Fun Home is a musical based on Alison Bechdel's 2006 graphic memoir of the same name. The music was written by Jeanine Tesori, and the book and lyrics were created by Lisa Kron. The story follows Bechdel's journey to understand her own lesbian identity, her relationship with her father, who kept his sexuality private, and her efforts to learn more about his life. The musical uses a series of short scenes that do not follow a straight order, connected by narration from the adult version of Alison.

The musical was tested through several performances, including at the Ojai Playwrights Conference in 2009 and at the Sundance Theatre Lab and The Public Theater's Public Lab in 2012. It opened Off-Broadway at The Public Theater in September 2013 and received praise from critics. Its run was extended multiple times until January 2014. The Public Theater production was nominated for nine Lucille Lortel Awards (winning three, including Outstanding Musical), two Obie Awards, and eight Drama Desk Awards. It was also a finalist for the 2014 Pulitzer Prize for Drama.

The original Broadway production began with previews at the Circle in the Square Theatre in March 2015 and officially opened in April 2015. It was nominated for twelve Tony Awards, winning five, including Best Musical. Its cast album was nominated for the 2016 Grammy Award for Best Musical Theater Album. The production ended on September 10, 2016. A U.S. national tour and international productions followed.

A film version of Fun Home is reportedly being made by Amazon MGM Studios, with Jake Gyllenhaal as a producer.

Background and development

Writer and artist Alison Bechdel's book Fun Home, a graphic novel that tells her personal story, was published in 2006 and received praise from critics. The book focuses on Bechdel's experiences growing up, especially her relationship with her father, Bruce. Bechdel's journey to understanding her identity as a lesbian is complicated by the discovery that Bruce secretly had feelings for men and had relationships with young boys. Four months after Bechdel told her parents she is a lesbian, Bruce was killed by a truck. Although the evidence about his death is unclear, Bechdel believes he took his own life.

Bechdel's book was turned into a musical. The musical's story and lyrics were written by Lisa Kron, and the music was composed by Jeanine Tesori. June Thomas, writing for Slate, described it as "the first mainstream musical about a young lesbian." The musical took five years to create. It was first tested at the Ojai Playwrights Conference in August 2009. A version of the musical was performed at The Public Theater in 2011. Of the people in that performance, only Judy Kuhn and Beth Malone stayed in their roles for the full Off-Broadway production. The musical was tested again in July 2012 as part of the Sundance Institute's Theater Lab, with Raul Esparza in the cast. It was also performed for three weeks in October and November 2012 as part of the Public Theater's Public Lab series. On April 8, 2013, parts of the musical were performed by Maggie Gyllenhaal, Judy Kuhn, David Hyde Pierce, and others at an event for the Sundance Institute. A final test of the musical was held in May 2013.

Creating the musical involved many changes and updates. Beth Malone said the original version of the musical "doesn't resemble this current play at all." Early versions of the musical were based on Bechdel's drawings, but most of these were later removed, except for one image of Bruce and young Alison, which appears at the end of the musical. Changes continued even during the Off-Broadway previews, requiring actors to learn new material each night. Bechdel did not help create the musical. She thought her story might seem artificial and distant on stage, but she later felt the musical made the story's emotional core even more powerful than her book did. Fun Home is one of the few Broadway musicals with a lesbian main character. Playbill magazine noted that the role of Alison Bechdel is "by far, the most groundbreaking lesbian character in a Broadway musical."

Plot summary

In the present day, Alison Bechdel, a successful middle-aged cartoonist, writes about her life in a memoir. She reflects on two key periods: her childhood around age 10 and her first year in college. During her childhood, she faces challenges with her father, Bruce, who has strict expectations, and begins to understand her feelings about being a girl. In college, she starts a relationship and shares her identity as a lesbian with others.

As a child, Alison asks her father to play "airplane" with her while he sorts through items from a barn. Bruce tells the family that a visitor from a historical society will see their restored Victorian home, and his wife, Helen, prepares the house to meet his standards. Medium Alison, the college-age version of herself, writes about her nervousness about starting college. At the Bechdel Funeral Home, Small Alison and her brothers imagine advertising the funeral home. Medium Alison hesitates outside a college group for LGBTQ+ students and meets Joan, a confident lesbian. Bruce invites a young man named Roy to do yard work and later interacts with him in the library while Helen plays piano.

