Podcasts about Fun Home

Today through June 27th, Fun Home at the Hangar Theatre! Thursday, an Ice Cream Social at the Etna Community Association, the Flower Pots at Brookton’s Market, the Small Kings at Grist Iron Brewing, Off the [...]

KPFA Theatre Critic Richard Wolinsky reviews “The Lunchbox” at Berkeley Rep‘s Roda Theatre through July 5, 2026.             TEXT OF REVIEW The golden age of the Broadway musical died over a half century ago. The post-golden age of Sondheim and the rock opera faded before the new century. Since then, we've had corporate movie adaptations, jukebox junk and an increasing number of parody meta-musicals. But good and great shows do slip through the cracks. Hamilton, certainly, but also Fun Home, Next to Normal, Suffs and others. It's quite possible that another gem eventually to hit New York, is currently at Berkeley Rep's Roda Theatre through July 5th, and that's The Lunchbox, created by the team of Ritesh Batra and The Lazours.

Based on a 2013 film of the same name, The Lunchbox is about one of those one in a million chance meetings that change people and the direction of their lives. Mumbai, or Bombay as it was known, has a complex system in which business people's hot lunches are delivered from home to workplace in the middle of the day via a phalanx of what are known as dabbawallahs. Despite millions of people and a gigantic metropolis, this system is incredibly accurate with spectacular on-time deliveries.

But there are screwups. One day, a young wife, Ila, sends her lunch canister to her husband's office — the canisters have multiple smaller bowls — which never arrives. Somehow, it winds up on the desk of Sajaan, an older widower on the verge of retirement.He sends back a note. She responds. He's decades older, she's married with a daughter; romance may not be in the cards, but connection is. What makes The Lunch Box work so well is both its familiarity with musical theater tropes and its differences. You can hear a bit of Sondheim in the way music and lyrics meld to further the story, but there's also the very distinctive sound of South Asian melody, harmony, instruments and rhythm, punctuated by Bollywood style ensemble dances. The result is organic, it feels right. The Lunchbox unites the two art forms into one, with the spectacle never overwhelming the delicacy of the story, songs, or performances, all of which, by the way, are very, very good, as is the gorgeous set design. The show is kind of a miracle, code-switching in a way that feels wholly original, while maintaining the sensibility and sensitivity of its source material. A note of caution: The Lunch Box is a soufflé. Any attempt to fix it, to make it more big ticket-friendly, could kill it. The show is perfect as it is. The Lunchbox plays at Berkeley Rep's Roda Theatre through July 5th. For more information you can to go berkeleyrep.org. I'm Richard Wolinsky on Bay Area theatre for KPFA. The post Review: “The Lunchbox” at Berkeley Rep Roda Theatre appeared first on KPFA.

Join the conversation by letting us know what you think about the episode!The next book in our Banned Books Series is Alison Bechdel's Fun Home: A Family Tragicomic. In it, Bechdel dives into her relationship with her father, their sexuality, and his death - all illustrated by the author. Each picture holds true to the adage that “a picture is worth a thousand words“. Support the showBe part of the conversation by sharing your thoughts about this episode, what you may have learned, how the conversation affected you. You can reach Raquel and Jennifer on IG @madnesscafepodcast or by email at madnesscafepodcast@gmail.com.Share the episode with a friend and have your own conversation. And don't forget to rate and review the show wherever you listen!Thanks!

Alison Bechdel signe l'affiche de la nouvelle exposition de la Cité de la BD, LGBTQomics – Lettre d'amour à la bande dessinée présentée à la cité de la BD d'Angoulême. L'autrice, reconnue pour son humour, son regard critique sur la société et son exploration des questions d'identité et de genre, est notamment célèbre pour sa série Dykes to Watch Out For et pour ses romans graphiques autobiographiques comme Fun Home ou Lessivée, sorti récemment chez Denoël Graphic. Son travail a largement contribué à la visibilité des thématiques LGBTQ+ dans la bande dessinée contemporaine. C'est donc un vrai plaisir de la recevoir dans ce podcast pour parler de son travail autour de l'affiche, de sa carrière et de son regard sur l'évolution du médium et des questions LGBT… Alison Bechdel répond également à notre questionnaire de Proust version BD. Bonne écoute !Cet épisode est en VF. Traduction de Mathilde Bertrand.Merci à l'IUT de Bordeaux Montaigne pour la réalisation technique de cet épisode.Hébergé par Audiomeans. Visitez audiomeans.fr/politique-de-confidentialite pour plus d'informations.

Alison Bechdel signe l'affiche de la nouvelle exposition de la Cité de la BD, LGBTQomics – Lettre d'amour à la bande dessinée présentée à la cité de la BD d'Angoulême. L'autrice, reconnue pour son humour, son regard critique sur la société et son exploration des questions d'identité et de genre, est notamment célèbre pour sa série Dykes to Watch Out For et pour ses romans graphiques autobiographiques comme Fun Home ou Lessivée, sorti récemment chez Denoël Graphic. Son travail a largement contribué à la visibilité des thématiques LGBTQ+ dans la bande dessinée contemporaine. C'est donc un vrai plaisir de la recevoir dans ce podcast pour parler de son travail autour de l'affiche, de sa carrière et de son regard sur l'évolution du médium et des questions LGBT… Alison Bechdel répond également à notre questionnaire de Proust version BD. Bonne écoute !Cet épisode est en VO.Merci à l'IUT de Bordeaux Montaigne pour la réalisation technique de cet épisode.Hébergé par Audiomeans. Visitez audiomeans.fr/politique-de-confidentialite pour plus d'informations.

