Big Alison (Allison Mickelson) watches Small Alison (Fiona McFarlin) join in a family cleaning frenzy ahead of an important visit during rehearsal for "Fun Home." (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire)

Let the ‘Fun Home’ begin

Long-awaited musical is set to open soon.

“Fun Home” is a lot of things — a musical, an adaptation of an award-winning book, a depiction of familial tensions and queerness tinged by the inescapable fact of death. But it’s also a comedy.

“I love dark humor, and I would love everyone to know that the play is very, very funny,” said Hannah Wolf, who is directing Perseverance Theatre’s production of “Fun Home,” in a recent interview.

“Fun Home,” which is based on Alison Bechdel’s award-winning graphic novel memoir “Fun Home: A Family Tragicomic,” depicts formative moments from Bechdel’s life, including moments from Bechdel’s childhood with her demanding father, Bechdel coming to terms with her homosexuality in college, and realizations about her father’s sexuality and death. Its title comes from an inside joke name for the family’s business, a funeral home.

The story is told through vignettes focused on three versions of Bechdel — child-era Small Alison (Fiona McFarlin), college-era Medium Alison (Brita Fagerstrom) and middle-aged Big Alison (Allison Mickelson) — with the oldest Alison typically observing the exploits of her family and younger selves.

Mickelson, who has played Big Alison in three previous productions of “Fun Home” and is making her Perseverance Theatre debut, said in an interview there is value in frank depictions of subjects that don’t show up in many plays.

Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire
Big Alison (Allison Mickelson) clutches a sketchbook while reflecting on her younger years during rehearsal for Perseverance Theatre’s production of “Fun Home”

Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire Big Alison (Allison Mickelson) clutches a sketchbook while reflecting on her younger years during rehearsal for Perseverance Theatre’s production of “Fun Home”

“What a gift to normalize a gay protagonist, to talk about suicide to talk about mental health,” Mickelson said.

Wolf said she hopes prospective audience members aren’t scared away by some of the show’s more morbid motifs since “Fun Home” ultimately tells a story about moving forward from trauma.

[“Fun Home” director shares uncommon circumstances behind an “unlikely musical”]

“While the show deals with very heavy material, the show also ends with hope,” Wolf said.

Also, while the show is an adaptation of a singular, real-life story, both Mickelson and Wolf said it mines a unique life for universal feelings.

The show goes on

Both Wolf and Mickelson also said there is much joy in returning to live theater after the pandemic necessitated plays shift to virtual presentations. They said that feeling is intensified in the case of this particular production of “Fun Home.”

Originally, the play was set to open in the spring of 2020. However, that was dashed by the COVID-19 pandemic. Two years later, most of the cast for the paused past production has returned. Wolf noted that’s relatively rare for a delayed project.

“I have to catch myself quite often,” said Mickelson, who spent extended time in Juneau after the planned shows were postponed to work for Trail Mix Inc. “It’s emotional, it’s so exciting, but it’s also surreal.”

Wolf, who typically works as a new play director, said working with a more-known piece and the two-year delay gave the process an ensemble-built feel with actors who have an especially deep understanding of their characters.

Ben Hohenstatt / Capital City Weekly
Bruce Bechdel (Enrique Bravo) makes a tense face while clutching an antique during rehearsal for “Fun Home” while observed by Big Alison (Allison Mickelson).

Ben Hohenstatt / Capital City Weekly Bruce Bechdel (Enrique Bravo) makes a tense face while clutching an antique during rehearsal for “Fun Home” while observed by Big Alison (Allison Mickelson).

In addition to Mickelson, the cast — who Wolf praised effusively — includes many actors who may be familiar to Perseverance Theatre audiences, including Fagerstrom, Margeaux Ljungberg, Enrique Bravo, Cate Ross and Chris Talley. It also includes a few actors making their debut for a mainstage production for Perseverance, such as Mickelson and young actors McFarlin, Kyra Wood and Axel Boily.

