Bright Star
Bright Star
Music, book and story by Steve Martin
Music, lyrics and story by Edie Brickell
Directed by Stanford Reynolds
Music directed by Michael Stebbings
Footlights returned to Te Auaha with this captivating bluegrass adaptation of the timeless Iron Mountain Baby folk tale. The journey of Bright Star weaves together two extraordinary love stories, set in the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina in 1946 and the preceding decades.
CAST
Alice Murphy
Cassandra Tse
Jimmy Ray Dobbs
Chris McMillan
Billy Cane
Fynn Bodley-Davies
Margo Crawford
Nadia Newman
Daddy Murphy
Alex Rabina
Mama Murphy
Karen Anslow
Mayor Josiah Dobbs
Mike Bryant
Lucy Grant
Kirsty Moir
Daryl Ames
Corey Moir
Daddy Cane
Vishan Appanna
Stanford Adams
Abigail Helsby
Alice Murphy understudy
Emily K Brown
Ensemble
Emerson McMartin
Emily K Brown
Helena Savage
Jonathan Howes
Margaret Hill
Ollie Levy
Tara Terry
Ukiah Reynolds
CREW
Director
Stanford Reynolds
Music Director
Michael Stebbings
Assistant Musical Director
Shawn Condon
Choreographer
Mel Heaphy
Production Manager
Laura Gardner
Stage Manager
Ed Blunden
Publicity Manager
Letitia Garrett
Publicity Assistant
Corey Moir
Props Coordinator
India Loveday
Wardrobe Coordinator
Stacey O'Brien
Wardrobe Assistants
Catherine Gavigan-Binnie
Nadia Newman
Lighting Design & Operation
Tom Smith
Lucas Zaner
Sound Design & Operation
Jacob Cannell
Set Concept & Coordinator
Stanford Reynolds
Set Assistant
Vince Jennings
Intimacy Coordinator
Aimée Sullivan
Poster Design
Sandra McKee
Producer
Corey Moir
Front of House Manager
Margaret Hill
Photography
Emily K Brown
Aimée Sullivan
BAND
Piano
Shawn Condon
Accordion
Katie Morton
Fiddle
Sayaka Kirkman
Violin/Viola
Stephen Clothier
Cello
Tomos Christie
Bass
Luigi Ibanez
Banjo
Wayne Robinson
Acoustic & Electric Guitars
Steve Morrison
Drum Kit/Percussion
Steve Swanson
REVIEWS
"The energy of the show is infectious, the musicians lively and the cast charming. It is difficult not to feel uplifted and heartened by the whole production."
- Georgia Jamieson Emms, Theatreview
"Cassandra Tse and Chris McMillan stand out with their solos."
- Miya Dawson, Regional News
"The role of Alice was played by Cassandra Tse whose voice carried the night. She acted and sang with surety."
- Neil Brewer, Broadway World
"Special mention must also go to Mike Bryant playing the role of Mayor Josiah Dobbs, Jimmy Ray’s father. With a strong and powerful singing voice, Bryant is natural in this role."
- Sarah Catherall, The Post
GALLERY
Photography by Aimée Sullivan