Today, I'm thrilled to announce my interview with Broadway director and choreographer Danny Mefford, whose productions of SPELLING BEE and BIGFOOT are currently playing off-Broadway. Tune in to hear some of the stories of his legendary career, including identifying the central arc in SPELLING BEE, his journey with staging THE SOUND OF MUSIC, the secret to the success of DEAR EVAN HANSEN, being confused for Ben Platt, staging “Ring of Keys” in FUN HOME, making his Broadway debut with BLOODY BLOODY ANDREW JACKSON, working with child actors, the problem with the story of THE BRIDGES OF MADISON COUNTY, staging rollerskating in KIMBERLY AKIMBO, making his directorial debut with SHREK, developing MISS YOU LIKE HELL out of town, collaborating with Michael Friedman on LOVE'S LABOR'S LOST, acting at Williamstown Theater Festival, and so much more. Don't miss this candid conversation with one of Broadway's best.

Today, I'm thrilled to announce my interview with visionary director Sam Gold. Tune in to hear some of the stories of his legendary career, including how Alan Rickman got him his Broadway directing debut with SEMINAR, acting as a college student in THE DIARY OF ANNE FRANK, adapting a graphic novel to the stage with FUN HOME, his approach to revivals, staging Shakespeare after the pandemic, his visual concept for THE BLACK EYED, working with a differently abled actor on CORSICANA, exploring sleeplessness in MACBETH, the central scene in AN ENEMY OF THE PEOPLE, the difficulty of collaborating with ˝Glenda Jackson on KING LEAR, modulating the humor in ANGRY ALAN, casting ROMEO + JULIET, bringing THE GLASS MENAGERIE from the Netherlands to Broadway, why staging Annie Baker's plays is like choreography, modulating silences in CIRCLE MIRROR TRANSFORMATION, and so much more. Don't miss this thoughtful conversation with a true genius.

Hi! Welcome back to The Terrible Anvil! Tom Hart and Jess Ruliffson love to talk about making comic-making EASIER, and in this season 2 opener, we're talking about ART BUDGETING. It's about how artists manage time, resources, and visual consistency when working on graphic novels. Jess's favorite examples are from Allison Bechdel's Fun Home who love to silhouette characters, and background, and also set up details that are easily repeatable. Additionally we looked at her dad's RUG.Jess also talked about simplifying characters for a longer story, even when she previous pulled out all the stops for realism in a previous version of the same story, seen here:Then as we slid into answering questions for people either interested or IN the 2026 Graphic Novel Intensive, we answered questions about art budgeting for color.Tom showed some favorite old-time examples of working FAST which made for bold color choices, like the one below.We answered a few more questions. We hope you'll join us in the 2026 Graphic Novel Intensive (GNI)! See you there!Next week on The Terrible Anvil, Tom will show Jess some accidental commitments he made and Jess will help him deal with the long term consequences! Thanks for being here! Get full access to How to Make a Graphic Novel at sawcomics.substack.com/subscribe

In this episode of LIGHT TALK, The Lumen Brothers and Sister welcome acclaimed lighting designer Ben Stanton to the show! Join Ben, Ellen, Zac, Steve, and David, as they discuss: Shoverling snow; Early days at UMASS as a jazz drummer; Teaching at Brooklyn College; Early inspirations; Beyond Synergy; Discovering lighting from music; How drumming connects with the creative process of lighting design; The connection of jazz and lighting improvisation; The process behind "Maybe Happy Ending"; Using Lightstrike; "A Strong, single gesture..."; The process behind "Fun Home"; Living and working with a video designer, and raising children when both parents are working on the same production; Relying on our programmers; How to prepare students for their future in the profession; Finding and choosing a mentor; and What makes YOU unique.  Nothing is Taboo, Nothing is Sacred, and Very Little Makes Sense.

Sapphics (and friends) rejoice, Taylor Iman Jones and Lauren Patten are doing a cabaret show together- Valentine's Day Feb 14th at 7pm at The Laurie Beechman Theatre! Taylor and Lauren join Sarah for the relaunch of GOOD SHOW!, to chat about their upcoming cabaret, being theatre kids, what they love about each other and so much more!  Get tickets to see Taylor Iman Jones and Lauren Patten HERE www.thebeechman.com Taylor Iman Jones has been seen on Broadway in SIX, Head over Heels, and Groundhog Day. Off-Broadway: The Jonathon Larson Project, The Lonely Few, and the national tours of Hamilton and  American Idiot. When not on stage, Taylor is a teaching artist offering individual coaching and master classes. Find more info at www.TaylorImanJones.com or @taylorimanjones on instagram. Lauren Patten (she/her) was the breakout star of the musical Jagged Little Pill, for which she won the Tony Award for Best Featured Actress in a Musical, as well as the Grammy and Drama Desk Awards. Other stage credits include Fun Home on Broadway, and the off-Broadway productions of The Counterfeit Opera (Little Island), The Lonely Few (MCC), The Wolves (Playwrights' Realm; Drama Desk and Obie Awards), and Days of Rage (Second Stage). On television, Lauren starred in the Hulu original series Death and Other Details, and is known for her work on Blue Bloods (CBS), The Good Fight (Paramount+), and Succession (HBO). She is featured in the upcoming Amazon series Off Campus. @pattenlauren  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What would you do if there was a jellyfish in your eye? And what if it started multiplying, blocking your vision completely? That's the premise of The Jellyfish, the latest graphic novel by the Montreal artist Boum. The Jellyfish is an allegory for learning to live with a degenerative condition and is based on Boum's own experience with vision loss. It follows a young person named Odette as they navigate life, work and a budding romance … all while jellyfish start to cloud their vision. Boum tells Mattea about using sea creatures to represent vision loss and how losing an eye has changed the way they make art.Liked this conversation? Keep listening:Alison Bechdel on making money and seeing Fun Home in a new light Chris Ware: Inside the sketchbooks of a comics master