Medium Alison writes a letter to her parents about college but does not mention Joan or her realization about being a lesbian. Bruce tells Small Alison to wear a dress, but she prefers jeans. Bruce insists, and she complies. Medium Alison later tells Joan she wrote to her parents about being a lesbian but feels unsure until Joan kisses her. That night, she feels extremely happy after sharing a romantic moment with Joan.

Alison connects her coming out as a lesbian with her father’s death. Small Alison draws a map of places her family has visited, but Bruce takes over the drawing. She realizes her father’s life, work, and death are all tied to Beech Creek, Pennsylvania. Bruce offers a ride and beer to an underage boy, and it is implied they had a sexual encounter. Medium Alison writes to her parents for a response to her letter. Small Alison watches a TV show, but Bruce turns it off. She learns Bruce is seeing a psychiatrist, though he does not explain why. Helen tries to comfort Small Alison but does not share details. Bruce argues with Helen, breaks items, and Small Alison imagines her family as a happy, singing group.

Alison recalls a trip to New York City with her family. Small Alison sees Bruce sneaking out and hears him sing a lullaby. She suspects he is going somewhere else. Medium Alison is upset by a vague response from her father. At a diner, Small Alison notices a butch delivery worker and feels a connection. Medium Alison calls her parents and learns Bruce had relationships with men and boys. She watches her parents argue and returns home for vacation with Joan. Helen shares her difficult life with Bruce. Medium Alison, Joan, and Bruce spend time together at the piano. Bruce invites Alison on a drive, and adult Alison joins him, breaking the boundaries of time. They struggle to communicate.

Bruce, focused on a restoration project, loses control and is killed by a truck. Alison, now at peace with her past, remembers a moment of balance: playing "airplane" with her father while reflecting on her life with the other versions of herself.

Original off-Broadway and Broadway production

The musical Fun Home began performing Off-Broadway at The Public Theater in previews on September 30, 2013, and officially opened on October 22, 2013. Originally planned to end on November 3, 2013, the show was extended multiple times and closed on January 12, 2014. Sam Gold directed the production, with set and costume designs by David Zinn, lighting by Ben Stanton, projections by Jim Findlay and Jeff Sugg, and choreography by Danny Mefford. After a disagreement in which South Carolina’s legislature tried to penalize the College of Charleston for selecting the original graphic novel of Fun Home as a reading for incoming students, the Off-Broadway cast performed a concert of songs in Charleston, South Carolina, in April 2014. Alison Bechdel, Lisa Kron, Jeanine Tesori, and musical director Chris Fenwick joined the cast for the event.

The musical started previews at Broadway’s Circle in the Square Theatre on March 27, 2015, and officially opened on April 19, 2015. Sam Gold directed the Broadway version, with the same team of designers and choreographers as the Off-Broadway production. Most of the Off-Broadway cast returned for Broadway, except for the actors playing Medium Alison, John, and Christian Bechdel. Eight months after opening on Broadway in 2015, the show began making money. The production had low costs because it featured a small cast and orchestra. The Broadway run ended on September 10, 2016, after 26 previews and 582 regular performances.

A year-long U.S. national tour of the musical began in Cleveland, Ohio, in October 2016. The tour was directed by Sam Gold and featured Kate Shindle as Alison and Robert Petkoff as Bruce.

Subsequent productions

The first international production of Fun Home was performed at the RCBC Plaza in Makati, Manila, Philippines, in November 2016. Cris Villonco played Alison, Lea Salonga played Helen, and Eric Kunze played Bruce. Bobby Garcia directed the show. The production had 18 performances and ended on November 27, 2016. A review in ABS-CBN News said the performances and direction were excellent, and the show was very touching.

The first U.S. regional production of Fun Home opened in August 2017 at Millbrook Playhouse in Clinton County, Pennsylvania. This location is where the story’s author, Alison Bechdel, grew up and where the musical is set. Courtney Laine Self directed and choreographed the show. In October 2017, Vermont Stage Company produced Fun Home in Burlington, Vermont, the place where Bechdel wrote the graphic memoir. This production had 29 performances.

In September and October 2017, Singapore’s Pangdemonium theatre company performed Fun Home at the Drama Centre Theatre. Adrian Pang and Monique Wilson were part of the cast. In February 2018, Pacific Repertory Theatre in Carmel, California, produced the musical at the Golden Bough Playhouse. Stephen Moorer directed the show, and Sam Trevino choreographed it. In February and March 2018, a Canadian production of Fun Home was performed at the Arts Club in Vancouver.

