The University of Tennessee, Knoxville Division of Diversity and Engagement and the Pride Center are proud to present a sponsored showing of Fun Home the musical from River & Rail Theatre Company on Tuesday, June 6, 2023 at 7:30pm. This showing is completely free and offers sections of tickets aimed at UT students, UT campus community members (faculty, staff, alumni), and Knoxville community members. After the performance, there will be a talk-back with the actors about the production and more. Attendees in each ticket section can request up to two tickets per Eventbrite account. All seating is general admission, so plan to arrive together if you want to sit as a group. Tickets can be reserved at tiny.utk.edu/funhome.

Fun Home is a musical adapted from author Alison Bechdel’s 2006 graphic memoir of the same name. The story concerns Bechdel’s discovery of her own sexuality, her relationship with her closeted gay father who runs a funeral home, and her attempts to unlock the mysteries surrounding his life. It is told in a series of non-linear vignettes connected by narration provided by the adult Alison character. Fun Home is the first musical with a lesbian protagonist, and its original Broadway run was nominated for twelve Tony Awards and won five, including Best Musical.

Content Warning: Please be advised this production contains adult language and mature content, including discussions of abuse, suicide, and homophobia.

From River & Rail:

River & Rail is proud to present Fun Home, its final production of the 2022-2023 season. Fun Home is directed by Jessica Holt, and stars Laura Beth Wells (Broadway: Spiderman: Turn Off The Dark), Brian Gligor (Original Broadway Tour, RENT), and Katy Wolfe (Clarence Brown Company Member). This multiple Tony Award-winning musical by Jeanine Tesori (Caroline, or Change, Shrek) and Lisa Kron is based on the graphic novel of the same name by Alison Bechdel. Fun Home is a touching story about growing up gay in rural Pennsylvania. With grown-up Alison as our guide, we experience the humor and depth of feeling in adolescent self-discovery while exhuming the pain of her father's untold story; a charismatic man with his own artistic interests who spent his life in the closet.

HISTORY

Fun Home premiered at The Public Theater in New York City in 2013, and premiered on Broadway at Circle in the Square Theatre in April 2015. That year, the team took home Tony awards for Best Musical, Best Director, Best Actor, Best Book of A Musical, and Best Original Score. This made lyricist Lisa Kron and composer Jeanine Tesori the first female writing team to be recognized in this way.

THE CAST

• Laura Beth Wells* as Alison
• Anna Catherine Smith as Medium Alison
• Zoe Belle Sullivan as Small Alison
• Brian Gligor* as Bruce Bechdel
• Katy Wolfe* as Helen Bechdel
• Lillian Wells Crawford as Christian Bechdel
• Penny Peterson as John Bechdel
• Parker Jenkins as Roy/Mark/Pete/Bobby
• Emily Helton as Joan

* Appearing Courtesy of Actor's Equity Association

If you are unable to make the June 6, 2023 date, River & Rail Theatre Company has an entire run of performances between June 2-18, 2023 that you can purchase tickets at here: https://www.simpletix.com/e/fun-home-by-jeanine-tesori-and-lisa-kron-b-tickets-116092