“Who can draw when the world is burning?” asks celebrated Vermont cartoonist Alison Bechdel in her new graphic novel, Spent.This tension between the political and personal has been a deep well for Bechdel in her art. Bechdel has been cartoonist laureate of Vermont, as well as a recipient of a MacArthur "genius award" and a prestigious Guggenheim Fellowship.She garnered a cult following with her early comic strip, “Dykes to Watch Out For.” Her best-selling graphic memoir, Fun Home, was named Best Book of 2006 by Time. It was adapted into a musical that won five 2015 Tony Awards, including Best Musical. Fun Home tells the story of growing up in a family that ran a funeral home, and how, after Bechdel came out as a lesbian, her closeted gay father died in a presumed suicide.The cartoonist is also known for the Bechdel Test, which rates movies on whether they include at least one scene in which two women talk to each other about something other than men.Bechdel is now a professor in the practice at Yale University. She divides her time between teaching for a semester at Yale and living and drawing at her home in West Bolton, Vermont. Bechdel's wife Holly has been the colorist for her last two books. This week, she had an op-ed cartoon featured in the New York Times about how to stand up to tyranny.She spoke to me from her home in Vermont.

It hasn't been a great year when it comes to treating our fellow human beings with dignity and respect. But it's been a great year for talking to extraordinary people on "Now What?" Larry Charles is a true character who wore his pajamas to work and directed Sacha Baron Cohen in the movie Borat. Along with Gilda Radner and Jane Curtin, Laraine Newman was a hilarious member of the original cast of Saturday Night Live which just celebrated its 50th season. Alison Bechdel, the gifted graphic novelist of Fun Home, has a lot to say about living the life of a gay boomer radical in Vermont. "Now What?" has turned out to be a podcast with a very special community. It's produced with the help of Steve Zimmer, Lucy Little and Jackie Schwartz. Audio production is by Nick Ciavatta. 

Today we talk about Etta Candy, who is Wonder Woman's fun and feisty best friend who organized a sorority into becoming a Nazi-spy-busting force, wrecked house alongside Diana, and also dated Cheetah for a bit. What we were up to this week: Briar went to see Twenty Sided Tavern! Olivia saw Hamnet and also went to see Fun Home and A Sherlock Carol! Thanks to Victoria Watkins for our icon! Support Capes and Japes by: Checking out our Patreon or donating to the Tip jar Find out more on the Capes and Japes website.

Iris Bakker (27) is actrice, theatermaker en zangeres. Ze studeerde af aan de opleiding Muziektheater aan Codarts Hogeschool voor de Kunsten. Tijdens haar opleiding liep ze stage bij OpusOne in de musical Fun Home, waarvoor ze een Musical Award-nominatie voor ‘Aanstormend Talent' ontving. Na haar studie was ze te zien in verschillende theaterproducties, series en films, zoals Pijnstillers en Goede Tijden, Slechte Tijden. Momenteel vertolkt ze de rol van Mo in de nieuwe musical van Alex Klaasen: Stoornis of my Life. Presentator: Bo Fasseur

This is the third and final part of my conversation with author Rob Schneider, who returns to tell us more about his new book, Queer Musicals — Boy Meets Boy to Jagged Little Pill. On this episode, Fun Home, The Prom, and Jagged Little Pill. Robert W. Schneider is a historian, director, producer, author, educator, and podcast host, and the Artistic Director of the J2 Spotlight Musical Theater Company in New York. And since working as an original programming producer at 54 Below, Rob has directed and produced over 100 concerts for the venue. His first book, 50 Key Stage Musicals, was published in 2022. Become A PATRON of Broadway Nation! This episode is made possible in part through the generous support of our Patron Club Members, such as JUDY HUCKA. If you are a fan of Broadway Nation, I invite you to become a PATRON! For as little as $7.00 a month, you can receive exclusive access to never-before-heard, unedited versions of many of the discussions that I have with my guests — in fact, I often record nearly twice as much conversation as ends up in the edited versions. You will also have access to additional, in-depth conversations with my frequent co-host, Albert Evans, that have not been featured on the podcast. And all patrons receive special “on-air” shout-outs and acknowledgement of your vital support of this podcast. And if you are very enthusiastic about Broadway Nation, there are additional PATRON levels that come with even more benefits. If you would like to support the work of Broadway Nation and receive these exclusive member benefits, please click on this link: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://broadwaynationpodcast.supercast.tech/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Thank you in advance for your support! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It's hard to believe that Zadie Smith was just 24 years old when she wrote White Teeth, the book that made her a literary star. 25 years later, Zadie is still finding new stories from her life to reflect on — and she shares many of those in her latest essay collection, Dead and Alive. The book combines art criticism with musings about technology, parenting and the writers who've inspired her. This week, Zadie joins Mattea Roach to talk about the collection, what it's like to look back on 25 years of writing … and that time she fell out of a window.Liked this conversation? Keep listening:Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie's triumphant return to fiction Alison Bechdel on making money and seeing Fun Home in a new light

"Was das kostet: Kirmes mit Familie - da könnten wir gleich in Urlaub fahren!" Von René Steinberg.

om heartwarming classics to bold modern storytelling, FCT celebrates seven decades of local theatre magic.Fremont Community Theatre is stepping into its 70th year with a season that honors the past while embracing fresh, exciting performances for a new generation of theatre lovers. The celebration kicked off with Rodgers & Hammerstein's State Fair this September, a feel-good musical that set the tone for what's to come.Up next, audiences can look forward to the larger-than-life fun of Shrek The Musical in December 2025, the spine-chilling suspense of Misery in January 2026, and the deeply moving Tony Award-winning Fun Home in March 2026.This milestone season is more than a collection of shows, it's a tribute to the community, creativity, and countless volunteers who've kept Fremont's stage lights shining for 70 years. Whether you're a longtime patron or new to FCT, this is one anniversary season you won't want to miss.https://fremontcommunitytheatre.org/shows/

