Bright Star

Inspired by a real event and featuring the Grammy-nominated score by Steven Martin and Edie Brickell, Broadway’s Bright Star tells a sweeping tale of love and redemption set against the rich backdrop of the American South in the 1920s and ’40s. When literary editor Alice Murphy meets a young soldier just home from World War II, he awakens her longing for the child she once lost. Haunted by their unique connection, Alice sets out on a journey to understand her past – and what she finds has the power to transform both of their lives. Propelled by an ensemble of onstage musicians and dancers, the story unfolds as a rich tapestry of deep emotion, beautiful melodies and powerfully moving performances. An uplifting theatrical journey that holds you tight in its grasp, Bright Star is as refreshingly genuine as it is daringly hopeful.

Alice Murphy – plays both 16-17 and 36-37. Alice at age 36-37 is an editor of a southern literary magazine; intelligent, attractive, professional – but with an air of melancholy. Young Alice at age 16-17 is rebellious, high-spirited, adventurous – looking to break out of small-town life and experience the world. She must be very strong singer and comfortable in folk and bluegrass styles.

Billy Cane – a young soldier returning home from WWII; an aspiring young writer; fresh, open, optimistic, charming, and a little naïve.

Daddy Cane – Billy’s father. A widower. Spry, good looking. Kind hearted, if a bit lonely.

Margo Crawford – a small-town bookstore owner; a childhood friend of Billy’s who now harbors romantic feelings towards him; a natural beauty with a keen intellect.

Max – a customer at Margo’s bookstore, at first, he has a crush on Margo, but later becomes Edna’s beau.

Florence – an employee at Margo’s bookstore and a childhood friend of both Billy and Margo.

Edna – an employee at Margo’s bookstore.

Daryl Ames – An assistant at a literary magazine. Funny, with a dry and officious sense of humor. Insecure, and perhaps a bit socially awkward, but endearing and innately likeable.

Lucy Grant – A junior editor at a literary magazine. An ambitious, professional young “modern” career woman of the 1940’s. Strong, forthright and provocative with a sharp sense of humor.

Mama Murphy – Alice’s mother. A caretaker to her family and her rural community. A warm, loving, sensible woman. Hardworking, with great inner strength and compassion.

Daddy Murphy – Alice’s father; an authoritative and a stern disciplinarian; devoutly religious, hard-working, a poor but proud farmer.

Mayor Josiah Dobbs – the Mayor of Zebulon; a political and financial powerbroker – distinguished, an imposing and controlling presence; has a genuine interest in protecting his son’s future and his family name, but in doing so, is ultimately pushed to a point of extreme and irrevocable cruelty.

Jimmy Ray Dobbs – plays both age 18-20 and 38-40. Jimmy Ray in his early 20s in flashbacks is Mayor Dobbs’ son and young Alice’s beau; handsome, boyishly charming, well-built and intelligent; from a family of wealth and power and is being groomed by his father for a similar future in the family business; an independent thinker who is not afraid to stand up to his father for what he believes in; he has a sense of personal responsibility and morality as well as a deep reserve of passion and emotion. The same actor will also play an adult Jimmy Ray at age 38-40.

Stanford – Loyal assistant to Mayor Josiah Dobbs

Dr. Norquist – The local family doctor in Zebulon

Government Clerk – A clerk at the Office of Records in Raleigh

Well-Dressed Woman – A woman (38-40) living in Raleigh.

10 Musicians

Piano-Conductor (Piano, Accordion)

Keyboard (Keyboard, Accordion, Autoharp)

Guitar (Acoustic, Archtop Electric)

Mandolin (Mandolin, Guitar)

Banjo (Banjo, Long Neck Banjo, Guitar)

Violin/Viola

Cello

Upright Bass

Drums

Fiddle

Percussion list: (Bass drum with foot pedal, snare drum, floor tom, cajon, very small cajon, djembe, one pair hi hat cymbals, 2 suspended cymbals, 1 medium ride cymbal, Hi Hat, 3 cymbal stands, Mark Tree, Tambourine, Egg Shaker, Small metal tube shaker, Small triangle, 1 pair finger cymbals, Black Jam block, Wooden Musical Spoons, 18” Remo Frame drum, Thigh slap sound, a variety of different brushes, mallets, triangle beaters, medium broomsticks, Vader Cajon sticks, Regal Conga mallets, soft suspended cymbal mallets)