'Fun Home,' the Tony-winning musical based on a lesbian's memoir, comes to Segerstrom Center

July 27, 2017 4 PM PT

Kate Shindle was performing concerts on a cruise ship in the Bahamas when a theater colleague suggested she see a Broadway musical about the life of a lesbian, with a book and original score by two women.

That year, the actress attended the 2015 Tony Awards and learned more about “Fun Home,” the musical that received 12 nominations and five awards — the most of any show that year.

“I saw the show and thought, ‘I want that job,’ ” Shindle said. “I was really determined because this piece of theater was particularly important.”

Two years later, Shindle is playing the role she wanted in “Fun Home’s” first national tour, running Aug 1-6 at Segerstrom Center for the Arts.

The musical is based on author Alison Bechdel’s 2006 best-selling graphic memoir, which explores her 1970s childhood in rural Pennsylvania.

Audiences follow Alison at three different ages as she explores and unravels the many mysteries of her childhood that connect with her in surprisingly new ways. She focuses on her relationship with her father, Bruce, a funeral director and high school English teacher who obsesses over restoring the family’s Victorian house. Bruce, a closeted gay man who struggled with his orientation, committed suicide.

The musical chronicles Alison’s own struggle with her sexual identity and coming out to her parents.

Shindle plays Alison during her third stage of life — a grown woman reflecting on the family drama.

“I’m sensitive to the fact that Alison is an ally to the LBGTQ community, and there’s only so much of her life that I can understand,” Shindle said. “I’ve never had that experience, and there’s a certain amount that you can understand, and I try to be aware of that.”

Of Alison Bechdel, Shindle says, “She’s great — nothing but awesome.”

“Fun Home” marks the largest tour Shindle has done.

She was crowned Miss America in 1998, Miss Illinois in 1997 and voted president of the Actors’ Equity Assn. in May 2015 — the youngest person and the third woman to hold the office for the labor union, which represents more than 50,000 actors and stage managers nationwide.

“Fun Home” is considered groundbreaking, as it not only was the first time a Broadway show had a lesbian leading role, but it also was the first show written exclusively by women to win Best Musical. Playwright and lyricist Lisa Kron and composer and music arranger Jeanine Tesori became the first female writing team to win Best Score.

The show opened on Broadway at the Circle in the Square Theatre, following its sold-out run at The Public Theater and it went on to win Best Musical, Best Score, Best Book, Best Direction and Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role at the Tony Awards.

“This show is tremendously meaningful to me,” Shindle said. “It’s amazing. Kids will come to the stage door, shaking and crying. They haven’t seen something that reflects their life. Plenty of people come up and say, ‘I’m not gay, my dad’s not gay,’ but they can see themselves in it and how it relates to families. It’s universal.”