Music will be provided by Rob Cohen, Paul Cotton, Franz Felkl, Liz Hanley, Dale McFarlin and Ty Wolverton.

“I can’t wait for people to see the force of talent that is on stage,” Wolf said.

Wolf won’t have to wait long. “Fun Home” opens Friday and runs through May 8.

• Contact Ben Hohenstatt at (907)308-4895 or bhohenstatt@juneauempire.com. Follow him on Twitter at @BenHohenstatt

Know & Go

What: “Fun Home”

When: 7:30 p.m. April 22, April 23, April 27, April 28, April 29, May 5, May 6 and May 7. 4 p.m. April 24, May 1 and May 8.

Where: Perseverance Theatre, 914 3rd St., Douglas

Admission: Tickets cost $40. The performance scheduled for Wednesday, April 27, is a pay-as-you-wish show. Attendees must provide proof of vaccination and wear masks indoors, according to Perseverance Theatre’s website. Tickets can be purchased online through https://www.ptalaska.org/ticketing/.

More in News

(Juneau Empire File)
Aurora forecast for the week of Nov. 27

These forecasts are courtesy of the University of Alaska Fairbanks’ Geophysical Institute… Continue reading

Hundreds walk the waterfront near Elizabeth Peratrovich Plaza during the 2023 Juneau Maritime Festival in early May. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire file photo)
Survey: Residents increasingly negative about cruise tourism, but postive opinions still prevail

48% of respondents say overall impacts positive, 22% negative after record-high passenger season.

A Hawaiian Airlines plane taxis for position at Kahalui, Hawaii, on the island of Maui, March 24, 2005. Alaska Air Group said Sunday that it agreed to buy Hawaiian Airlines in a $1 billion deal. (AP Photo/Lucy Pemoni, File)
Alaska Air to buy Hawaiian Airlines in a $1.9 billion deal that may attract regulator scrutiny

SEATTLE — Alaska Airlines said Sunday it agreed to buy Hawaiian Airlines… Continue reading

Cruise ship passengers walk around in downtown Juneau in late May. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire file photo)
Public suggestions for spending cruise ship passenger fees being accepted starting Monday

More than $21.6M available after record season, but proposals limited to cruise-related projects.

The Hubbard state ferry (left), the newest vessel in the Alaska Marine Highway System fleet, is back in service in northern Southeast Alaska after a maintenance period as the LeConte, which also serves the region, undergoes a scheduled annual overhaul until March 3. (Photo courtesy of the Alaska Marine Highway System)
AMHS leaders hopeful staffing, sailings are trending up

More employees at key positions hired, restoration of cross-Gulf sailings next summer envisioned.

(Michael Penn / Juneau Empire file photo)
Police calls for Wednesday, Nov. 30, 2023

This report contains public information from law enforcement and public safety agencies.

A ConocoPhillips oil rig operating during winter on Alaska’s North Slope is featured on the cover of the U.S. Bureau of Land Management’s report recommending approval of the Willow oil project. (U.S. Bureau of Land Management)
Judge rejects calls to halt winter construction work on Willow oil project in Alaska during appeal

A federal judge in Alaska on Friday rejected requests from environmental groups… Continue reading

Strips of chum salmon hang on a drying rack on Aug. 22, 2007. A new study by federal and state biologists identies marine heat waves in the Bering Sea and Gulf of Alaska as the likely culprit in the recent crashes of Western Alaska chum salmon runs. (Photo by S.Zuray / U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service)
Study points to concurrent marine heat waves as culprit in Western Alaska chum declines

Successive marine heat waves appear to have doomed much of the chum… Continue reading

Marzena Whitmore (elf) and Dale Hudson (Santa), pose for a photo with Benny Orvin (partially obscured), 6, and his siblings Lilly, 4, and Remi, 2, taken by their mother Alex as their father Randy watches during Gallery Walk in downtown Juneau on Friday. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
Coming together as one giant community family at Gallery Walk

Thousands share an evening of entertainment in the outdoor chill, visiting shops and hot chocolate.

Most Read