Bright Star at Y14 Theater

The St. Bart’s Players—New York City’s longest-running community theater group, celebrating nearly 100 years—proudly presents its fall Mainstage production of 2026: Bright Star.

Written by Steve Martin and Edie Brickell, this sweeping, deeply emotional musical is a tale of love, redemption and hope set against the rich backdrop of the American South. Spanning the 1920s and 1940s, the story follows literary editor Alice Murphy and a young soldier just home from World War II. When their lives intersect, they ignite a chain of events that forces Alice to confront her mysterious past. Propelled by an intoxicating, Grammy-nominated bluegrass and folk score, this uplifting journey proves that the truth always finds its light.

Best known as a comedian and actor, Martin first collaborated with singer-songwriter Brickell on the 2013 album Love Has Come for You, winning the Grammy Award for Best American Roots Song. While touring, the duo were inspired to write Bright Star, which went on to earn five Tony Award nominations in 2016, including Best Musical and Best Original Score. The musical won two Outer Critics Circle Awards—for Outstanding New Broadway Musical and Outstanding New Broadway or Off-Broadway Score—and a Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Music. Their creative partnership continued with a second album, So Familiar, which features several songs from the musical.

Creative & Production Team:

• Director/Choreographer: Gary Slavin

• Music Director: Kaeden Oh

• Stage Manager: Rachel K. Moll

• Producers: Nicole Bournas-Ney and John Orihuela

• Technical Director: Mike Pitsikoulis

• Lighting Designer/ATD: Lyle Green

• Set Designer: Syd Borsilow

• Costume Designer: Joe Kassner

• Sound Designer: Gage Baker

The Cast:

Bright Star features a wonderful ensemble of both longtime and new Players: Lesley Berry, Amanda Briskin-Wallace, Alex Cooke, James Cullen, Julia Farina, Nichole Francisco, Kenny Harmon, Sydney Holmes, Taylor House, Kevin Kiniry, Reese Klemm, Glenn Joseph Klier, Jacob Manthey, David Pohler, Andrew Wolverton and Caroline Zhang.