‘Fun Home’ coming to Virginia Tech gives opportunity for theater appreciation

Looking for some theater to appreciate?

“Fun Home,” the family tragicomic musical, is coming to Virginia Tech on Feb. 20 to the Studio Theatre in Squires and is sure to bring the fundamental elements of theater to life. Tickets cost only $10 for students with a valid ID (which is cheaper than a movie ticket at Frank Theatres).

The musical is based on Alison Bechdel’s graphic novel with book and lyrics crafted by Lisa Kron, and will explore main character Alison Bechdel’s journey toward uncovering her father Bruce’s influence on her life through memories, secrets and the exploration of her past.

“Fun Home” also features music by Jeanine Tesori, and it is sure to take us for a ride on an emotional journey. The production will be directed by Virginia Tech Faculty Chair of Theatre and Cinema and Associate Professor of Performance Susanna Rinehart, and Virginia Tech students will be acting throughout the musical.

By watching Alison struggle with her identity and her past, we can see how other people come to terms with their identities and how they differ from us in doing so. The musical also explores seeing one’s parents through adult eyes and discovering impurities that you may not have seen as a child. Childhoods will be ruined, but there will be singing, dancing, laughing and crying — so you could say “Fun Home” really has it all.

The musical follows Alison at three different ages in her life, uncovering memories of her family and bringing her to re-evaluate her life.

“Fun Home” is also a very honest and eye-opening musical that forces us to question how our families have shaped our lives and identities, which is sure to bring up some past memories for us all. The $10 you spend on a “Fun Home” ticket will be your destination pass into another life, world and psychological state.

The musical has been nominated for 12 Tony awards and won five, and the “Fun Home” cast album was nominated in 2016 for a Grammy Award for Best Musical Theater Album.

All in all, seeing “Fun Home” can help you begin to appreciate theater, my friends. You can purchase your tickets online and they are selling fast — so get them ASAP, but remember, as with all Virginia Tech events, you must have a printed ticket.