Have you read Alison Bechdel's Fun Home: A Family Tragicomic or seen the musical adaptation? In episode 297, our September Book Club pick takes us into Bechdel's layered, brilliant graphic memoir about family, identity, and the stories we use to make sense of our lives. We kick things off with a bookish check-in (Ashley's listening to Jennifer Lynn Barnes's The Ruling Class; Jen just started Angeline Boulley's Sisters in the Wind) and then dive into Fun Home. We discuss Bechdel's literary references and her stark honesty, the grief and humor, and why this one is so often challenged. We'd love to hear your thoughts and favorite moments from the book. Come join the conversation! Visit the Unabridged website for our full show notes and links to the books mentioned in the episode. Interested in what else we're reading? Check out our Featured Books page.   Want to support Unabridged?   The number 1 way to support us is by purchasing Bookshop.org books from our Unabridged shop. Follow us @unabridgedpod on Instagram or Facebook. | Join our Unabridged Podcast Reading Challenge. | Visit our curated list of books at Bookshop.org. | Become a patron on Patreon. | Check out our Merch Store. | Visit the resources available in our Teachers Pay Teachers store.

More bildungsroman! More childhood discovery! More tears! This time, it's Fun Home that's making us cry, based on Alison Bechdel's graphic novel of the same name. The musical is by Jeanine Tesori and Lisa Krohn and won the 2015 Tony for Best Musical and features the absolutely wondrous and devastating song "Ring of Keys." Buckle up! All clips are from 2014's Fun Home: Original Cast Album featuring Syndey Lucas and are protected by the Fair Use guidelines of Section 107 of the Copyright Act for criticism and commentary. All rights reserved to the copyright owners. Listen to the SMSTS playlist on Spotify! Watch the performance! Follow SMSTS on Instagram: @somuchstufftosing Email the show: somuchstufftosing@gmail.com

How do artists hold the powerful to account? Graphic novelist Alison Bechdel and editorial cartoonist Ann Telnaes have been grappling with that question for decades, in their own very different ways.  Bechdel is the creator of the seminal comic strip, “Dykes to Watch out For,” which she self-syndicated for 25 years. She's also the author and illustrator of four graphic novels, including “Fun Home,” which was adapted into a five-time Tony-winning Broadway musical. She is a professor at Yale, and her latest book is Spent.   Telnaes is a two-time Pulitzer winner and the winner of the Herb Block Prize for editorial cartooning in 2023. Earlier this year, she made international headlines after resigning from The Washington Post when her cartoon mocking tech billionaires for bending the knee to President Trump, including Post owner Jezz Bezos, was spiked. She now publishes her work on Substack  Kara, Alison and Ann discuss everything from politics and money in art, to South Park, book bans, drawing Kristi Noem's flowing extensions, art making, and AI drawings.  Questions? Comments? Email us at on@voxmedia.com or find us on YouTube, Instagram, TikTok, and Bluesky @onwithkaraswisher. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Mike Isaacson is the Artistic Director and Executive Producer of The Muny, the third person to hold this position in The Muny's 106 -year history. During his 14 seasons, he has produced 89 Muny shows, 37 new to The Muny stage. He is also a 9 Time Tony Award winning Broadway producer. After his first season at The Muny, The Riverfront Times wrote, “Under the leadership of executive producer Mike Isaacson the quality of Muny productions rose like the proverbial phoenix.” During his tenure, Isaacson has changed the look and feel of The Muny, overseeing a transformation in every aspect of production that culminated in 2019 with the arrival of the theatre's extraordinary James S. McDonnell stage, a state-of-the art stage house that includes revolutionary LED technology, automated sets, and a host of other innovations. In 2016, The Muny embarked on an unprecedented $100 million capital campaign, raising within 5 years a record amount for any theater in the U.S. During the COVID lock-down summer of 2020, Mike produced and created The Muny 2020 Variety Hour, five live online shows that reached a worldwide audience of more than 400,000. For the summer of 2021, The Muny was one of two theaters in the U.S. to reopen, and produced five full productions, receiving acclaim for their artistry and their presence. The 2022 season's productions received 21 nominations from the St. Louis Theatre Critics Circle, more than any other theater in St. Louis. In 2023, The Muny bested its record with 26 nominations, and for it's 2024 season, The Muny received a record 30 nominations – a record for The Muny and for the Theatre Critics Circle. During his time, The Muny's education and outreach programs have grown in number, and their artistic endeavors now incorporate all aspects of theater making – production, performance and administration. The Muny kids and teens are now recognized nationally for their excellence, inspiring a national program where teens from throughout the U.S. audition annually come to St. Louis to be a part of a Muny production. For 27 years, with his partner Kristin Caskey, Mike has produced more than 40 Broadway musicals and plays, national tours, off-Broadway plays, and London productions. This Spring on Broadway, they are producing Jason Robert Brown's The Last Five Years, co-starring Nick Jonas and Adrienne Warren. In 2023, they produced the highly acclaimed Broadway revival of Parade, starring Ben Platt and Micaela Diamond, now on a national tour. Parade also received “Best Revival of a Musical” as well as “Best Musical Revival” from both The Drama Desk and The Outer Critics Circle. In 2022, they produced Neil Simon's Plaza Suite starring Matthew Broderick and Sarah Jessica Parker, which subsequently had a record-breaking run at London's Savoy Theater. Other recent Broadway productions include David Byrne's American Utopia, for which they received a special 2021 Tony Award. It also became a multi-Emmy Award nominated film by Spike Lee for HBO, for which he also served as an executive producer. In 2015, he received the Tony® award for “Best Musical” for the ground-breaking Fun Home. Other producing highlights include Dolls House, Part 2, The Humans (2016 Tony® Award, Best Play); Bring It On The Musical (2013 Tony® nomination for Best Musical); Red (2010 Tony® Award, Best Play); Legally Blonde the Musical (2011 Olivier Award, Best Musical); Thoroughly Modern Millie (2002 Tony® Award, Best Musical); You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown; If/Then; The Seagull; Burn This, Caroline, or Change; One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest starring Gary Sinise, and Death of a Salesman (1999 Tony® Award). For the IPN, he served as producer for the Broadway productions of Spamalot (2005 Tony® Award, Best Musical), Ragtime (revival) and The Color Purple. All told, his productions have received more than 139 Tony® Award Nominations, and 40 Tony® Awards. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Special summer episode with actress-adjacent darling and new author AND Emmy-nominee Jeff Hiller. Yes, Jeff is only the second self-identified man on the show but it's important! Anne and Damian talk to friend of the pod, Jeff Hiller about his new memoir Actress of a Certain Age, his star-making turn as Joel on HBO's Somebody Somewhere, and his love of celebrity autobiographies and great ladies of the theatre. We just LOVE, Jeff, and we know you will too!  Patreon: www.patreon.com/youmightknowherfrom Follow us on social media: @youmightknowherfrom || @damianbellino || @rodemanne Discussed this episode: Starlight Express with Jane Krakowski and Andrea McArdle Rachel Zegler singing “Shallow” in her bathroom  Rachel Zegler singing “Don't Cry for Me Argentina” We saw Rachel play Fiona in her high school production of Shrek Jamie Lloyd doing Evita in London right now 2012 revival of Evita with Elena Roger, Ricky Martin and Michael Cerveris Patti LuPone skiing the slopes here?  What about Bernadette Peters in concert? Anne thinks Ben Platt is evolving but the only man Damian cares about is Robert DeNiro We love Ethel Merman but Arthur Laurents always called her dumb Ethel Merman Gypsy is underrated!  Gossip columnist Ted Casablanca was the only other cis man we've had on YMKHF Jeff's favorite theatrical experiences: Operation Mincemeat, Fun Home, Pippin revival, Jane Krakowski in Nine, Dreamgirls slime tutorial Andrea Martin's big moment in Pippin made all of us weep Never produced musical with Jane Krakowski Jeff Hiller musical We are all excited about Jennifer Lopez in Kiss of the Spiderwoman movie Chita on the Tonys for Kiss of the Spiderwoman Jimmy Ray Bennett, Phillip Taratula, John Flynn, Stephen Guarino, Drew Droege, Brian Gallivan, Pete Zayas Maybe had 3 episodes as Francois the Tailor in Guiding Light Jeff's new show Basic  Phillp Taratula   Ruth Buzzi story on That Girl Beth Grant episode of YMKHF Dale Dickey episode of YMKHF Jeff's actress memoir recommendations: Rita Moreno, Rosie Perez, Lee Grant Patricia Field memoir is underrated (Rebecca Weinberg is her former partner in life and business). Also there is a Pat Field documentary called Happy Clothes!?  Pat is a lesbian and her parents met on the Isle of Lesbos Go watch Somebody Somewhere Watch Pop Star Academy and then let's go see Katseye at Hammerstein Ballroom  