The musical’s London debut took place at the Off West End Young Vic theatre. Gold directed the show, and Kaisa Hammarlund played Alison, Zubin Varla played Bruce, and Jenna Russell played Helen. The production ran from June to September 2018. In September to November 2018, a Catalan language version of Fun Home was performed at the Teatre Condal in Barcelona, directed by Daniel Anglès.

An Australian co-production by the Melbourne Theatre Company and Sydney Theatre Company was directed by Dean Bryant and choreographed by Andrew Hallsworth. Lucy Maunder played adult Alison, Adam Murphy played Bruce, and Marina Prior played Helen. The show was performed in Sydney in 2021 and in Melbourne in 2022 after delays caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. The first German-language production of Fun Home began on April 14, 2023, at Landestheater Linz in Austria.

In July and August 2023, Fun Home was performed at the Gate Theatre in Dublin, Ireland. Frances McNamee played adult Alison, Killian Donnelly played Bruce, and Nichola MacEvilly played Helen.

Characters and original casts

The character of Alison Bechdel is played by three different actors. A 43-year-old actor plays "Alison," the narrator who tells the story of her family and early life. A 19-year-old actor plays "Medium Alison," a student at Oberlin College who is learning about her identity. A 10-year-old actor plays "Small Alison," a child who faces challenges from her father's expectations.

• In November 2013, Socha was replaced by her understudy, Skeggs, as Medium Alison. In October 2015, Lucas was replaced by her understudy, Gabriella Pizzolo, as Small Alison.
• Standby Lauren Patten took over the role of Medium Alison from February 2 to May 22, 2016, while Skeggs was working on a TV project. Skeggs returned to the role on May 24.
• Williams left the Broadway cast on March 27, 2016, and was replaced by Cole Grey as Christian.
• Rebecca Luker took over the role of Helen from April 5 to May 22, 2016, while Kuhn had hip surgery. Kuhn returned to the role on May 24.

Songs and recordings

The songs in Fun Home are an important part of the story, so the program did not include a list of songs.

The original cast album, released in 2014, reached number 2 on the Billboard Top Cast Album Chart, an impressive achievement for an Off-Broadway cast album. When the musical opened on Broadway in 2015, new parts of the show were recorded, and some songs were re-recorded. These changes included adding Emily Skeggs in the role of Medium Alison. The album also includes more dialogue to help listeners understand the story better. The song "Party Dress" was added for Small Alison, replacing "Al for Short," which was removed from the Broadway version. A dialogue scene titled "Clueless in New York" replaced "I Need More Coffee." Bruce's short a cappella song, "Pony Girl," and the scene "A Flair for the Dramatic…" were also added. The album was released in May 2015.

The track list of the 2015 release, which matches the Broadway production, is as follows:

• "It All Comes Back (Opening)" – Small Alison, Bruce, Alison & Company
• "Sometimes My Father Appeared to Enjoy Having Children…" – Alison, Bruce & Helen
• "Welcome to Our House on Maple Avenue" – Helen, Alison, Small Alison, Christian, John, Bruce & Roy
• "Not Too Bad" – Medium Alison
• "Just Had a Good Talk with Dad…" – Alison, Medium Alison, Bruce, Pete, Small Alison, John & Christian
• "Come to the Fun Home" – John, Christian & Small Alison
• "Helen’s Etude" – Alison, Roy, Bruce, Small Alison, Helen, John, Christian & Medium Alison
• "Thanks for the Care Package…" – Medium Alison, Joan, Small Alison & Bruce
• "Party Dress" – Small Alison, Bruce, Medium Alison, Alison
• "Changing My Major" – Medium Alison
• "I Leapt Out of the Closet…" – Alison, Small Alison, Bruce & Helen
• "Maps" – Alison
• "Read a Book…" – Bruce, Small Alison, Alison & Helen
• "Raincoat of Love" – Bobby Jeremy & Company
• "Clueless in New York…" – Alison, Small Alison & Bruce
• "Pony Girl" – Bruce
• "A Flair for the Dramatic…" – Alison, Joan, Medium Alison & Bruce
• "Ring of Keys" – Small Alison & Alison
• "Let Me Introduce You to My Gay Dad…" – Joan, Medium Alison, Alison, Bruce & Small Alison
• "Shortly After We Were Married…" – Helen & Medium Alison
• "Days and Days" – Helen
• "You Ready to Go for That Drive?…" – Bruce & Alison
• "Telephone Wire" – Alison & Bruce
• "It Was Great to Have You Home…" – Bruce & Alison
• "Edges of the World" – Bruce
• "This Is What I Have of You…" – Alison
• "Flying Away (Finale)" – Alison, Medium Alison & Small Alison

