Who’s Who: Fun Home Cast

LAURA MARIE DUNCAN* (Helen Bechdel) is thrilled to be making her SpeakEasy debut. She is a Massachusetts native and a proud graduate of The Boston Conservatory. Broadway credits include the original companies of The Full Monty, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, and South Pacific at Lincoln Center, as well as the final 16 months of Billy Eliott. Laura Marie also starred as Christine in the first national tour of Dirty Rotten Scoundrels. Off-Broadway credits include Cupid and Psyche (Houseman Theatre); La Terrasse, An Experiment with an Air Pump, House and Garden (Manhattan Theatre Club), Heat Lightning (Kirk Theatre) and The Body Beautiful (York Theatre). She has also had the privilege of working extensively with musical director Ted Sperling on concerts at the 92nd St. Y in NYC, as well as in St. Petersburg, Russia. Laura Marie has also enjoyed working regionally at Santa Barbara Civic Light Opera, New Repertory, and North Shore Music Theatre. Television credits include Law and Order, Law and Order: SVU, Ed, and Guiding Light. Things coming full circle as they do, Laura Marie is now enjoying the next phase of her career as an Associate Professor at The Boston Conservatory at Berklee, where she teaches senior musical theatre and directs the senior showcase in NYC.

LUKE GOLD (John Bechdel) is so excited to be making his SpeakEasy debut with Fun Home. Professional credits include Mame (North Shore Music Theatre); Beauty and the Beast (Wheelock Family Theatre); Billy Elliot, Oliver!, Singin’ in the Rain, and A Christmas Carol (Palace Theatre, Manchester, NH). Favorite youth theatre credits: Addams Family Young@Part, Seussical Jr., All Shook Up Young@Part, The Sound of Music, and Disney’s Jungle Book Kids! Luke thanks his friends and family for all the love and support, especially Dad, Mom, T, and Joey!

DESIRÉ GRAHAM (Joan) is delighted and tickled pynk to be making her SpeakEasy debut in Fun Home. Previously she’s appeared in O.W.I.’s Boston premiere of Red Velvet as Connie. She is a recent graduate of Boston University’s School of Theatre where she garnered credits such as Imperceptible Mutabilities in the Third Kingdom, Baltimore, Cabaret, and Gem of the Ocean. Thank you, Alison Bechdel, for your graphic novel and your story.

AMY JO JACKSON* (Alison). Previous SpeakEasy: Nine; Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson [Elliot Norton & IRNE nominations]. In NYC: EPBB, The Flea, Prospect, EST, UCB, The PIT. Selected Regional: The Little Mermaid (Arkansas Rep); The Wizard of Oz (Syracuse Stage); Boeing Boeing (Seven Angels); Midsummer (W.H.A.T.); Cymbeline (Opera House Arts); Noises Off (Lake Dillon). Amy Jo is also an accomplished text and dialect coach (Kinky Boots – Broadway, First National Tour and Toronto companies) and cabaret artist who has performed in many of NYC’s clubs (Feinstein’s/54 Below, Joe’s Pub, The Green Room 42, The Duplex, Littlefield, Laurie Beechman, Caveat). BFA: Boston Conservatory.

CAMERON LEVESQUE (Christian Bechdel) is thrilled to make his SpeakEasy debut! Other select regional credits include Merrily We Roll Along [2018 IRNE Nomination—Promising Young Performer] (Huntington Theatre Company); Mame [2016 ArtsImpulse Award—Best Student Actor] (Greater Boston Stage Company); Priscilla, Queen of the Desert (Fiddlehead Theatre Company); Carousel (Reagle Music Theatre); Mary Poppins [2017 IRNE Nomination—Promising Young Performer] (Wheelock Family Theatre); A Christmas Carol (Hanover Theatre); The Wizard of Oz (Metrowest Family Theatre); and The Who’s Tommy (Turtle Lane Playhouse). He has starred in Billy Elliot and Newsies, both performed through Weston Drama Workshop. Cameron can also be heard in Family Time Audio Theatre’s recording of Jimmy and the Star Angel.

MADI SHAER (u/s Small Alison, Christian Bechdel, and John Bechdel) is thrilled to make her SpeakEasy debut in Fun Home. Regional credits include Mary Poppins (Paper Mill Playhouse); Gypsy (Cape Playhouse); Billy Elliot (Wheelock Family Theatre); A Christmas Carol (Hanover Theatre); and Carousel (Reagle). Her favorite roles include the title role in Annie, Jane Banks in Mary Poppins, and Young Cosette in Les Misérables. Special thanks to Paul, Matt, the Fun Home creative team and cast, Eva, Denise, Sue, and Barry. Lots of love to family, teachers, and friends for their endless support and encouragement.

TYLER SIMAHK* (Roy/Mark/Pete/Bobby Jeremy) was last seen at SpeakEasy as Frank Suzuki in Allegiance. Tour: Sister Act International (Asia). Regional: Lyric Stage Company, Ogunquit Playhouse, Gateway Playhouse, Reagle Music Theatre. BFA: Emerson College.

MARISSA SIMEQI (Small Alison) is very pleased to make her SpeakEasy debut. She is an IRNE Award winner and a sixth grader at Doherty Middle School in Andover. This is her third professional show. Previously she appeared at Gloucester Stage as Little Lucie in Madame Defarge and at Greater Boston Stage Company as Estelle in Gabriel. She has also appeared in many shows with Greater Boston Stage’s Young Company. She would like to thank Mom and Dad, Dossy Peabody, and Jennifer Sgroe.

ELLIE VAN AMERONGEN (Medium Alison) is incredibly excited to be back at SpeakEasy doing a show she holds so close to her heart. She was previously seen in Men on Boats last fall as Seneca Howland. Ellie graduated from The Boston Conservatory at Berklee in May where she studied Musical Theater with an emphasis in songwriting. You can find her music on SoundCloud or on YouTube. Ellie would like to thank her family, her teachers, and her girlfriend for their endless support. Check out her website here!

TODD YARD (Bruce Bechdel) is excited to be making his SpeakEasy debut. Previous credits include Barnum (PT Barnum) and The Wild Party (Burrs) with Moonbox Productions; Company (David) and Gypsy (Uncle Jocko) at Lyric Stage; Man of La Mancha (The Governor) at New Repertory Theatre; A Little Night Music (Fredrik) at NextDoor Theater; Carousel (Jigger) and Oklahoma! (Ali Hakim) at Reagle Music Theatre; and La Cage Aux Folles (Albin) and Ragtime (Tateh) at The Umbrella. Todd is a graduate of Mountview Academy of Theatre Arts in London.