Whether it's battling your girlfriend's “seven evil exes," reinterpreting childhood memories or celebrating the beauty of becoming a parent, comics and graphic novels transport readers to different worlds … and help us better understand the one we live in. In the first season of Bookends, Mattea Roach spoke with some of today's leading cartoonists about their work and the inspiration they draw from life. In this special summer edition of the show, we're revisiting Mattea's conversations with Adrian Tomine, Alison Bechdel, Bryan Lee O'Malley, Sarah Leavitt and Chris Ware.Hear the full conversations here:Adrian Tomine: Answering his readers' burning questionsAlison Bechdel on making money and seeing Fun Home in a new lightBryan Lee O'Malley: 20 years of Scott PilgrimSarah Leavitt: Illustrating grief too wide for wordsChris Ware: Inside the sketchbooks of a comics master

The last of our archive episodes this time around is the cartoonist Alison Bechdel. Spent, Alison's new graphic novel-come-memoir, reminded me of the conversation we had back in 2021. Here it is... ---- My guest this week is the cartoonist Alison Bechdel. Probably best known for the Bechdel test - a tongue in cheek method she came up with in the 80s for assessing gender bias in movies. She became a household name when Fun Home, her graphic novel/memoir about coming out and her father's death, became a bestseller and was turned into an award-winning musical. Her new autobiographical graphic novel, The Secret To Superhuman Strength is a funny-not funny exploration of her own search for inner and outer strength through the lens of 60 years of fitness fads. Alison and I go on a “rambling stroll” through the six decades of her life as we chat about everything from tarot to very much not being a team player. Alison talks candidly about escaping self-consciousness, coming to terms with ageing, why men are scared of women who can do push ups and why she's forever nine years old. And together we come up with a Bechdel test for women over 40. Challenge you to come up with a movie that passes it. * You can buy all the books mentioned in this podcast at ⁠⁠The Shift Bookshop on bookshop.org⁠⁠ including Spent and The Secret To Superhuman Strength and the book that inspired this podcast, The Shift: how I lost and found myself after 40 - and you can too, by me. * If you enjoyed this episode and you fancy buying me a coffee, pop over to my page on ⁠⁠buymeacoffee.com⁠⁠ • And if you'd like to support the work that goes into making this podcast and get a weekly newsletter plus loads more content including exclusive transcripts of the podcast, why not join The Shift community, come and have a look around at ⁠⁠https://theshiftwithsambaker.substack.com⁠⁠. • The Shift (on life after 40) with Sam Baker is created and hosted by Sam Baker. This episode was edited by Emily Sandford. If you enjoyed this podcast, please rate/review/follow as it really does help other people find us. And let me know what you think on twitter @sambaker or instagram @theothersambaker. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Fun Home: A Family Tragicomic by Alison Bechdel (2006)

We return to the episode lost when Karen got sick! Lauren takes us on a deep dive of Fun Home! Karen revisits her K College roots, we discuss supermanning, and Lauren cries! Get in touch! @downstageleftpc downstageleftpc@gmail.com downstageleftpodcast.com

Eric Newman and Medaya Ocher speak with Alison Bechdel about her new graphic novel, Spent. Bechdel is the author of "Essential Dykes to Watch Out For," "Fun Home,"  and "Are You My Mother?" Spent fictionalizes Bechdel's life with her wife Holly on their pygmy goat sanctuary in Vermont. The comic chronicles political and local dramas, generational shifts, experiments with polyamory, and navigating the relationship between success and art. In conversation, Alison shares her struggles with fame, success, and the Trump era with a view toward the steadying forces of our relationships with others.

