Bright Star to play final performance on 26 June 2016

Tom Millward
Tom Millward

Producer Joey Parnes has announced that the new Tony-nominated musical Bright Star, written by Emmy winner Steve Martin and Grammy-winning singer-songwriter Edie Brickell, will play its final performance at Broadway's Cort Theatre on 26 June 2016. Upon closing, it will have played a total of 139 performances.

Mr. Parnes released the following statement:

"So much of Bright Star's beauty comes from the fact that it is utterly free of irony. In these cynical times, this quality proved to be totally refreshing to audience members, and also created a unique challenge in attracting them. I am so proud of this show, and I am glad that Steve, Edie and Walter, and this incredible company, brought its unique spirit to our city, if only for a while."
Bright Star began previews on 25 February 2016, and officially opened to positive reviews on 24 March. It was previously booking through to 9 October 2016.

Synopsis: "Inspired by a true event, the wholly original new musical 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 successful literary editor Alice Murphy meets an ambitious young soldier just home from World War II, their connection inspires Alice to confront her past. Together they discover a stunning secret with the power to transform their lives."

The cast of Bright Star includes Tony nominee Carmen Cusack (Alice Murphy), A.J. Shively (Billy), Michael Mulheren (Mayor Josiah Dobbs), Paul Alexander Nolan (Jimmy Ray Dobbs), Hannah Elless (Margo Crawford), Stephen Bogardus (Daddy Cane), Dee Hoty (Mama Murphy), Stephen Lee Anderson (Daddy Murphy), Emily Padgett (Lucy Grant), and Jeff Blumenkrantz (Darryl Ames), along with ensemble members Maddie Shea Baldwin, Allison Briner, Max Chernin, Patrick Cummings, Sandra DeNise, Richard Gatta, Lizzie Klemperer, Michael X. Martin, William Michals, Tony Roach, Sarah Jane Shanks and William Youmans.

Directed by Walter Bobbie, the creative team behind Bright Star features choreography by Josh Rhodes, scenic design by Eugene Lee, costume design by Jane Greenwood, lighting design by Japhy Weideman, sound design by Nevin Steinberg, musical supervision by Peter Asher, musical direction and vocal arrangements by Rob Berman, and orchestrations by August Eriksmoen.

Bright Star had its world premiere at The Old Globe in San Diego and went on to play a limited engagement at the Kennedy Center Eisenhower Theater in Washington, D.C. from 2 December 2015 until 10 January 2016, with an official opening night on 17 December 2015.

Bright Star is produced on Broadway by Joey Parnes, Sue Wagner, John Johnson, Zebulon LLC, Jay Alix & Una Jackman, Len Blavatnik, James L. Nederlander, Carson & Joseph Gleberman, Balboa Park Productions, The Shubert Organization, Jamie deRoy/Catherine Adler/Cricket Jiranek, in association with Rodger Hess, A.C. Orange International, Broadway Across America, Sally Jacobs & Warren Baker, Diana DiMenna, Exeter Capital, Agnes Gund, True Love Productions, and The Old Globe.

The Broadway production of Bright Star won the 2016 Outer Critics Circle Awards for "Best Musical" and "Best Score," along with the Drama Desk Award for "Outstanding Music." At the 70th Annual Tony Awards, it received a total of five nominations: Best Musical, Best Score, Best Book, Best Leading Actress in a Musical, and Best Orchestrations.

- by Tom Millward

Carmen Cusack & Paul Alexander Nolan in Bright Star More production photos

Originally published on

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