ASU Gammage continues book club scavenger hunt with 'Fun Home'

ASU Gammage hid copies of "Fun Home" around town as part of its second book club. The musical of the same name runs Sept. 5-10 at ASU Gammage.

By Emi Kamezaki |
August 23, 2017

Back by popular demand, ASU Gammage’s second “Book Club” has graphic novel lovers and musical theater fiends searching the Valley for a free copy of Alison Bechdel’s best-selling graphic memoir, “Fun Home.”

Based on Bechdel’s novel of the same name, ASU Gammage will kick off its 2017-2018 Broadway season with five-time Tony Award-winning musical, "Fun Home."

In anticipation of the show, which runs Sept. 5–10 at the iconic Tempe venue, ASU Gammage has hidden several copies of the novel throughout Tempe and Phoenix.

“At ASU Gammage, our mission is connecting communities, and that’s the objective of the ASU Gammage Book Club,” said Erica Lin, digital marketing specialist for ASU Gammage. “It’s a fun way to get the community excited about reading and the performing arts.”

The organization initiated the book club by hiding copies of "The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Nighttime" in June, to align with that play's run at ASU Gammage as well.

Some are hidden in Little Free Libraries, miniature outdoor libraries created as part of a neighborhood book-exchange program. Others are hidden in coffee shops, parks and other unexpected locations.

Anyone is welcome to pick up a copy, read it, then pass it on to the next literature aficionado. Each teal book is marked with a red sticker explaining this process.

Individuals who find a copy of the novel can post photos and share their experience on social media with the hashtag #ASUGammageBookClub.

Both the “tragicomic” and stage performance tell the unique tale of Alison’s dysfunctional family through intimate, and emotional theatrical story-telling.

The musical allows audience members to peer through Alison’s own perspective as she reflects on her journey to self-acceptance and seeing her parents through grown-up eyes.

The musical "Fun Home" has been awarded numerous accolades for its cathartic storyline, including the 2015 Tony Award for Best Musical.

Tickets to "Fun Home" are on sale now at asugammage.com and the ASU Gammage Box Office.