Controversy Over "Fun Home" Prompts Creators to Bring Musical to Charleston

[Liza's Headband]

Posted: 4/17/14 at 4:01pm

by Adam Parker
Posted: Wednesday, April 16, 2014 11:09 a.m.

The author of the critically acclaimed graphic novel "Fun Home" was so horrified by the actions of South Carolina lawmakers and College of Charleston officials that she quickly joined an effort to bring the off-Broadway show based on her book to campus, according to local organizers.

Alison Bechdel and the cast of the New York City show are volunteering to present a concert version of the musical in Charleston. Two performances will be offered, at 7 p.m. and 9 p.m. Monday, at Memminger Auditorium, 56 Beaufain St.

College of Charleston spokesman Mike Roberston said tickets went on sale Tuesday, and about 750 of them were sold in the first 24 hours they were available.

The book "Fun Home" was the selected title for the College Reads! program and made available to all incoming freshman in the fall of 2013. It recounts Bechdel's upbringing and explores themes of sexual identity.

In the book, which Bechdel has written and drawn in comic-strip form, she describes her childhood with a closeted gay father, who was an English teacher and owner of a funeral home; the trial he faced over his dealings with young boys; his possible suicide; and her own coming out as a lesbian.

In February, some lawmakers took issue with the book, and the S.C. House budget-writing committee moved to withdraw $52,000 of school funding, the cost of the summer reading program.


Much More Here...

[haterobics]

Posted: 4/17/14 at 4:31pm

Oh, sure, they do this the day BEFORE I go to SC for a few days... ;-(

[IdinaBellFoster]

Posted: 4/17/14 at 4:38pm

A good friend of mine just snagged some tickets! Very excited to hear about it. I wasn't aware of all this (absurd) controversy.

[Sutton Ross]

Posted: 4/17/14 at 4:59pm

Wow, to be able to see this production with that insanely talented cast for 10 bucks? Lucky bastards.

I'm really glad they're doing this, the fact that they cut funding is disgusting.

[CoreyRyan3]

Posted: 4/17/14 at 6:01pm

I will be there!

I don't attend College of Charleston but I am from Charleston and go to school not too far away. It's easy for me to come down for a night and go back the next morning.

Excited for this and to see what comes from it amidst this controversy. Updated On: 4/17/14 at 06:01 PM

[carlodowd]

Posted: 4/17/14 at 6:03pm

Thats absolutely awful. These “Lawmakers” need to realize it 2014 and get the stick outta their ass! Such beautiful pieces of art, the show and book are, and i’m glad those students will get a chance to see it.

[Sutton Ross]

Posted: 4/17/14 at 6:12pm

CoreyRyan3, I'm super jealous. Please report back with your thoughts, I'm also curious what the audience reactions will be. Have an amazing time.

[broadwaybelter]

Posted: 4/17/14 at 7:37pm

"The same characters and story lines are featured in the musical, which ran at the Public Theater this winter. A transfer of that production to Broadway is in the works for the 2014-15 theater season, though no official plans have been announced. This week the musical was named one of two finalists for the 2014 Pulitzer Prize for drama". It's always nice to read that, even though it's been rumored at great length.

[AHLiebross]

Posted: 4/17/14 at 7:53pm

The South Carolina legislature has been marching to a very odd drummer since it decided it could nullify U.S. laws. Then, it decided to secede to protect slavery. It supported Jim Crow and school segregation, sent the most right wing Senators and House members to Congress ... and now this.

BTW, if there should happen to be any folks on this board who want to argue that SC did NOT secede to protect slavery, I'll be happy to argue the point on the off-topic board -- I did NOT claim that all the other states seceded for that purpose, that most Southern soldiers fought for that purpose, or that the North went to war for that purpose.

[After Eight]

Posted: 4/17/14 at 10:31pm

Charleston is such a pretty city. Too bad this pollutant is coming its way.

Which means yet more prestige- and award-garnering publicity for this opus. It couldn't have asked for better pr.

Before long one will have to fly to the moon to escape it.



Updated On: 4/17/14 at 10:31 PM

[Sutton Ross]

Posted: 4/17/14 at 10:38pm

Or.... You don't have to go to the show in Charleston or when it comes to Broadway. Then perhaps your complaining about this beautiful show will finally stop.

Updated On: 4/17/14 at 10:38 PM

[After Eight]

Posted: 4/17/14 at 10:48pm

^

That will be the same day your cheerleading for this horrible show finally stops.

[haterobics]

Posted: 4/17/14 at 11:34pm

In another thread, After Eight wrote: "One's free time is precious, so why waste it interacting with people whose language or attitude is offensive or whose opinions are of no interest to you? Just common sense."

I guess that doesn't apply to Fun Home threads, although it seems like it should.

[Kad]

Posted: 4/17/14 at 11:38pm

The last person on Earth to follow After Eight's opinions about how one should act is After Eight.

[FindingNamo]

Posted: 4/17/14 at 11:48pm

Now you're just doing performance art, After Eight. I'm starting to think you're something Dollypop dreamed up.

[haterobics]

Posted: 4/17/14 at 11:50pm

There are shows I wasn't all that interested in, but it would be hard to find out what they are on BWW, since I don't perpetually hang out in threads for them bloviating about how much they suck.

[FindingNamo]

Posted: 4/17/14 at 11:52pm

And sounding like a doily queen living in Mother's house, which he inherited after she passed from the sugar.

[CoreyRyan3]

Posted: 4/18/14 at 10:07am

By the way, I did see this at the Public, so I'm interested to see what scenes they perform in Charleston.

[GilmoreGirlO2]

Posted: 4/18/14 at 10:34am

This whole situation makes me sick (particularly the quotes I am reading from the Republicans) and it boggles my mind trying to understand how people can say and do these things.

Very cool that they got the whole cast to do this. And, I read in another article on this that said the school was trying to get the rights of the show to do next year, but were unable to because it will be transferring to Broadway in the fall. Sounds like things are on track!

[RippedMan]

Posted: 4/18/14 at 3:21pm

If this doesn't come to Broadway I'd be really surprised. If "Next to Normal" can turn a profit, then this show can too. It's brilliant.

[CoreyRyan3]

Posted: 4/22/14 at 12:01am

Just returned from this event. The entire original cast (excluding Alexandra Socha) was there, plus Jeanine Tesori, Lisa Kron, and Alison Bechdel. The creative team would come to the stage and introduce different scenes from the show. They sang nearly every song, with full choreography and all. It was fantastic, almost like seeing it at the Public again.

Really hope this makes it to Broadway!

[Sutton Ross]

Posted: 4/22/14 at 12:06am

That's awesome Corey. Was it packed? Did the audience seem to enjoy it?

[CoreyRyan3]

Posted: 4/22/14 at 12:11am

Yes, they had 2 performances, one at 7, and one at 9. I attended the 7 o'clock performance and the (probably 300 seat?) auditorium was filled.

There was a standing ovation as the cast entered and one as the show ended as well.

[macnyc]

Posted: 4/22/14 at 12:15am

Wow, it sounds terrific. I had been wondering about the choreography! Thanks for reporting back.

[ABB2357]

Posted: 4/22/14 at 3:19am

Anyone know why Socha wasn't there? Maybe they decided to let Emily Skeggs step in since Socha did the recording and Barnes and Noble event, even though the role was split between them (due to Socha's absence near the end of the run).