Alexandra Socha Exits Public Theater's FUN HOME, Emily Skeggs Steps in as 'Medium Alison'

The Public Theater announced today that Emily Skeggs has joined the company as Medium Alison in the hit musical FUN HOME. Alexandra Socha, who originated the role, has left the show for personal reasons. Directed by Sam Gold and featuring music by Jeanine Tesori, with book and lyrics by Lisa Kron, and based on Alison Bechdel's graphic novel, the critically acclaimed musical has been extended three times due to overwhelming demand. FUN HOME will run through Sunday, December 29 and tickets can be purchased by calling (212) 967-7555, www.publictheater.org, or in person at the Taub Box Office at The Public Theater at Astor Place at 425 Lafayette Street.

From four-time Tony Award-nominated composer Jeanine Tesori (Caroline, or Change) and Tony-nominee Lisa Kron (In The Wake, Well) comes a fresh, daring new musical based on the acclaimed graphic novel by Alison Bechdel. When her father dies unexpectedly, graphic novelist Alison dives deep into her past to tell the story of the volatile, brilliant, one-of-a-kind man whose temperament and secrets defined her family and her life. Moving between past and present, Alison relives her unique childhood playing at the family's Bechdel Funeral Home, her growing understanding of her own sexuality and the looming, unanswerable questions about her father's hidden desires. Directed by Sam Gold, FUN HOME is a groundbreaking world-premiere musical about seeing your parents through grown-up eyes.

The complete cast of FUN HOME features Griffin Birney (Christian Bechdel), Michael Cerveris (Bruce Bechdel), Roberta Colindrez (Joan), Noah Hinsdale (John Bechdel), Judy Kuhn (Helen), Sydney Lucas (Small Alison), Beth Malone (Alison),Joel Perez (Roy), and Emily Skeggs (Medium Alison).

FUN HOME is made possible with the generous support of The Ted & Mary Jo Shen Charitable Gift Fund.

FUN HOME features scenic and costume design by David Zinn; lighting design by Ben Stanton; sound design by Kai Harada; projection design by Jim Findlay and Jeff Sugg; wig design by Paul Huntley; music direction by Chris Fenwick; and choreography by Danny Mefford.

Emily Skeggs (Medium Alison) has been seen Off-Broadway in Take Me Along at the Irish Repertory Theatre, directed by Charlotte Moore. Regionally, she has appeared in Our Town at The Huntington, directed by David Cromer, and The Shakespearean Jazz Show at the NOLA Shakespeare Festival at ArtsEmerson. Her additional credits include Macbeth; Dancing at Lughnasa; Robinhood; Much Ado About Nothing; The Actor; The Bluest Eye; The Golden Age; Six Characters...; and Common Ground.

Sam Gold (Director) directed the Public Lab run of Fun Home for The Public, and his Broadway directing credits include Picnicand Seminar. His other recent credits include The Cradle Will Rock (City Center Encores Series); The Flick (Playwrights Horizons; Lortel nom.); Uncle Vanya (Soho Rep, Drama Desk nom.); The Realistic Joneses (Yale Rep., CT Critics Circle Award); The Big Meal (Playwrights Horizons, Lortel Award); Look Back in Anger (Roundabout, Lortel nom.); Circle Mirror Transformation (Playwrights Horizons; Drama Desk nomination, Obie Award); and The Aliens (Rattlestick, Obie Award). He is a graduate of the Juilliard Directing Program, NYTW Usual Suspect, Drama League Directing Fellow, recipient of the Princess Grace Award and Resident Director at Roundabout Theatre Company.

Jeanine Tesori (Music). Her Public Theater credits include Fun Home, Mother Courage, and the 2012 Gala reading ofRomeo and Juliet. Her Broadway credits include Twelfth Night; Thoroughly Modern Millie; Caroline, or Change; and Shrek the Musical. Her Off-Broadway credits include Violet, written with Brian Crawley, and John Guare's A Free Man of Color. For the opera she has written A Blizzard on Marblehead, with a libretto by Tony Kushner; The Lion, The Unicorn, and Me, with libretto by J.D. McClatchy, premiering this December at the Kennedy Center. Her film credits include Nights in Rodanthe, Every Day, You're Not You. She is the Artistic Director for Off-Center, a new Encores! summer series for the New York City Center.

Lisa Kron (Book and Lyrics) is a playwright and performer whose plays include In The Wake; Well; 2.5 Minute Ride for The Public, and The Ver**zon Play. Kron is also reprising her roles as Mrs. Mi-Tzu and Mrs. Yang in the Foundry Theatre's production of Good Person of Szechwan, directed by Lear deBessonet, at The Public Theater. Her honors include Guggenheim, Lortel, Lark, Sundance, and NEA/TCG Fellowships; a Creative Capital Grant; Helen Merrill Award; Alpert Award. She is a founding member of the Obie and Bessie Award-winning theatre company, The Five Lesbian Brothers. She is on the faculty of the Yale School of Drama.