Anybody remember the musical Legally Blonde that came out on broadway in 2007? One of the cast members will be back onstage in a very different role. Kate Shindle, who portrayed the role of Elle’s nemesis Vivienne, will be portraying Alison Bechdel in the tour of Fun Home. Kate has also had the pleasure of being Miss America in 1998 and Miss Illinois in 1997. She has replaced her beauty queen look to a snazzy pixie cut and a red t-shirt with a baggy pair of jeans.

Fun Home is the 2015 Tony award-winning musical that introduces the real life story of Alison Bechdel, author of the graphic novel Fun Home and her childhood. Alison grew up in a small town in Pennsylvania with her family, including her father who ran a funeral home. Fun Home starts off with Alison remembering herself when she was young and how she didn't fit in with the other girls in her town. Later on in the show, you see her as a middle aged college student who realizes she is a lesbian after she meets someone who’s just like her. The best part of the show is when the eldest Alison is on stage the whole time narrating her entire life and remembering her relationship with her father after he commits suicide at the end.

Fun Home has it’s emotional standpoints through on out but also delivers a beautiful message about how important love and family is to the audience. You understand why Alison and her father were always close because they both had something in common, but only one of them was comfortable to embrace it to the public. The reason I believe Fun Home will be a great show for Kate is when you hear the music or see the characters come to life, you have an immediate connection to the show and the cast mates because so many different emotions are surrounding you at once. I would picture Alison Bechdel’s character in Fun Home to be a dream role because you never leave the stage, you're in comfortable clothes, and you get an excuse to cut your hair to a short but cute pixie cut. I hope to get a chance to see Kate take on this fabulous role for the Fun Home Tour for 2016 - 2017.