Fun Home Tour

[MarkBearSF]

Posted: 1/21/17 at 10:49am

The Fun Home tour is about to start at the (beautifully) restored Curran Theatre in San Francisco.

I saw some early reports in the casting thread that the production was beautifully re-restaged for proscenium houses. 

Any recent reports? How have the sales been?

Looking forward to seeing it here after enjoying it in NY a couple of years ago.

[LizzieCurry]

Posted: 1/21/17 at 11:32am

I saw it in Chicago in November after having seen it on Broadway four times. I was incredibly impressed by the re-staging and didn't really miss it being in the round at all. I wish I could be home in the Bay Area to see it again!

[Blockhead24]

Posted: 1/21/17 at 11:33am

I saw it here a few weeks ago. I thought that it was staged really well for the most part. Great cast too.

 

the venue here is massive so I couldn't really see how well sold other parts of the theater were but the orchestra section was about 85-90% full.

[Leaf Coneybear]

Posted: 1/21/17 at 4:06pm

I saw it in chicago as well as on broadway, it was great both times! In the round and traditional stagings both had their ups and downs, both evened out and both are fantastic. 

[AngusN]

Posted: 1/22/17 at 6:08pm

Any ideas if they are planning to record the tour? The show seems like the kind of show they would record, especially as it's not a show that is likely to have much longevity beyond the tour. 

[Clyde15]

Posted: 1/22/17 at 6:42pm

The tour was absolutely incredible, I saw it here in Denver last weekend. Although I do feel as if it was slightly lacking something by not being in the round. I truly wish I could have seen it on Broadway. Also it almost completely sold out when I went, only a few seats open in the very back. 

[Ado Annie D'Ysquith]

Posted: 1/25/17 at 11:49am

How's Kate Shindle doing? Is her Alison differently interpreted than Beth Malone's?

[LizzieCurry]

Posted: 1/25/17 at 11:58am

I found her to be more emotional and a little softer in her sarcasm, though neither of these things bothered me.

[MarkBearSF]

Posted: 1/25/17 at 3:40pm

AngusN said: "Any ideas if they are planning to record the tour? The show seems like the kind of show they would record, especially as it's not a show that is likely to have much longevity beyond the tour. "

Actually, I think it will be quite widely staged at universities (especially given the popularity of the graphic novel) and community theater - although perhaps not in more conservative communities.

Updated On: 1/25/17 at 03:40 PM

[South Florida]

Posted: 1/25/17 at 4:56pm

I loved this show but did not love the cast.  Will be seeing it again and again.

 

[broadwaysfguy]

Posted: 1/31/17 at 10:15pm

sf cast was terrific

i loved procenium stage better than in the round

allesandra baldicinno at 10.5 yrs old as young allison is beyond extraordinary

other strongest cast member imo was abby corrigan playing middle allison

michael cerveris is irreplacable 

(there i said it)

 robert petkoff playing the father did a good job on thursday at the opening and a great job sat when i went back for second view

kate shindle was a little more low key as adult allison

i cried both times during telephone wire....

this  a very special show

go see it bay area bww fans

[broadwaysfguy]

Posted: 1/31/17 at 10:20pm

also playbill collectors will want to get the special

playbill for the curran re opening 

features a color drawing by allison bechdel on cover

extensive stories on dev of fun home and makeover of curran

 

 

very unique design 

[MarkBearSF]

Posted: 1/31/17 at 11:15pm

I was blown away. All-around spectacular tour which is the equal to the NY production. I was especially impressed by Abby Corrigan as Medium Alison and Robert Petkoff as Bruce. It's a remarkable production of a special work with a score that rewards multiple viewings and reveals more with each exposure.

And it was great to see the beautifully reborn Curran Theatre so fully attended.

Updated On: 1/31/17 at 11:15 PM

[ChairinMain]

Posted: 2/1/17 at 2:21am

If you get a chance to see the tour, do so for Abby Corrigan alone - she is absolutely perfect in the role.

[MarkBearSF]

Posted: 2/1/17 at 7:02am

ChairinMain said: "If you get a chance to see the tour, do so for Abby Corrigan alone - she is absolutely perfect in the role."

