Overview:
Based on a true story and featuring the breathtaking Bluegrass tunes of powerhouse duo Steve Martin and Edie Brickell, Bright Star is a powerful tale of love, loss, and hope set in the American South. Switching between the 1920s and the 1940s, the play centers around Alice Murphy (Senior Camryn Webber), a youthful free spirit at age sixteen and a well-respected magazine editor in her adulthood. Alice’s story unfolds in both decades as audiences see how the events of her youth shape her into the woman who she grows up to be.
When young soldier Billy Cane (Freshman Garrett Hilton) arrives back home after his time in World War II, he decides that it is finally time to follow his lifelong dream - to “follow his own bright star” and become a writer. Encouraged by his father (Freshman Joseph Droney) and his oldest friend Margo (Senior Genevieve Elliott), Billy travels to Asheville where he plans to do anything it takes to get himself published in the Asheville Southern Journal. Billy is faced by a number of roadblocks, including the journal’s assistant editors Daryl (Sophomore Massan Jensen) and Lucy (Senior Alexia Strong) and Alice Murphy’s own impossibly high standards as the lead editor of the publication. Something about Billy sticks with Alice though, making her think back to her younger years and the obstacles that she faced. These struggles included her strained relationship with her own parents (Freshman Johnathan Shaw and Senior McKelvie Jensen) and her whirlwind romance with Jimmy Ray Dobbs (Senior Jacob Eskildsen) the son of the town’s morally bankrupt Mayor (Senior Collin Cummings), who questioned the impact the match would have on Jimmy’s prospects in life and, by extension, the legacy that he worked so hard to build. These tensions and their shocking outcomes have a critical and lasting impact on Alice and the person she becomes.
When young soldier Billy Cane (Freshman Garrett Hilton) arrives back home after his time in World War II, he decides that it is finally time to follow his lifelong dream - to “follow his own bright star” and become a writer. Encouraged by his father (Freshman Joseph Droney) and his oldest friend Margo (Senior Genevieve Elliott), Billy travels to Asheville where he plans to do anything it takes to get himself published in the Asheville Southern Journal. Billy is faced by a number of roadblocks, including the journal’s assistant editors Daryl (Sophomore Massan Jensen) and Lucy (Senior Alexia Strong) and Alice Murphy’s own impossibly high standards as the lead editor of the publication. Something about Billy sticks with Alice though, making her think back to her younger years and the obstacles that she faced. These struggles included her strained relationship with her own parents (Freshman Johnathan Shaw and Senior McKelvie Jensen) and her whirlwind romance with Jimmy Ray Dobbs (Senior Jacob Eskildsen) the son of the town’s morally bankrupt Mayor (Senior Collin Cummings), who questioned the impact the match would have on Jimmy’s prospects in life and, by extension, the legacy that he worked so hard to build. These tensions and their shocking outcomes have a critical and lasting impact on Alice and the person she becomes.
CastAlice Murphy - Camryn Webber
Billy Cane - Garrett Hilton Daddy Cane - Joseph Droney Margo Crawford - Genevieve Elliott Max - Kyle Wheeler Edna - Emmaleigh Stempien/Meredith Hanley Florence - Meredith Hanley/Emmaleigh Stempien Daryl Ames - Massan Jensen Lucy Grant - Alexia Strong Jimmy Ray Dobbs - Jacob Eskildsen Daddy Murphy - Johnathan Shaw Mama Murphy - McKelvie Jensen Mayor Josiah Dobbs - Collin Cummings Stanford Adams - Kyle Wheeler Dr. Norquist - Samantha Trank Stationmaster - Amelia LeVea Clerk - Riley Dallos Well-Dressed Woman - Madison Flynn |
