Chris Coleman on "Fun Home"
Why did Fun Home seem like the perfect show to kick off our 30th anniversary season?
I had a chance to see the original incarnation at The Public Theater in New York and was just knocked out by how inventive the piece was. It manages to be charming and funny and heartbreaking and haunting within the same 90 minutes.
For those who have been living under a rock, tell us a little about Fun Home and why you’re drawn to the story.
The show is inspired by Alison Bechdel’s graphic novel of the same name, which is a memoir of sorts. Alison is the most famous lesbian cartoonist in the country, okay, probably the world. She found herself as an adult, stuck artistically, and suspected that her impasse might relate to her father’s passing when she was in college. The story is an emotional excavation of sorts. I think it’s one of the smartest, freshest pieces of writing we’ve seen in the musical theater genre.
What is your favorite song or moment in the show?
I will give too much away by sharing that.
Talk a little about what you and the creative team have planned visually for our production. What are some of the challenges for staging this story?
There are many locations and three different time periods that you have to navigate between instantaneously. And the action feels poetic and lyrical – so you want the whole thing to flow effortlessly. Bill Bloodgood (Oklahoma!, Sweeney Todd and many others at The Armory) has devised three different sections of the stage that will allow scenery to float on and off elegantly, and it’s all nestled in a series of panels (not unlike those in a graphic novel) that collectively form the Bechdel house, but also provide fragment’s of Alison’s memories.
What are some highlights from your trip to New York to cast the show? How are you feeling about the cast you’ve assembled?
The music is gorgeous but difficult. And the story wants actors who can just live inside it invisibly. It’s not a classic presentational musical. So finding performers who are terrific musicians but also nuanced, truthful actors was the challenge. I am beyond thrilled with the folks we found. Including the kids who are from here in Portland.
More about Fun Home:
"Fun Home" Inspired Art
Inspired by cartoonist Alison Bechdel, we partnered with Helioscope and invited local cartoonists and illustrators to watch Fun Home.
Reviews of "Fun Home"
"The show packs a satisfying emotional punch without tying everything up with a bow. It’s beautiful and messy and complex. Just like our families."
"Fun Home" Cast and Creative Team
Learn about the dynamite cast and creative team we've assembled for Fun Home.
Introducing the cast of "Fun Home"
Artistic Director Chris Coleman introduces you to the cast of Fun Home!
Current & Upcoming
Improvisation Classes for Beginners
Whether you're looking to get more confident in social situations, think quicker on your feet, or get in touch with your imaginative side, these "one-off" improv classes will set you on the path to success!
Adult Class : TWELFTH NIGHT, Before & After
Join veteran actor Joe Costa for a unique opportunity to take a “deep dive” into both Shakespeare’s text of Twelfth Night, and the PCS Production. Participants will read the play out loud as a group, with “intermissions” provided for lively discussion of themes and content. Interested participants will have a chance to act in selected scenes, guided by the instructor.
Improv Comedy: Love, Shakespeare
Witness the Magic of unscripted Elizabethan comedy! Step into the offbeat world of Love, Shakespeare, where seasoned Portland comedians attempt something audacious: performing a fully improvised Elizabethan play based on your suggestions!
Albina Music Trust presents A Brown Branch Christmas
Celebrate this holiday season with A Brown Branch Christmas at Portland Center Stage. Now in its fourth season, this two-night big band celebration features directors Domo Branch and Charlie Brown III guiding a heavy 15-piece lineup of regional and national musicians.
BIPOC Affinity Night DJ Party with ALoSo
Join us for a double feature BIPOC Affinity Night, featuring a live DJ set by ALoSo, plus holiday craft market vendor tables, art exhibits by Albina Music Trust Wall to Wall Sound and Jason Hill's Favorite Things, with complimentary select drinks provided by Multnomah Whiskey Library and Deschutes Brewery while supplies last.
Winter Teen Academy: Scene Work
Calling all teens! Are you looking to expand your acting skills and be the best scene partner you can be for your fellow actors? In this class, we will dig deep into scene study, character motivation, and active listening, while learning the necessary questions to ask in every rehearsal situation. You'll develop fuller characters and deeper relationships on stage by partnering in scene work — and have lots of fun too!
Portland Center Stage is committed to identifying & interrupting instances of racism & all forms of oppression, through the principles of inclusion, diversity, equity, & accessibility (IDEA).
Season Superstars
Season Supporting Sponsors
