Theater openings: 'Fun Home,' 'The Landing'

Even if it does not ultimately move to Broadway, Jeanine Tesori and Lisa Kron's "Fun Home," based on Alison Bechdel's graphic novel, may prove to be the most beautiful and groundbreaking new musical of the season. It features a fascinating setup of an adult woman viewing herself as a child and teenager (three actresses are employed for this effect), terrific music by Tesori and multilayered performances from Michael Cerveris, Judy Kuhn and others.

Veteran composer John Kander ("Chicago," "Cabaret"), whose partner Fred Ebb passed away in 2004, has now partnered up with lyricist-book writer Greg Pierce for this flimsy but heartfelt trio of family-oriented one-act musicals with a cast of four led by David Hyde Pierce. While the show fails to land, Kander, 86, deserves a lot of credit for his willingness to start from scratch with a new collaborator.