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Overview
Synopsis
Bright Star is the story of one woman at two different points in her life: the first, when she is a wild young thing growing up barefoot and carefree in the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina; the second, when she is a well-to-do magazine editor in Asheville, 22 years later. Her story is inevitably woven with that of an idealistic young man named Billy, with whom she shares a mysterious connection. As a young teen in Zebulon, North Carolina, Alice Murphy is hopelessly in love with small town heartthrob Jimmy Ray, the mayor’s son. Although their love was pure, it falls victim to the interference of ambitious parents, and their infant son is whisked away before their happy ending could ever begin. More than two decades later, Alice is the successful editor of The Asheville Southern Journal, and meets a promising young writer named Billy. Eventually they realize that they share a hometown, and when Alice sees the handmade sweater she knitted for her baby 20 years before in his personal belongings, she realizes that he is the son she lost so long ago. Their happiness is compounded at the end of the story with a Shakespeare-esque double wedding. Bright Star opened to generally positive reviews and closed after 139 performances. The cast recording was nominated for the 2017 Grammy Award for Best Musical Theater Album.
Show Information
- Book
- Steve Martin
- Music
- Steve Martin , Edie Brickell
- Lyrics
- Edie Brickell
- Conceived By
- Edie Brickell , Steve Martin
- Category
- Musical
- Age Guidance
- Thirteen Plus (PG-13)
- Number of Acts
- 2
- First Produced
- 2016
- Genres
- Comedy, Romance
- Settings
- Period, Multiple Settings
- Time & Place
- Blue Ridge Mountains, North Carolina, Asheville, 1923, 1945
- Cast Size
- large
- Orchestra Size
- Medium
- Dancing
- Some Dance
- Licensor
- Theatrical Rights Worldwide
- Ideal For
- College/University, Community Theatre, High School, Professional Theatre, Regional Theatre, Mostly Male Cast, Includes Young Adult, Adult, Mature Adult, Late Teen, Elderly Characters, Large Cast
Context
In 2013, Steve Martin and Edie Brickell collaborated on a bluegrass album called Love Has Come For You. One of the songs, “Sarah Jane and the Iron Mountain Baby” was based on a true event. In 1902, William Helms found a valise below the Iron Mountain and Southern Railway in St. Louis. Inside the valise was a baby, injured, but alive. Helms and his wife adopted the child, and the story inspired “The Ballad of the Iron Mountain Baby,” written by the Reverend J.T. Barton.
After the success of
to read the context for Bright Star and to unlock other amazing theatre resources!Plot
Act One
In 1945, Alice Murphy invites the audience into her world, knowing that it is unbelievable, but declaring that it is true (“If You Knew My Story”).
The scene shifts to Billy Cane’s home near Hayes Creek. He has just returned from fighting in World War II, and happily greets his father and childhood friend Margo. Billy has been sending her stories from overseas, and she has been editing them for publication to support Billy’s dreams of being a writer. The young man calls for his
to read the plot for Bright Star and to unlock other amazing theatre resources!Characters
| Name | Part Size | Gender | Vocal Part |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Lead |
Male |
Tenor |
|
|
Lead |
Female |
Mezzo-Soprano |
|
|
Lead |
Male |
Tenor |
|
|
Supporting |
Male |
Baritone |
|
|
Supporting |
Female |
Soprano |
|
|
Featured |
Female |
Mezzo-Soprano |
|
|
Featured |
Male |
Baritone |
|
|
Featured |
Male |
Tenor |
|
|
Featured |
Female |
Soprano |
|
|
Featured |
Male |
Tenor, Baritone |
|
|
Featured |
Male |
Baritone, Tenor |
|
|
Featured |
Either Gender |
Non-singer |
|
|
Featured |
Female |
Mezzo-Soprano |
|
|
Featured |
Female |
Mezzo-Soprano |
|
|
Featured |
Male |
Non-singer |
|
|
Featured |
Male |
Non-singer |
|
|
Ensemble |
Either Gender |
Soprano, Mezzo-Soprano, Alto, Tenor, Baritone, Bass |
Songs
Act One
- If You Knew My Story- Alice and Ensemble
- She’s Gone- Daddy Cane and Billy
- Bright Star- Billy and Ensemble
- Way Back in the Day- Alice and Ensemble
- Whoa, Mama- Jimmy, Alice, and Ensemble
- Firmer Hand/Do Right- Daddy Murphy, Mama Murphy, Alice, and Ensemble
- A Man’s Gotta Do- Mayor Dobbs and Jimmy
- Asheville- Margo and Ensemble
- *Picnic Dance- Stanford, Ensemble
- What Could Be Better- Jimmy, Alice, and Ensemble
- I Can’t Wait- Alice, Jimmy, and Ensemble
- Please, Don’t Take Him- Mayor Dobbs, Alice, Daddy Murphy, Mama Murphy, Stanford Adams, and Ensemble
- A Man’s Gotta Do (Reprise)- Mayor Dobbs and Ensemble
Act Two
- Entr’acte- Orchestra
- Sun’s Gonna Shine- Alice, Mama Murphy, Margo, Daddy Cane, Edna, Florence, and Ensemble
- Heartbreaker- Jimmy
- *Another Round- Lucy, Darryl, Billy, and Ensemble
- I Had a Vision- Alice and Jimmy
- Always Will- Billy, Margo, and Ensemble
- I Can’t Wait (Reprise)- Ensemble
- So Familiar- Alice and Ensemble
- At Long Last- Alice and Ensemble
- Finale- Ensemble
A song with an asterisk (*) before the title indicates a dance number; a character listed in a song with an asterisk (*) by the character's name indicates that the character exclusively serves as a dancer in this song, which is sung by other characters.
Monologues
Scenes
Key Terms
A mountainous region in the eastern United States that stretches from New York to northern Alabama and Georgia.
Genre of American music developed in the Appalachian region in the 1940s. Bluegrass uses acoustic strings, often including a banjo, and has its roots in folk ballads, country music, and jazz.
Genre of music inspired by oral traditions and often without a specific composer, sharing stories of national or cultural identity. Folk music is regional and found worldwide.
A story originating in popular culture, typically passed on by word of mouth.
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Guide Written By:
Cindi Calhoun
Theatre teacher, director, writer, and seamstress
Emma Houlahan
Canadian vocalist and actor now based in London.