Eric Newman and Medaya Ocher speak with Alison Bechdel about her new graphic novel, "Spent." Bechdel is the author of "Essential Dykes to Watch Out For," "Fun Home," and "Are You My Mother?" "Spent" fictionalizes Bechdel's life with her wife Holly on their pygmy goat sanctuary in Vermont. The comic chronicles political and local dramas, generational shifts, experiments with polyamory, and navigating the relationship between success and art. In conversation, Alison shares her struggles with fame, success, and the Trump era with a view toward the steadying forces of our relationships with others.

This episode we are joined by 5 time Tony nominated lighting designer Ben Stanton!  Ben was recently nominated for a Tony for his work on the newly minted best musical Maybe Happy Ending! Some of his other Broadway credits include Seminar, Fun Home, A Christmas Carol, Goodnight Oscar, Days of Wine and Roses, Spring Awakening, Junk and Mary Jane. Ben also designs lighting for concerts, dance, installations, and events. And he is an Obie, Lortel, IRNE, and Ovation Award winner!We talk with Ben about his work on Maybe Happy Ending, the importance of mentors, how doing lighting design is being a "responsive artist" and much more!

Alison Bechdel‘s cult following for her early comic strip Dykes to Watch Out For grew wildly in response to her graphic memoirs, the best-selling Fun Home, adapted into a Tony Award-winning musical, Are You My Mother?, and The Secret to Superhuman Strength. To many, her name is synonymous with the Bechdel Test, a metric to evaluate a film's representation of women. Her new book, Spent: A Comic Novel, hilariously skewers the absurdities of modern life while delivering a rollicking case for embracing life's messy truths before it's too late.  In Spent, a fictional version of Bechdel lives on a goat sanctuary in Vermont, where she is visited by the older versions of the central characters of Dykes to Watch Out For among others.  On May 27, 2025, Alison Bechdel came to the Sydney Goldstein Theater in San Francisco to read from her work, show slides, and answer questions from her fans.  She was introduced by artist Wendy MacNaughton. 

Nearly 20 years after her breakout memoir, Fun Home, cartoonist Alison Bechdel is still unearthing new truths about her life in that time. The memoir and its Broadway adaptation changed Alison's life and brought a degree of success she was unaccustomed to. She explores these themes in her latest work, a comic novel called Spent. It's about a cartoonist's complicated relationship with money and capitalism, and the struggle to stay true to her values. Alison tells Mattea about creating a fictionalized version of herself ... and shares surprising revelations about her parents, which have given her new insight into her own life story.If you enjoyed this conversation, check out these episodes:Adrian Tomine: Answering his readers' burning questionsRumaan Alam: How would you spend a billion dollars?

Host Jason Blitman talks to Jonathan Van Ness and Julie Murphy (Let Them Stare) about astrology, the names of our teenage cars, and early inspirations for their book. And Crock Pots. And British accents. And Nobu. They talk about a lot. Jason is then joined by queer icon Alison Bechdel who shares what she's been reading and talks about her new graphic novel, Spent.   Julie & JVN Publisher's Weekly ArticleJonathan Van Ness is an Emmy-winning television personality, 3x New York Times bestselling author, podcaster, comedian, celebrity hairstylist, and founder of JVN Hair. He stars on Netflix's Emmy Award–winning reboot series Queer Eye, where he shines as the hair guru and self-care advocate; and he hosts the popular podcast Getting Better with Jonathan Van Ness.Julie Murphy splits her time between North Texas and Kansas with her husband, who loves her, and her cats, who tolerate her. When Julie isn't writing, she can be found watching movies so bad they're good, hunting for the perfect slice of cheese pizza, or planning her next great travel adventure. She is the author of the middle grade novels Dear Sweet Pea and Camp Sylvania as well as the young adult novels Ramona Blue, Side Effects May Vary, the Faith series, Pumpkin, Puddin', and Dumplin' (now a Netflix original film).Alison Bechdel's cult following for her early comic strip Dykes to Watch Out For expanded wildly for her family memoirs, the New York Times bestselling and Time magazine #1 Book of the Year graphic memoir Fun Home, adapted into a Tony Award–winning musical, and Are You My Mother? Most recently, The Secret to Superman Strength was named a New York Times Best Graphic Novel of 2021. Bechdel has been named a MacArthur Fellow, among many other honors.SUBSTACK!https://gaysreading.substack.com/ MERCH!http://gaysreading.printful.me BOOK CLUB!Use code GAYSREADING at checkout to get first book for only $4 + free shipping! Restrictions apply.http://aardvarkbookclub.com WATCH!https://youtube.com/@gaysreading FOLLOW!Instagram: @gaysreading | @jasonblitmanBluesky: @gaysreading | @jasonblitmanCONTACT!hello@gaysreading.com

Don't miss Fun Home running from May 30th to June 14th at the Black Box Theater; for tickets and information, visit www.theblackboxtheater.com.