Agreed. I'm told that part of the reason is that she IS exactly that age, so she IS Medium Alison in energy and attitude and life experience. (In addition to possessing awesome acting and singing chops!)

Updated On: 2/1/17 at 07:02 AM

[KnewItWhenIWasInFron]

Posted: 2/1/17 at 2:45pm

Agreed on Corrigan, who's incredible. I was slightly disappointed in Shindle (but maybe I wouldn't have been if I hadn't seen how amazing Beth Malone was in the role). I do like how the proscenium involves Alison in the action more thoroughly than the in-the-round staging did.

Updated On: 2/6/17 at 02:45 PM

[kdogg36]

Posted: 2/1/17 at 9:33pm

KnewItWhenIWasInFron said: "I do like how the proscenium involves Allison in the action more thoroughly than the in-the-round staging did."

This is a fascinating comment, and makes me look forward to seeing the production in DC! At The Public, my main qualm was that Alison seemed to be stuck at her table in the corner for so much of the time. Seems like they've fixed that for the tour.

 

[OrchardAndRivington]

Posted: 2/2/17 at 4:43pm

That problem has been fixed in the updated tour staging.

**Spoilers?**

Director Sam Gold has placed Alison, with her sketch pad and pencil in hand, somewhere in the scene that isn't necessarily in the middle of the family action, but present enough to notice her always looming over the proceedings... watching and remembering. It feels almost ghost-like at times. Plus, Kate Shindle has such a large presence on stage with her statuesque height, she never seems to get lost in the back ground. You never lose adult Alison in the picture.

Enjoy the show in DC! I feel that Fun Home will play very well at the more intimate National, than the cavernous Ford Center/Oriental in Chicago where I caught the tour in November. 

[kdogg36]

Posted: 2/2/17 at 6:42pm

RoadGypsy2010 said: "Enjoy the show in DC! "

Thank you, and thanks for the details!

 

[anthony95401]

Posted: 2/2/17 at 6:49pm

Agreed. I saw the show in SF over the weekend and it is fantastic. Corrigan is phenomenal and in fact the entire cast is strong. A tight, expertly performed production. Going back to see it again before it leaves SF.

And the comic book-like playbill is cool too!

[bear88]

Posted: 2/6/17 at 3:03am

I can't compare the show in San Francisco to the Broadway version, which I didn't see. But I thought it was a moving production. Abby Corrigan was out on Friday, but I liked her understudy - Caroline Murrah - very much. One thing that did strike me, on reflection, is that Kate Shingle really does loom over the show even during the many times when she is silent. So the staging worked well enough for me. My eyes would catch her expression, even as my main attention would be on her younger incarnations. Alessandra Baldacchino is poised and does a terrific job as the young Alison. My wife and I met her, and her mother, after the show.

It's not one of those musicals where you leave humming, at least the first time. But it's a powerful show, ranking just behind Hamilton on Broadway and the San Francisco touring version of Hedwig and the Angry Inch as my favorite shows during the past year. (I know they're not new to you Broadway folks, but I've been catching up on musicals lately.)

The revamped Curran looks nice, and they even gave people a free drink (and cookies) after the show.  

Updated On: 2/6/17 at 03:03 AM

[BroadwayConcierge]

Posted: 2/6/17 at 10:05am

Whoa! What a special playbill for its San Francisco stint!

[Hamilfan2]

Posted: 2/6/17 at 8:14pm

Does anyone have a Playbill from the SF leg at the Curran.  I would love to have one of those special Playbills but alas I live on the other side of the country

[anthony95401]

Posted: 2/7/17 at 3:18am

I'm gonna see it again before it leaves. I'll try to pick up one for you.

[BrerBear]

Posted: 2/10/17 at 4:13pm

Finally got to see this last night, and it was fantastic. A great reflection of the Broadway staging, and some scenes even played out better, like the house reveal near the end.

The entire cast did a great job, but I have to agree that Abby Coirrigan as Medium Alison really stood out. Keep an eye on her.

Make sure to catch this if you're in the Bay Area!