BRIGHT STAR
Music, Book & Story by STEVE MARTIN
Music, Lyrics & Story by EDIE BRICKELL
Director: Anne Taetzsch Fitzgerald
Music Director: Charlotte Gingerelli
Choreographer: Laura Craft
SHOW DATES: July 12-14 & 19-21, 2019
••• AUDITION Details •••
Sunday, April 7th 2 pm - 7 pm
Please arrive by 1:45 pm to fill out the necessary forms. Some individuals may be asked to stay the full time.
Please prepare a 1 minute cut of a country, bluegrass, or a modern musical theatre song (nothing from the show). Please bring your cued up music on a CD or mp3. There will not be an accompanist.
There will be cold readings after the music portion of the audition.
?Everyone will learn a dance combination. Please wear something you can move well in.
If you have any questions about the show, auditions, or are unable to attend on the scheduled date, please contact the director, Anne Fitzgerald at 540-255-5398 or
annetaetzsch@gmail.com
Location:
ShenanArts
300 Churchville Ave, Staunton, VA 24401
Email:
theatre@shenanarts.org
540.712.0001
••• About the Show •••
Inspired by a real event and featuring the Grammy-nominated score by Steven Martin and Edie Brickell, 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. Bright Star is as refreshingly genuine as it is daringly hopeful.
••• Character Descriptions •••
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 a very strong singer and comfortable in folk and bluegrass styles.
Female, 30’s
Billy Cane – a young soldier returning home from WWII; an aspiring young writer; fresh, open, optimistic, charming, and a little naïve.
Male, early 20’s
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.
Male, 30’s
Daddy Cane – Billy’s father. A widower. Spry, good looking. Kind-hearted, if a bit lonely. Will also play Dr. Norquist.
Male, 40’s-60’s
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.
Female, early 20’s
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.
Male, 20’s-40’s
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.
Female, 20’s-30’s
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.
Female, 40’s-60’s
Daddy Murphy – Alice’s father; an authoritative and a stern disciplinarian; devoutly religious, hard-working, a poor but proud farmer.
Male, 40’s-60’s
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.
Male, 40’s-60’s
Max – a customer at Margo’s bookstore, at first, he has a crush on Margo, but later becomes Edna’s beau.
Male, late teens/early 20s
Florence – an employee at Margo’s bookstore.
Female, 20’s-40’s
Edna – an employee at Margo’s bookstore.
Female, late teens/early 20s
Stanford – Loyal assistant to Mayor Josiah Dobbs
Male, 30’s-60’s
••• Production Team •••
Costume Design: Vickie Craft
Set Design/Technical Director: Tom Kernan
Sound Design: Alejandro Rosa
Stage Managers: Matthew Cline-Taskey and Andy West
Graphics: Michael Conner
Social Media: Lisa McDowell
ShenanArts
300 Churchville Ave, Staunton, VA. 24401
www.shenanarts.org |
theatre@shenanarts.org
540-712-0001
Box Office Hours
Wednesdays 1:30-5:30
Fridays: 10:30-2:30
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