Perhaps you've been following Alison Bechdel's work since her comic strip “Dykes to Watch Out For,” which invented the now ubiquitous Bechdel test (does a movie have two women who speak to each other about something other than a man?). Maybe you came to know her through her graphic memoir “Fun Home,” which was adapted into a Tony-award winning musical. Her latest comic novel, “Spent,” is a work of autofiction that grapples with and parodies Bechdel's own popularity. We'll talk with Bechdel about being famous in a world on fire— and the funny side of it, too. Guests: Alison Bechdel, graphic novelist and cartoonist, author of "Spent: A Comic Novel." Her previous books include "The Secret to Superhuman Strength" and "Fun Home," which was adapted into a Tony Award-winning musical. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Alison Bechdel rose to fame as the creator of a long-running alt-weekly comic strip before jumping to an even wider audience by way of her celebrated graphic memoirs “Fun Home” and “Are You My Mother?” Her new book, “Spent,” is a graphic novel — but it was originally meant to be another memoir, as Bechdel tells Gilbert Cruz on this week's podcast.“Over the years that I turned myself from being a comic strip writer into a memoirist, I got very sort of self-righteous about memoir as a genre,” Bechdel says. “I just thought, why would you bother making anything up? Life is incredible. It's all right there. It's served up on a platter every day. Write about that. My friends who are fiction writers would say, You're able to tell a deeper kind of truth with fiction, don't you think? And I would agree with them, but secretly I would think, no, you can't. You've got to tell the actual truth. But that does get really tiresome. It gets tiring." Unlock full access to New York Times podcasts and explore everything from politics to pop culture. Subscribe today at nytimes.com/podcasts or on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.

In the latest installment of our series, Vermont Edition At Home: The award-winning cartoonist Alison Bechdel chats with us from her home studio in Bolton.Alison Bechdel is one of the country's most renowned cartoonists. Her graphic memoir Fun Home was turned into a Tony Award-winning musical. Her new graphic novel, Spent, is set in Vermont.

Nelson Bettencourt (Disney's Aladdin / Friendsical) co-hosts The West End Frame Show!Andrew and Nelson discuss Here We Are (National Theatre) and The Mad Ones (Other Palace Studio) as well as the latest news about Tina: The Tina Turner Musical closing, Cynthia Erivo's West End return, Legally Blonde's new tour, casting for The Sound of Music at Leicester Curve and lots more.Nelson recently played Babkak in the UK & Ireland tour of Disney's Aladdin having previously played Ross in the UK tour of Friendsical. Nelson is from Canada, with his Canadian theatre credits including Candide, Fun Home, Rogers & Hammerstein's Cinderella, Sister Act, A Chorus Line, All Shook Up, Beauty and the Beast and Breaking Up Is Hard To Do.Follow Nelson on Instagram: @nfmbettencourt This podcast is hosted by Andrew Tomlins. @AndrewTomlins32 Thanks for listening!Email: andrew@westendframe.co.ukVisit westendframe.co.uk for more info about our podcasts. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Alison Bechdel is a cartoonist and graphic novelist. She first started getting attention for her comic strip Dykes to Watch Out For and later wrote a graphic memoir called Fun Home which is about her father's troubled life and her own experience of coming out as a lesbian. In 2015, Fun Home was produced as a Broadway musical and won 5 Tony Awards. Her new graphic novel Spent is about an artist trying to come to terms with her past success. And here's a spoiler. She includes this in her story but Alison Bechdel doesn't really run a sanctuary farm for pygmy goats. “Now What?” is produced with the help of Steve Zimmer, Lucy Little and Jackie Schwartz. Audio production is by Nick Ciavatta.

Today, I'm thrilled to announce my episode with 4-time Tony nominee Judy Kuhn, who is currently appearing in BECOMING EVE at the Abrons Arts Center. Tune in to hear some of the stories of her legendary carer, finding the physicality of her character in FUN HOME, singing on the Tonys with RAGS and LES MISERABLES in the same year, how that performance led to her role in CHESS, working with Trevor Nunn on FIDDLER ON THE ROOF, why her role in ASSASSINS scared her, being voted the killer in THE MYSTERY OF EDWIN DROOD, acting with Glenn Close in SUNSET BOULEVARD, interpreting the role of Fosca in PASSION, auditioning opposite Boyd Gaines for SHE LOVES ME, and so much more. Don't miss this conversation with a Broadway favorite.

In this new podcast, you meet some family members who live in the Fun Home! Fun Home is shorthand for funeral home but that's just the setting for a family who face relationship challenges and lots of personal growth. We meet Alison (a character based on the playwright Alison Bechdel and her graphic novel) which […]

On this edition of The Arts Section, host Gary Zidek visits one of the only museums in the world dedicated to lapidary art. The Lizzadro Museum of Lapidary Art brings was established in the early 60s by an Elmhurst businessman with a passion for cutting and polishing stones. Theater critic Kelly Kleiman joins Gary to review Porchlight Music Theater's new production of FUN HOME. Later in the show, we'll revisit a segment on the Cleve Carney Museum of Art's INSERT COINC exhibit. And Gary catches up with director Anders Lindwall to talk about his new movie, GREEN AND GOLD.

Comix is a distinct art form—sequential art—that expresses ideas with multiple images, most often combined with text. It's a hybrid (think co-mix) and, importantly, it's a medium not a genre—don't confuse the two in the presence of a comix creator or you might get your head bit off (for a real-life dramatization, see the opening of To Teach: the journey in comics). Comics aren't just for kids anymore, and the medium has been creatively deployed to communicate non-comedic content—see Maus or Persepolis or Fun Home. They've taken over the world in this golden comix age, and you can find them everywhere—classrooms, special sections in bookstores and libraries, and, yes, still hidden in that secret drawer in the closet—and still the medium retains a sense of its insurgent origins. The word “comix” (or “comics”) is a “non-count noun” like “politics” or “economics” referring to the medium itself. We're joined by two old friends in conversation about comix and the world—Eve Ewing, poet, playwright, scholar, teacher, author of the Ironheart series for Marvel comics, and the first Black female author of the Black Panther series; and Ryan Alexander-Tanner (www.ohyesverynice.com), illustrator/comics artist and educator, co-author of To Teach: the journey in comics, and author and artist of Muhammad Ali: The Greatest Comics Biography of All Time Volume One: Cassius Clay.

