broadway production, it’s near impossible to match her level of talent and quirkiness today. In fact, the role was written specifically for Barbra, so finding someone who can compare is harder than finding a needle in a haystack.

Despite this, Beanie decided to take on the role. In doing so, she knew she’d be subjecting herself to Barbra comparisons at the whims of Broadway reviewers. The New York Times review explained, “Feldstein is not stupendous. She’s good. She’s funny enough in places, and immensely likable always…

“You root for her to raise the roof, but she only bumps against it a little. Her voice, though solid and sweet and clear, is not well suited to the music, and you feel her working as hard as she can to power through the gap. But working hard at what should be naturally extraordinary is not in Fanny’s DNA.”

That’s exactly how Broadway fans felt watching Beanie’s performance, especially in comparison to her understudy, Julie Benko. Between this and rumors that Lea Michele would be replacing Beanie in the role, it’s no surprise that Beanie decided to leave. “Playing Fanny Brice on Broadway has been a lifelong dream of mine, and doing so for the last few months has been a great joy and true honor,” Beanie shared in a statement on Instagram.

“Once the production decided to take the show in a different direction, I made the extremely difficult decision to step away sooner than anticipated. I will never forget this experience, and from the bottom of my heart, I want to thank every single person who came to the August Wilson for the love and support you have shown me and our amazing cast and crew.”