Greater Harrisburg's Community Magazine

Family Truths: “Fun Home” tells a story of life in small-town PA, in its complexity.

“We were standing in front of the Bechdel house and we were all profoundly moved,” said Stuart Landon, director of “Fun Home” at Open Stage of Harrisburg. “When we stood in that space, we felt the history. And it changed us.”

The cast of “Fun Home” took a trip to Beech Creek, Pa., the town where Alison Bechdel, author the graphic novel that inspired the musical, grew up. While there, the cast saw the Pennsylvania debut of the show, which was performed on the same stage where Alison’s mother once acted in local theater. They also visited the Bechdel home and the family funeral home.

“It’s really surreal to turn something you read on a page, and all of sudden you’re standing in it, and it’s a real thing,” said Vanessa Hofer, who plays Alison. “It enhances the responsibility. This is a real person’s story, and this was their home.”

David Glasgow, who plays Alison’s father, Bruce, said that, for him, visiting Bruce’s grave was the heart of the trip.

“It really set in my mind that this is the story of actual humans that we are telling,” said Glasgow. “It’s certainly fictionalized, but there are real human lives behind this in a way that increases the importance to me.”

Opening the 32nd season at Open Stage of Harrisburg, “Fun Home” is a show with an all-female writing team that tells the story of a woman from small-town Pennsylvania and that addresses the themes of mental health, sexuality and family dynamics.

“‘Fun Home’ is a Pennsylvania story,” said Landon. “It’s a story about family. And it’s a story about finding your truth and the many paths you can take while you’re looking. The show is densely packed with big questions and complex issues.”

A Tony Award-winning best musical, “Fun Home” took an unusual path to Broadway. The story began in the form of a graphic memoir, illustrated and written by Bechdel. The memoir was then adapted by Lisa Kron and Jeanine Tesori and debuted off-Broadway before moving to Broadway in 2015. “Fun Home” was the first Broadway musical for which an all-female team won the Tony Award for best original score.

The musical mirrors the memoir, featuring Alison during three phases of her life, at ages 10, 19 and 43. The story follows Alison as she grows up and realizes the truth of her own sexuality and tries to come to terms with her father’s, as well. Bruce, who was a high school teacher and ran the family funeral home, was a closeted gay man who struggled to maintain a façade in front of his family and community.

“There are so few shows that explore the dynamic of a father/daughter relationship,” said Hofer. “There are a lot of unexpected themes the show addresses.”

Glasgow agreed that the show offers some unique perspectives.

“We get to round out a female protagonist in a way we don’t often get to do with musical theater,” said Glasgow. “The key issues of the show—not only sexual orientation and gender issues, but suicide and mental health—are not things to shy away from. They are what the show is about.”

Hofer was surprised to see so much of herself in the story and how the themes can help to form connections in what can often be an isolating world.

“There are so many times we look at people as the ‘other,’” said Hofer. “When it comes down to it, we’re not so different. I think this story does a great job of reminding us of that.”

At times funny, dark, provocative and moving, “Fun Home” tells a story that is enhanced by the truth behind it.

“I hope audiences will see this story as a beacon of hope, telling us that our truth is powerful and our truth is achievable,” Landon said.

“Fun Home” also features Cynthia Wells, Caroline Chronister, Gretchen Sutton, Alex King, Jack Hoover, Colin York and Maddie McCann. The show is the first in Open Stage’s subscription series, which features an entire season of shows written by women.

“Fun Home” runs Oct. 6 to 29 at Open Stage of Harrisburg, 25 N. Court St., Harrisburg. Due to the themes of the show, the suggested minimum age for audience members is 8 years old. For information and tickets, visit www.openstagehbg.com.

Upcoming Theater Events
At Harrisburg’s Professional
Downtown Theaters

At Gamut Theatre
www.gamuttheatre.org

The Popcorn Hat Players Present
“The Legend of Sleepy Hollow”
Oct. 11 to 28
Saturdays at 1 p.m.
Wednesdays and Thursdays at 10 a.m. available by request for groups of 20 or more.
Tickets are $8

At Open Stage
Of Harrisburg
www.openstagehbg.com

“Fun Home”
A musical about family and finding yourself
Based on Alison Bechdel’s graphic novel
Oct. 6 to 29

Court Street Cabaret
“Jukebox Edition”
An evening of song from Broadway and beyond
Nov. 3 and 4

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