Sometimes, when you're young, it feels like you're falling...constantly. You never know when you're gonna hit the ground, you never know if you're gonna start flying. Have you listened to Fun Home? Good musical, honestly my favorite. Anyway, fart sound idk.This episode contains strong language, violence, spoilers for Tears of the KingdomCommunity Note: This is a community episode! All revenue from this episode will be donated to a charity from now (or at least till we get monetized) till the end of time. This community episode will be donating to No Kid Hungry! If you have the space and capacity to do so, please considering donating to their cause at this link: https://www.nokidhungry.org/Funky Disco TimeThe Casters ARE:DM - Max KohIthealen - Will EamesHoney - Jay ChavezAmara - Kenzie WellsTheme Music is by kohmYou can support us DIRECTLY on our Patreon!You can follow us on almost all social media platforms @railroadcastersPlease like and rate the podcast as you please, everything helps.Thanks for listening! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jeanine Tesori, the Tony winning composer of “Kimberly Akimbo” and “Fun Home,” talks about her upcoming Metropolitan Opera debut, “Grounded,” and what it's like when a musical theater composer finds herself working with an 80-piece orchestra and 60-voice ensemble. Also discussed: the launch of the “Kimberly Akimbo” national tour, the revisions she and David Lindsay-Abaire made to “Shrek,” and why “Soft Power,” the musical she wrote with David Henry Hwang, is like the Renaissance Faire. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

HAMILTON  Book, Music & Lyrics by Lin-Manuel Miranda | Based on Alexander Hamilton by Ron Chernow Works Consulted & Reference :Hamilton (Original Libretto) by Lin-Manuel MirandaHamilton: The Revolution by Jeremy McCarter & Liin-Manuel Miranda Alexander Hamilton by Ron ChernowMusic Credits:"Overture" from Dear World (Original Broadway Cast Recording)  | Music by Jerry Herman | Performed by Dear World Orchestra & Donald Pippin"The Speed Test" from Thoroughly Modern Millie  (Original Broadway Cast Recording) | Music by Jeanine Tesori, Lyrics by Dick Scanlan | Performed by Marc Kudisch, Sutton Foster, Anne L. Nathan & Ensemble"Why God Why" from Miss Saigon: The Definitive Live Recording  (Original Cast Recording  / Deluxe)  | Music by Claude-Michel Schönberg, Lyrics by Alain Boublil & Richard Maltby Jr.  | Performed by Alistair Brammer"Back to Before" from Ragtime: The Musical (Original Broadway Cast Recording)  | Music by Stephen Flaherty, Lyrics by Lynn Ahrens | Performed by Marin Mazzie"Chromolume #7 / Putting It Together" from Sunday in the Park with George (Original Broadway Cast Recording)  | Music & Lyrics by Stephen Sondheim | Performed by Mandy Patinkin, Bernadette Peters, Judith Moore, Cris Groenendaal, Charles Kimbrough, William Parry, Nancy Opel, Robert Westenberg, Dana Ivey, Kurt Knudson, Barbara Bryne"What's Inside" from Waitress (Original Broadway Cast Recording)  | Music & Lyrics by Sara Bareilles | Performed by Jessie Mueller & Ensemble"Wait for It" from  Hamilton (Original Broadway Cast Recording)  | Music & Lyrics by Lin-Manuel Miranda | Performed by Leslie Odom Jr.,  Original Broadway Cast of Hamilton"Maria" from The Sound of Music (Original Soundtrack Recording)  | Music by Richard Rodgers, Lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II | Performed by Evadne Baker, Anna Lee, Portia Nelson, Marni Nixon"My Favorite Things" from The Sound of Music (Original Soundtrack Recording) | Music by Richard Rodgers, Lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II | Performed by Julie Andrews"Corner of the Sky" from Pippin (New Broadway Cast Recording) | Music & Lyrics by Stephen Schwartz | Performed by Matthew James Thomas“What Comes Next?” from Hamilton (Original Broadway Cast Recording) | Music & Lyrics by Lin-Manuel Miranda | Performed by Jonathan Groff

U Guys, this week's BroadwayWorld Recap is short and sweet, bringing you the hottest Bway tea. Then I am joined by actor and writer Joel Perez to talk about their amazing career! Joel's performance career spans genres and stages, from being part of the original Broadway cast of Fun Home, to playing opposite Sutton Foster in the off-broadway run of Sweet Charity, for which they received a Lucille Lortel Award. But what I love most about Joel is that their artistry runs so much deeper than just performing, as they are a writer and creator as well, while also being a seasoned voice actor. Joel shares about their experience growing up in a religious household, and finding their way to the world of the arts. We touch on their work in the first National Tour of In The Heights, as well as the new musical we are currently working on together at Arena Stage in Washington D.C. Joel is an absolute joy to speak to, U don't wanna miss this episode! Follow Joel on Instagram: @misterjoelperez Follow the pod on Instagram: @ohmypoduguys Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In today's podcast Sam has actor, creator and designated linklater voice teacher, Hayley Jannielli on for a juicy conversation on freeing the voice and how to reclaim your power through body and breath.    Topics Include: Journey to Finding the Voice The diaphragm and the Power Center How to voice is a vehicle for Self Expression  Unbecoming to become and Uncovering our true voice  The Habit of Playing Small  Sighing and Yawning as an energetic release  Primal Screaming Embracing the Range of Expressions   Join our 2024 Temecula Retreat July 18-21! See more info HERE or DM Sam on Instagram.   Let's connect on IG: @samanthajoharvey @fullout_podcast   Grab Sam's free POWER PORTAL GUIDEBOOK with 7 days of actionable steps to come home to you and unlock your next level.   Meet CLUB FULL OUT: The Membership your one stop shop for all things FULL OUT. Your membership includes:

In this classic episode, we discuss Alison Bechdel's graphic novel and memoir Fun Home: A Family Tragicomic and dig into themes of sexual identity, gender norms and dysfunctional family dynamics.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.