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Music by
Jeanine Tesori -
Book and Lyrics by
Lisa Kron -
Based on the Graphic Novel by
Alison Bechdel -
Directed by
Kathleen Burns -
Musical Direction by
Caelan Thomas -
Choreography by
Hillary Moulder
Adapted from Alison Bechdel’s 2006 best-selling graphic memoir of the same name, Fun Home is a Tony Award-winning musical by the celebrated musical-writing duo, Jeanine Tesori and Lisa Kron. Alison is 9, 19, and 43, trying to untangle her childhood, her family, herself.
With a soaring and dynamic score, Fun Home is, in turn, funny and heartbreaking; a refreshingly honest, wholly original musical about seeing your past and your parents through grown-up eyes.
AWARDS AND ACCOLADES
- Winner of five 2015 Tony Awards, including Best Musical, Best Score and Best Book
- Winner of two 2014 Obie Awards, including Outstanding Musical
- Finalist for the 2014 Pulitzer Prize for Drama
- Nominee for three 2019 Olivier Awards, including Best New Musical
CONTENT ADVISORY
Fun Home features young performers as part of the storytelling but is not recommended for persons under the age of 15. Fun Home contains coarse language, mature themes, references to drug use, sexual references, and depictions and discussions of suicide. It also includes the representation of a dead body and references to embalming procedures.
“A rare beauty, extraordinary and heart-gripping.” - Ben Brantley, The New York Times
“Wondrous… Tesori and Kron’s light touch lets the work soar to sky limits. It shifts remarkably between light and shade, sweet and aching moments, haunting dissonance and perfect harmony.” – The Guardian, 2021
“Fun Home is a beautiful, sensitive, insightful, innovative and heartbreaking musical, addressing themes including sexual identity, family, memory, truth and lies, and suicide… The show is ingeniously structured, using a non-linear narrative that moves back and forth in time to amplify the theme of memory and the impact of our parents and family on who we become.” – Limelight, 2021
“FIVE STARS. Fun Home has enormous intelligence and sensitivity. It's not your ordinary Broadway musical, because it is extraordinary.” – Time Out New York
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Key Dates
- 7:30pm, Friday, 9 August 2024: Accessibly Priced Preview - on sale 9.30am, Monday 5 August
- 7:30pm, Saturday, 10 August 2024: Opening night
- 6:30pm, Tuesday, 13 August 2024: Forum - a special performance where audiences get to ask cast and crew questions after the show
- 7:30pm, Wednesday, 28 August 2024: New Zealand Actors Benevolent Fund 'bucket drive'
- 2pm, Saturday, 31 August 2024: Backstage Tour
- 2pm, Saturday, 7 September 2024: Matinee
- 7:30pm, Saturday, 14 September 2024: Closing night
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Tickets
Earlybird** Standard Adult $59 $69 Senior (65+) $59 $62 Friends of The Court Theatre $59 $59 Group (10+) 10% Discount* Child (under 18) $35 Community Services, Student ID or Hāpai Access cardholders $41 *Applies to Standard Adult, Friends, Child and Senior price tickets
** Early bird price is only valid for the first two weeks of the show’s season – Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Matinees only. Early bird ticket sales close on the opening night of the show. -
Cast
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Creatives
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Band
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Chaperones
Maezee Burgess
Chaperone
Marcella Herrera
Chaperone
Jill MacGregor
Chaperone
Bradley Mutch
Chaperone
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Young Performer Schedule
Time & Date Young Performer Cast 7:30pm, Saturday 10 August Carla, Erik, Franklin 6:30pm, Tuesday 13 August Eden, Ben, Barnaby 7:30pm, Wednesday 14 August Carla, Erik, Franklin 6:30pm, Thursday 15 August Eden, Ben, Barnaby 7:30pm, Friday 16 August Carla, Erik, Franklin 7:30pm, Saturday 17 August Eden, Ben, Barnaby 6:30pm, Tuesday 20 August Carla, Erik, Franklin 7:30pm, Wednesday 21 August Eden, Ben, Barnaby 6:30pm, Thursday 22 August Carla, Erik, Franklin 7:30pm, Friday 23 August Eden, Ben, Barnaby 7:30pm, Saturday 24 August Carla, Erik, Franklin 6:30pm, Tuesday 27 August Eden, Ben, Franklin 7:30pm, Wednesday 28 August Carla, Erik, Franklin 6:30pm, Thursday 29 August Eden, Ben, Barnaby 7:30pm, Friday 30 August Eden, Erik, Franklin 7:30pm, Saturday 31 August Carla, Ben, Barnaby 6:30pm, Tuesday 3 September Carla, Erik, Franklin 7:30pm, Wednesday 4 September Eden, Ben, Barnaby 6:30pm, Thursday 5 September Carla, Erik, Franklin 7:30pm, Friday 6 September Eden, Ben, Barnaby 2:00pm, Saturday 7 September Carla, Erik, Franklin 7:30pm, Saturday 7 September Carla, Erik, Franklin 6:30pm, Tuesday 10 September Eden, Ben, Barnaby 7:30pm, Wednesday 11 September Carla, Erik, Franklin 6:30pm, Thursday 12 September Eden, Ben, Barnaby 7:30pm, Friday 13 September Carla, Erik, Franklin 7:30pm, Saturday 14 September Eden, Ben, Barnaby -
Press Reviews
"So far this year we’ve seen Something Rotten...and now Fun Home follows hot on its heels. And I mean hot. This is a show you must not miss. I hear two people sitting near me say “wow” once the second standing ovation was over."
