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

Lyrics
Conceived By
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
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

Plot

Characters

Name Part Size Gender Vocal Part

Billy Cane

Lead

Male

Tenor

Jimmy Ray Dobbs

Lead

Male

Tenor

Alice Murphy

Lead

Female

Mezzo-Soprano

Mayor Josiah Dobbs

Supporting

Male

Baritone

Margo Crawford

Supporting

Female

Soprano

Stanford Adams

Featured

Male

Baritone, Tenor

Government Clerk

Featured

Either Gender

Non-singer

Florence

Featured

Female

Mezzo-Soprano

Edna

Featured

Female

Mezzo-Soprano

Max

Featured

Male

Non-singer

Dr. Norquist

Featured

Male

Non-singer

Mama Murphy

Featured

Female

Mezzo-Soprano

Daddy Murphy

Featured

Male

Baritone

Daddy Cane

Featured

Male

Tenor

Lucy Grant

Featured

Female

Soprano

Darryl Ames

Featured

Male

Tenor, Baritone

Ensemble

Ensemble

Either Gender

Soprano, Mezzo-Soprano, Alto, Tenor, Baritone, Bass

Songs

Act I

Act II

A song with an asterisk (*) before the title indicates a dance number.

Monologues

All monologues are the property and copyright of their owners.. Monologues are presented on StageAgent for educational purposes only. If you would like to give a public performance of this monologue, please obtain authorization from the appropriate licensor.

Scenes

All scenes are the property and copyright of their owners. Scenes are presented on StageAgent for educational purposes only. If you would like to give a public performance of this scene, please obtain authorization from the appropriate licensor.

Key Terms

    A cultural region in the eastern U.S. known for its folklore and music, often represented in theatre to convey authenticity and resilience.

    A genre of American roots music featuring banjos and harmonies, sometimes used in theatre to evoke rural or regional identity.

    A character arc is the journey of personal growth, change, or transformation that a character undergoes throughout a play or musical. It often involves overcoming internal or external obstacles, leading to a deeper understanding of oneself or others. Strong arcs help audiences connect emotionally with characters and give structure to the overall narrative.

    A storytelling structure in which a narrative unfolds across two distinct time periods, often weaving together past and present to reveal connections, contrasts, or hidden truths. This technique allows audiences to see how earlier events influence later outcomes, deepening themes of cause and effect. It also creates dramatic tension by gradually disclosing information across parallel storylines

    Traditional music that tells stories of everyday life and struggles, frequently featured in historical and cultural dramas.

    A traditional story passed orally across generations, often forming the basis for theatrical adaptations in world theatre.

    A unit set is a single stage setting that is used throughout a play, rather than changing locations with each scene. It provides a continuous environment that can be adapted with lighting, props, or minimal adjustments to suggest different times or moods. Unit sets are often chosen for their practicality and ability to focus attention on the actors and dialogue.

Videos

Quizzes

Themes, Symbols & Motifs

Quote Analysis

Guide Written By:

Cindi Calhoun

Cindi Calhoun

Theatre teacher, director, writer, and seamstress

Emma Houlahan

Emma Houlahan

Canadian vocalist and actor now based in London.