The Department of Theatre will present its first production of the spring semester this weekend, a bluegrass musical titled “Bright Star.” 

“Bright Star” is a memory play, meaning its plot centers around the memories of one character. The musical follows literary editor Alice Murphy while weaving in the story of an aspiring writer Billy Cane, who has just returned from World War II. 

“We’re jumping through time,” said Dallas Martinez, co-director and assistant professor of musical direction. “We’re in the ‘20s and we’re in the ‘40s and then we’re back in the ‘20s. It’s going through the life of the main character and the trials, tribulations and struggles that she faced as she was growing into the woman she becomes in the ‘40s.”

All plays this year have been student-selected. Martinez said the students chose “Bright Star” due to its eclectic style and because it was out of the ordinary for A-State Theatre. 

The set of “Bright Star” will feature a live bluegrass band on stage. Martinez said the band is on stage to encourage audience involvement. 

Gavin Wilson, a senior theatre major from Berryville, Arkansas, plays Jimmy Ray, Alice’s love interest. Wilson said the music has been one of the most enjoyable aspects of the show.

“I wish I could express how it made me feel to hear the band play in full force for the first time,” Wilson said. “They are truly a group of amazingly talented artists.”

Co-director Brianna Larson, assistant professor of theatre and dance, choreographed the production. Larson has a folk dance background and said it was fun to teach students something a little different.

“I was working with one of the actors who was technically doing the correct choreography, the weight changes were all right,” Larson said. “But I was like, ‘Let’s look at the styling of this. Here’s how we just adjust the styling to live more deeply in this style.’ And then they could feel it and sort of the way it just lives in the body differently. That’s been exciting to do with them.”

Zane Brewer, a sophomore theatre major from Conway, Arkansas, plays Billy Cane. Brewer said his character is somebody a lot of people would relate to.

“World War II was obviously a long time ago, but there’s probably a family member somebody has that’s really similar to Billy. It’s just really cool to see somebody go from such a low place to being a successful writer. That’s why I like playing him,” Brewer said. 

“Bright Star” is Martinez’s and Larson’s first time co-directing together. 

“It’s been really fun jumping in. We’re still fairly new to collaborating because Dallas just started last year,” Larson said. “We’ll go back and forth until we find which idea seems to serve the story best, which is helpful because it’s bringing more ideas into the room.”

Both Larson and Martinez said the school’s closing from Jan. 15-18 due to snow and ice impacted preparations for the musical. 

“Right as we were supposed to get started, we lost 12 hours of rehearsal in a 20-hour rehearsal work week,” Larson said. “To get back on schedule, we did add a Saturday rehearsal to make up about half of that. We continued to ask the cast to really just be on the ball and doing that work outside of rehearsal that’s asked of any performer at any time in their career.”

Because of the production’s bluegrass music, the students will perform a lineup of select songs on Monday as the opening act for the Bluegrass Monday concert series. Martinez said this is the first time A-State Theatre has worked with Bluegrass Monday.

The students and co-directors said they were excited for the A-State community to see “Bright Star.”

“It’s something that you will think is something completely new and wonderful at the same time,” Martinez said.

Performances will be held at 7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday and March 1-2 at Fowler Center’s Simpson Theatre. There will be a matinee performance at 2:30 March 3. A-State students get in free with their student ID.

Categories: Arts & Entertainment