Bright Star in Central NJ

[NiceWork2]

Posted: 9/6/18 at 12:48pm

Hello: There's a super regional Equity production of Bright Star that's now playing at the Surflight Theatre in Beach Haven, NJ, which isn't too far from NYC on the Jersey coast. It's actually the NJ regional premiere, and i was blown away when i saw it. it captured all the energy and drama that the Broadway version contained, and the songs were all fantastic. The version of Sun is Gonna Shine Again that is from the tour is the one being used in regional productions now.

Bright STar sure had a legion of fans at the end of its short-lived 2016 run; i'm sure anyone that wanted to see the show again, or even for the first time, would love this show, which is close enough to the Atlantic Ocean beach that you can walk there. They even have the onstage band, which i'm sure wasn't easy to fit in.

Here's hoping this is the start of many fine regional productions of Bright Star. the Bridges of Madison County had a short-lived run as well on Broadway, but their regional productions have all been really top notch that i've seen. Of course some shows are better designed to be in small venues with utilitarian sets.

Did anyone out there see the Barter Theatre production of Bright star in southwestern Virginia in the spring of 2018? I'm curious as to how the show was received.

[Miles2Go2]

Posted: 3/17/19 at 3:14pm

I just bought a ticket to see a regional production of this next month performed by a local professional theatre company in Oklahoma City. I got a cheap $31 ($25 + fees) ticket for a far right front row seat in a black box type theater where there really isn’t a bad seat. Honestly, I’ve never seen Bright Star and I’m going in with low expectations. I seem to remember some controversy about the whitewashing of the cast when it was on Broadway and a perusal of the cast photos for this production seems to suggest that tradition continues. But I figure for $31 if I go in with low expectations, I’ll likely at least get my money’s worth.

[Miles2Go2]

Posted: 4/13/19 at 12:44pm

Update from last night when I saw a local production in OKC. Talented cast, inventive set and staging, two or three very good songs. Weak plot. I did recall reading on here what happens to the baby, but it still made for a jarring end to Act 1. I figured out the end of Act 2 before intermission. Still, for $31 I can’t complain, especially since I was able to move from my front row far right seat to a front row center seat before Act 1.

I do have a question. Last night they mainly aged the lead actress by putting her in more sophisticated dress and giving her glasses sometimes. It was a local production with a limited budget so I wondered how they handled it on Broadway. It wouldn’t be feasible to age her with makeup as she changes back and forth including in the middle of one scene. I wonder if they handled it similarly on Broadway. Thanks!

[suzycat]

Posted: 4/13/19 at 2:16pm

It was similarly handled on Broadway. Carmen Cusack was truly the STAR of this show and her acting alone could indicate the age of her character.

[Miles2Go2]

Posted: 4/13/19 at 2:19pm

suzycat, thanks for the info!

[amaklo]

Posted: 5/19/19 at 5:50pm

I know there are a couple of people on this board from Pittsburgh, so I thought I'd give a heads up for a terrific production of Bright Star that's running until May 27th at the New Hazlett Theater on the North Side (home to the Pittsburgh Public before they moved downtown).  I wanted to see it on Broadway but it was gone before I had the chance to get there. The book is pretty good (though the ending is obvious).    The performances are uniformly excellent, including several students from Point Park and Carnegie Mellon.  For me the music made the show worthwhile. If you haven't seen it, and especially if you like roots/bluegrass music, don't miss it!

 

[GavestonPS]

Posted: 5/20/19 at 2:00am

Miles2Go2 said: "Update from last night when I saw a local production in OKC. Talented cast, inventive set and staging, two or three very good songs. Weak plot. I did recall reading on here what happens to the baby, but it still made for a jarring end to Act 1. I figured out the end of Act 2 before intermission. Still, for $31 I can’t complain, especially since I was able to move from my front row far right seat to a front row center seat before Act 1.

I do have a question. Last night they mainly aged the lead actress by putting her in more sophisticated dress and giving her glasses sometimes. It was a local production with a limited budget so I wondered how they handled it on Broadway. It wouldn’t be feasible to age her with makeup as she changes back and forth including in the middle of one scene. I wonder if they handled it similarly on Broadway. Thanks!"

One of the most amazing acting moments I've seen in the past few years was Miss Cusack's first transition to the character's "teenage" self. Yes, a couple of members of the ensemble helped with the costume change, but Cusack did something that totally transformed her face from middle-age to teenage in an instant!

I'm not an actor and don't understand enough acting theory to explain it, but her transitions (I saw it on tour) were more than just putting on or taking off her glasses. They were honest-to-God magic!

(That said, I loathed the show. It was a real "What the hell were they thinking?!" evening for me because of the plot.)

Updated On: 5/20/19 at 02:00 AM