"The Court Theatre’s New Zealand premiere production, led by director Kathleen Burns and MD Caelan Thomas, finds a careful balance between humour and pathos. After all, there’s not that many shows where a scene about embalming might be offset by a glittery fantasy musical number inspired by the Brady Bunch."
"Fun Home at The Court Theatre is a triumph of both storytelling and performance. It is a production that challenges and moves its audience, leaving a lasting impact long after the final curtain falls. Bravo to The Court Theatre for bringing this evocative and thought-provoking work to the New Zealand stage."
"If you only see one musical this year – it has to be FUN HOME at The Court Theatre."
"Fun Home is not always fun, but it is beautifully acted, thought provoking and rewarding. The story and the characters will stay in my consciousness for a long time to come."
"...I was crying, singing and checking my diary and my bank account to see when if/how I could come back and see this production again before it closes on 14 September. It’s hard to live up to an iconic show and the Fun Home team in Ōtautahi did that and more."
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Resources
Fun Home contains coarse language, mature themes, sexual references, and includes depictions and discussions of suicide, the representation of a dead body, and references to embalming procedures. Some viewers may find this content challenging.
Below is a list of some of the telephone helplines or services available which offer support, information, and help. All services are free, and are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week unless otherwise stated.
For counselling and support:
Need to talk? Free call or text 1737 any time for support from a trained counsellor
Lifeline – 0800 543 354 (0800 LIFELINE) or free text 4357 (HELP)
Samaritans – 0800 726 666
Chinese Lifeline – 0800 888 880
(for people who speak Mandarin or Cantonese)Dealing with Grief - visit the website,
(for people dealing with loss)For children and young people:
Youthline – 0800 376 633, free text 234, or email talk@youthline.co.nz
(for young people, and their parents, whānau and friends)What's Up – 0800 942 8787
(for 5–18year-olds; 1 pm to 11 pm and online chat service from 11am-10.30pm, every day including public holidays)The Lowdown – visit the website, email team@thelowdown.co.nz or free text 5626
(emails and text messages will be responded to between 12 noon and 12 midnight)Rainbow Youth - Rainbow Youth works with young people, their whānau and their wider communities to provide safe and respectful support.
SPARX – an online self-help tool that teaches young people the key skills needed to help combat depression and anxiety
For help with specific issues:
Depression.org.nz – includes The Journal free online self-help tool
OUTLine NZ – 0800 688 5463 (0800 OUTLINE)
(for sexuality or gender identity issues; 9 am to 9 pm weekdays, and 6 pm to 8 pm weekends).Alcohol Drug Helpline – 0800 787 797
(for people dealing with an alcohol or other drug problem; 10 am to 10 pm)Women's Refuge Crisis Line – 0800 733 843 (0800 REFUGE)
(for women living with violence, or in fear, in their relationship or family)Shakti Crisis Line – 0800 742 584
(for migrant or refugee women living with family violence)Rape Crisis – 0800 883 300
(for support after rape or sexual assault)Plunket Line – 0800 933 922
(support for new parents, including mothers experiencing postnatal depression)Suicide Loss - visit the website
(support for after a suicide death)For families, whānau, friends and supporters:
Skylight – 0800 299 100
(for support through trauma, loss and grief; 9 am to 5 pm weekdays)Mental Health Foundation – for more information about supporting someone in distress, looking after your mental health and working towards recovery.
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Backstage Tour
Step behind the scenes at The Court Theatre to explore a world of theatrical magic!
Everything happens on site here at our Addington Shed, from the creation of grand sets out in our workshop, to the crafting of astounding costumes you've seen in productions like Something Rotten!.
A member of our Court Theatre team will host your tour, sharing stories of past productions and giving you a real taste of what goes on behind the scenes at the South Island's largest theatre company.
The backstage tour for Fun Home will be held at 2pm on 31 August 2024. Book your tickets here.
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Audience Reviews (10)
"Just walked away after the Dress rehearsal of this show. Holy smokes the talent you have collated is IMPECCABLE. I sobbed, laughed and felt every moment. Stunning stunning stunning.""Wow wow wow. I went and saw the preview and this show totally blew me away. Such depth to all the characters and you felt the emotion as you were drawn into their stories. The cast were exceptional and the music simply delightful. The talent of the children with such mature content was amazing. They brought life and fun to the show. The young Alison had some deep emotional scenes and beautiful songs and absolutely nailed all of them. Well done to all involved. ""Absolutely stunning performance from everyone involved!""What an absolutely phenomenal show. Every single cast member was flawless. It is incredibly moving and thought provoking, while making you both laugh and cry. Do not miss this treasure of a production. ""Another home run for The Court Theatre. I knew very little about this before seeing the opening night performance - what an incredible piece of work this is. So much joy, power, story, music and humour that moved me in a way that only theatre can do. Shows like this don’t come round often. I will be telling everyone I know to go. Thank you. ""Despite being unfamiliar with “Fun Home,” the experience was thoroughly enjoyable, a powerful and engaging storyline. The whole onstage cast were just wonderful.
We enjoyed pizza and drinks in the bar before the show, adding to the overall delightful experience.
Kudos to the production team for their outstanding work in bringing this musical to life.
Overall, “Fun Home” was a highly commendable musical that deserves praise for its excellent execution.""How could "Fun Home" (the book) become a show? The MAGIC of theatre created an evening of laughter, tears, and some wonderful songs. With knockout performances from everyone involved, especially the 3 kids ... I was blown away by the quality and emotion of this production.""I loved the show. I wish I could have seen it more.""Absolute must-see. Heartbreaking and healing for anyone queer, and any daughters of dads. Fabulous cast and the kids are so talented!!! "
Amazing "