Critical reception

The Off-Broadway production of Fun Home opened on October 22, 2013, and received praise from critics. Ben Brantley of The New York Times described the musical as emotionally powerful and universally meaningful. He noted that the story is not only about coming out or growing up but also about the difficulty of understanding even the people we love most. Brantley praised the writer, Lisa Kron, for her clear and thoughtful lyrics, and composer, Jeanine Tesori, for creating a diverse and moving score. He called Fun Home one of his top 15 shows of 2013.

Joe Dziemianowicz of New York Daily News called the musical "achingly beautiful" and said it speaks to families dealing with hidden truths. He ranked Fun Home first in his list of top 10 theater productions for 2013. Charles McNulty of Los Angeles Times acknowledged some weaknesses in the show, such as a slow beginning and an unusual style, but said these flaws helped the musical connect with audiences. He noted that the show’s honesty and emotional depth made it stand out. Miriam Krule of Slate found moments of joy in the musical but questioned whether a musical was the best way to tell the story. Adam Hetrick of Playbill.com called Fun Home "the best musical of the year," praising its emotional power and performances.

Anthony Tommasini of The New York Times called Tesori’s score a "masterpiece," highlighting the variety of music styles, including jazz and songs influenced by Stephen Sondheim. He praised the ensemble numbers for being both complex and easy to follow. Steven Suskin of Playbill praised Lisa Kron’s lyrics and called Tesori a skilled composer who matched the story’s tone with sensitivity and humor. He highlighted the song "Days and Days" as particularly strong and praised the performances of Judy Kuhn, Michael Cerveris, and the three actors who played Alison. Suskin called Fun Home "the best musical on the New York stage of 2013."

As Fun Home prepared to move to Broadway, David Levesley of Mic highlighted the musical’s focus on the experience of being a lesbian, calling it a bold exploration of identity. Kalle Oskari Mattila of The Atlantic noted that while the musical clearly presents the themes of the original book, its marketing for Broadway may have made the story’s focus on LGBTQ+ issues less clear.

Awards and nominations

The Public Theater production of Fun Home received many awards and honors. It was nominated for the 2014 Edward M. Kennedy Prize for Drama Inspired by American History. It also received nine Lucille Lortel Awards, winning three, including Outstanding Musical. The production earned seven Outer Critics Circle Awards, winning Outstanding New Off-Broadway Musical. It received three Drama League Awards and eight Drama Desk Awards. Additionally, Fun Home won the Off Broadway Alliance Award for Best New Musical.

Many critics believed Fun Home would win the 2014 Pulitzer Prize for Drama. It was a finalist for the award, but The Flick by Annie Baker received the prize. The Pulitzer committee described the musical as "A poignant musical adaptation of a graphic memoir." The production also won the New York Drama Critics' Circle Award for Best Musical and the Obie Award for Musical Theater. At age 10, Sydney Lucas won an Obie in the Performance category, becoming the youngest person ever to receive an Obie.

The original Broadway production of Fun Home was nominated for 12 Tony Awards, winning five, including Best Musical. Jeanine Tesori and Lisa Kron were the first female writing team to win the Tony Award for Best Original Score. Lisa Kron also won for Best Book, and Brian Cerveris won for Best Leading Actor. Michael Gold won for Best Direction. Both Sydney Lucas and James Skeggs received Theatre World Awards.

Planned film adaptation

In 2020, Jake Gyllenhaal and a partner got the rights to make a film version of the musical through their company, Nine Stories Productions. They planned for Gyllenhaal to play the character Bruce Bechdel, and Sam Gold would direct his first feature film. In 2023, Alison Bechdel said Gyllenhaal was no longer part of any future film adaptation. However, according to The Hollywood Reporter, in 2024, Gyllenhaal and Nine Stories signed a three-year agreement with Amazon MGM Studios. This agreement allows Amazon MGM Studios to review their projects first, and the film adaptation is still being worked on.