Funny Girl is a musical comedy-drama film and stage musical that tells the story of Fanny Brice, a showgirl in Florenz Ziegfelds Ziegfeld Follies revue)). The story takes place in and around New York City just prior to and following World War I. The film and musical are loosely based on the life and career of Broadway and film star and comedienne Fanny Brice and her stormy relationship with entrepreneur and gambler Nicky Arnstein)). The plot opens with Fanny Brice awaiting her husband Nicky Arnstein to arrive at the theater, and then moves into an extended flashback focusing on their meeting, marriage, and Fannys rise to stardom). The musical features music by Jule Styne, lyrics by Bob Merrill, and book by Isobel Lennart). The film was directed by William Wyler and written by Isobel Lennart, adapted from her book for the stage musical of the same title). The musical premiered on Broadway in 1964 and the film was released in 1968)). The film was deemed "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant" by the United States Library of Congress, and selected for preservation in the National Film Registry).