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or you can get all of History Daily plus other fantastic history podcasts at IntoHistory.com. It's March 26, 1964, at the Winter Garden Theater in New York City.

22-year-old Barbara Streisand walks back and forth across her dressing room, focusing on her breathing, trying to calm her nerves.

It's opening night of Funny Girl, a musical based on the life of American actress and singer Fannie Bryce.

Funny Girl isn't Barbara's first time on Broadway, but it is her debut in a leading role.

Her heartbeat quickens as a stage hand peers in and tells Barbara there's only two minutes until curtain.

Barbara again tries to collect herself and then heads out into the hallway.

But she stopped when someone grabs her arm.

A makeup artist has a horrified look on her face.

While Barbara's been fidgeting in her dressing room, she smudged her eyeliner.

As other cast members hurry past, the makeup artist holds Barbara's head still and gives her one last quick touch-up.

Barbara then rushes after the other performers to the stage.

Reaching the wings, she pauses, takes yet another deep breath and waits for her cue.

But when her moment comes and Barbara walks out to thunderous applause, all trace of her nerves

evaporates, and she launches into a first-night performance that will be talked about for

years to come.

Barbara Streisand will win the praise of critics and theatergoers alike as Funny Girl

proves an instant Broadway hit. Barbara will go on to perform as Fannie Bryce hundreds of

times in New York and in London's West End, and she'll even reprise the role in an award-winning

Hollywood adaptation of the play. Barbara Streisand was already building a name for herself,

...