June 28, 2022
Happy Summer!
It’s a spectacularly sunny day on the Fox, Dear Reader, and I have a just as spectacular and sunny announcement to make: the company of Paramount’s BOLD Series’ next venture, Fun Home, the 2015 Tony Winner for Best Musical, Best Book and Best Original Score. Rehearsals begin next Tuesday morning for our staging of book writer & lyricist Lisa Kron’s and composer Jeanine Tesori’s theatrical adaptation of Alison Bechdel’s 2006 graphic memoir, Fun Home: A Family Tragicomic.
Leading the cast, making Paramount debuts, are Emilie Modaff as Alison, and Stephen Schellhardt as Alison’s father, Bruce. Emily Rohm, perfectly perfect in Mary Poppins as the title role, as well as Marian Paroo (The Music Man) and Lucy Barker (The Beggar Woman in Sweeney Todd) among many other Broadway Series appearances, returns as Alison’s mother, Helen.
In recursive, non-linear episodes, Alison summons her college student persona, Medium Alison, portrayed by Elizabeth Stenholt, Paramount’s winning Dorothy in The Wizard of Oz. Played in rotating performances as Small Alison are Maya Keane and Milla Liss also making their debuts here as are Jaxson Mitchell and Will Daly at certain performances playing younger brother Christian, and the youngest, John, played by Eziechiel Ruiz.
An exciting Paramount debut as well for Devon Hayakawa playing Joan, Alison’s first girlfriend with Jordan Anthony Arredondo, continuing his BOLD Series run playing Roy, Mark, and Pete having been in Sweat as Oscar and currently in Hand to God as Jason/Tyrone Understudy.
Landree Fleming and I are Co-Directing with Choreographer Ariel Etana Triunfo, and Music Director Kory Danielson conducting a seven member chamber orchestra on a set by Yeaji Kim, costumes by Jordan Ross, lighting by Mac Vaughey, and sound design by Adam Rosenthal. Our team also boasts: Jesse Gaffney properties designer, Ethan Deppe, electronic music designer, Jyreika Guest intimacy director, Catherine Miller gender consultant, Mary Zanger, stage manager, and Madeline Scott, assistant stage manager.
Excuse my haste – more to come!
Love & thanks,
Jim
he/him