Student CrewStage Manager - Casey Marcellus
Stage Left Headset - Alora Bailey Stage Right Headset - Alexis Marble Lighting Design/Operator - Meghan D’Archangelo Sound Design/Engineer - Violet McCarley Sound Assistant - Sarah Loucks Sound Effects - Zachary Lewis Stagehands - Marianna Dalglish, Jack Grabski, Cannon Koen Props - Alexis Marble Costumes - Rylee Bodine, Molly Campo, Anna Fleet, Hannah McCarley, Skye Sutherland Set Construction - Collin Cummings, Jacob Eskildsen, Garrett Hilton, Jayden Hollister, Johnathan Shaw, Samantha Trank Set Painting - Genna Elliott, Garrett Hilton, Jayden Hollister, Charlotte Kinsey, Ella Kinsey, Massan Jensen, Lauren Schilling Hair and Makeup - Alora Bailey, Alexis Marble Dance Captains - Triana Burgos-Farnan, Jayden Hollister |
EnsembleKayla Andersen, Morgan Andersen, Kendall Bailey, Triana Burgos-Farnan, Mackenzie Chapman, Cadence Cummings, Riley Dallos, Samantha Denson, Madison Flynn, Kaley Griffin, Mary Gulick, Meredith Hanley, Jayden Hollister, Amelia LeVea, Vanessa Martinez, Madeline Martini, Keuka Miranda, Lenitza Ochoa, Lauren Schilling, Sophia Smith, Emmaleigh Stempien, Emilie Trab, Samantha Trank, Kyle Wheeler
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Pit OrchestraPiano - Brian Cerow
Keyboard - Maryn Parson Percussion/Guitar - Patrick Newby Banjo/Guitar - Trevor Findley Mandolin - Mark Figura Fiddle - Jo-Hannah Reynolds Viola - Nathaniel Chaffee Cello - Anna Fleet Bass - Lee Miller |
Production Team
Director/Music Director - Mrs. Jessica Kinsey
Asst. Director/Acting Coach - Mr. Brian Cobb
Conductor - Mrs. Jennifer Chaffee
Choreographer - Ms. Elizabeth Jensen
Choreography Assistant - Mr. Owen McFarland
Scenic Designer/Parent Coordinator - Ms. Missy Emery
Scenic Design - Ms. Sherry Blanco, Mrs. Pam Grabosky-Smith
Production Assistants - Ms. Hannah Hotaling, Ms. Ashley Tillman
Production Assistant/Vocal Coach - Mr. Patrick Newby, Mr. Stanley Weaver
Master Carpenter - Mr. Dean Knapton
Lighting Design Consultants - Mx. Mia Bodine, Mrs. Sara Lyon
Sound Design Consultant - Mr. Jason MacMillan
Technical Director/Master Electrician - Mr. Simon Gaston
Costume Design/Head Seamstress - Ms. Yvonne MacMillan
Seamstress - Ms. Afra Nahmmacher
Front of House Supervisor - Mrs. Tina Webber
Tech Assistant/Videographer - Dr. Herb Gaston
Graphic Design - Mr. Jason Kinsey
Set Construction - Mr. Brian Cobb, Mr. Tom Eskildsen, Mr. Daniel Martens, Mr. Patrick Newby
Asst. Director/Acting Coach - Mr. Brian Cobb
Conductor - Mrs. Jennifer Chaffee
Choreographer - Ms. Elizabeth Jensen
Choreography Assistant - Mr. Owen McFarland
Scenic Designer/Parent Coordinator - Ms. Missy Emery
Scenic Design - Ms. Sherry Blanco, Mrs. Pam Grabosky-Smith
Production Assistants - Ms. Hannah Hotaling, Ms. Ashley Tillman
Production Assistant/Vocal Coach - Mr. Patrick Newby, Mr. Stanley Weaver
Master Carpenter - Mr. Dean Knapton
Lighting Design Consultants - Mx. Mia Bodine, Mrs. Sara Lyon
Sound Design Consultant - Mr. Jason MacMillan
Technical Director/Master Electrician - Mr. Simon Gaston
Costume Design/Head Seamstress - Ms. Yvonne MacMillan
Seamstress - Ms. Afra Nahmmacher
Front of House Supervisor - Mrs. Tina Webber
Tech Assistant/Videographer - Dr. Herb Gaston
Graphic Design - Mr. Jason Kinsey
Set Construction - Mr. Brian Cobb, Mr. Tom Eskildsen, Mr. Daniel Martens, Mr. Patrick Newby
Extras!
- Click here to watch our production on YouTube!
- Click here to see more pictures from the show (Google Drive link)!
- Click here to see the Bright Star program!
- Click here to read the Finger Lakes Times article about our "show swap" with Mynderse Academy!