Bright Star will officially open on Broadway in 2016

Tom Millward
Tom Millward

Producer Joey Parnes has announced today that the new original musical Bright Star, written by Emmy winner Steve Martin and Grammy-winning singer-songwriter Edie Brickell, will officially open at a yet-to-be confirmed Shubert Theatre on 31 March 2016, following previews from 7 March.

Complete casting has also been announced. Making her Broadway debut, Carmen Cusack will reprise her role as Alice Murphy and will be joined by Paul Alexander Nolan, Tony nominee Michael Mulheren, A.J. Shively, Hannah Elless, Tony nominee Stephen Bogardus, three-time Tony nominee Dee Hoty, Stephen Lee Anderson, Emily Padgett, Tony nominee Jeff Blumenkrantz, along with 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.

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 creative team behind Bright Star features direction by Walter Bobbie, 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.

After its world premiere at The Old Globe in San Diego, Bright Star played a limited run in Washington D.C at the Kennedy Center Eisenhower Theater from 2 December 2015 through to 10 January 2016.

- by Tom Millward

Steve Martin

Originally published on

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