Bright Star

Run Time:
Two hours and 30 minutes, with one intermission
Ages: 13+
Opened: March 24, 2016
Closing: June 26, 2016

Bright Star - 2016 - Broadway History , Info & More

With music and book by Steve Martin and music and lyrics by Edie Brickell, BRIGHT STAR is based on an original story by Martin and Brickell and features direction by Walter Bobbie.

Inspired by an astonishing 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 a shocking incident from her past. Together they discover a long-buried secret with the power to transform their lives.

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PREVIEW Bright Star - 2016 - Broadway

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FEATURED REVIEWS FOR Bright Star

'Bright Star' signals Steve Martin and Edie Brickell's musical talents on Broadway
8 / 10

If you had any doubt of the formidable polyglot of talent that makes up one Steve Martin, or you were under the misapprehension that his banjo was primarily the accessory of a stand-up or Hollywood comic, the very conception of "Bright Star" should be enough to lay that to rest. In collaboration with the folk-rock musician Edie Brickell, Martin forged score, book and story for this wholly original musical -- a piece that, despite its tonal unevenness and frequent, needless diversions from truth, still feels like a significant, distinctive and artful entry into the Broadway repertory. And it comes replete with a beautiful leading performance from Carmen Cusack, an actress who has worked often in musicals in Chicago but here makes a gorgeously authentic Broadway debut that looks likely to change her life.

‘Bright Star’ is a spoonful of southern sugar.
7 / 10

Director Walter Bobbie's production in the Cort Theatre, where the musical had its official opening Thursday night, retains the intelligently spare look of the incarnation in the Kennedy Center's Eisenhower Theater. (It's also tauter - about 10 minutes shorter than it was in Washington.) Evoking a bucolic North Carolina of the 1920s and '40s, set designer Eugene Lee deploys a skeletal cabin on wheels as the visual centerpiece, in which the band, expertly conducted by Rob Berman, sits and strums Martin and Brickell's amiable tunes, albeit with some oddly-set lyrics. It's also worth noting that one of the biggest hands of the evening comes for the orchestra's playing of the entr'acte, the purely instrumental interlude that greets us after intermission.

BWW Flashback: 'Sun's Gonna Shine' on Steve Martin & Edie Brickell's BRIGHT STAR, Closing Today on Broadway
by BWW Special Coverage - June 26, 2016

Bright Star, the new musical from 2016 Tony Award nominees Steve Martin and Edie Brickell, plays its final Broadway performance today, June 26, after 30 preview and 109 regular performances. Below, BroadwayWorld takes you back through Bright Star's journey on Broadway!

Breaking News: Broadway's BRIGHT STAR Sets Closing Date
by Tyler Peterson - June 14, 2016

Producer Joey Parnes has announced that Bright Star, the new musical from 2016 Tony Award nominees Steve Martin and Edie Brickell,will play its final Broadway performance on Sunday, June 26, after 30 preview and 109 regular performances.

BWW Blog: Jeff Blumenkrantz - The Tonys!
by Guest Blogger: Jeff Blumenkrantz - June 9, 2016

After any given performance of Bright Star, we typically have between 20-40 people waiting at the stage door for autographs. It's interesting to observe how differently the people in our cast (and casts everywhere) deal with greeting fans at the stage door. Over the years, I've isolated a few categories:

BWW TV Exclusive: BACKSTAGE BITE with Katie Lynch and BRIGHT STAR's Lizzie Klemperer
by Backstage Bite with Katie Lynch - June 7, 2016

BroadwayWorld is thrilled to add to our roster of exclusive talent and programing, Backstage Bite with Katie Lynch. Come into Katie's kitchen with some of Broadway's brightest as they eat, drink and merrily mix it up in this new cooking show. See your favorite stars out of their element as they whip up dishes inspired by their Broadway show. Watch what happens when these actors trade belting for baking! Today, we are excited to bring you the latest episode, featuring Bright Star's Lizzie Klemperer!

BWW TV: Tony Nominee Carmen Cusack Sings from BRIGHT STAR at Stars in the Alley!
by BroadwayWorld TV - June 4, 2016

STARS IN THE ALLEY, presented by United Airlines, took place just yesterday June 3rd in Shubert Alley. Hosted by Tony nominee Sean Hayes and Mo Rocca, Broadway's best once again turned out for the annual performance - including Tony nominee Carmen Cusack, who performed 'Way back in the Day' from BRIGHT STAR!

BWW Blog: Jeff Blumenkrantz - Stage Door Types
by Guest Blogger: Jeff Blumenkrantz - June 3, 2016

After any given performance of Bright Star, we typically have between 20-40 people waiting at the stage door for autographs. It's interesting to observe how differently the people in our cast (and casts everywhere) deal with greeting fans at the stage door. Over the years, I've isolated a few categories:

Photo Coverage: Meet the Nominees- BRIGHT STAR's Carmen Cusack
by Walter McBride - June 5, 2016

On May 4, the 2016 Tony nominees flocked to the Paramount Hotel, where they met with the press for the first time since getting the big news. BroadwayWorld will be bringing you coverage from the epic day over the next week, but for now, check out photos of Best Performance by an Actress in Leading Role in a Musical nominee for Bright Star, Carmen Cusack, as captured by Walter McBride!

VIDEO: A Backstage Visit With BRIGHT STAR's Dee Hoty
by Michael Dale - June 1, 2016

The two-time Tony nominee takes questions from Facebook users before the Wednesday matinee.

BRIGHT STAR Original Broadway Cast Recording in Stores Today
by Tyler Peterson - May 27, 2016

Ghostlight Records has released the original cast recording of Bright Star, the new musical from Grammy and Emmy Award winner Steve Martin and Grammy-winning singer-songwriter Edie Brickell online and in stores today, Friday, May 27.

STAGE TUBE: Steve Martin & Carmen Cusack Talk Broadway's BRIGHT STAR on CBS THIS MORNING
by Stage Tube - May 24, 2016

Broadway's shining at the moment with Steve Martin and Edie Brickell's new musical BRIGHT STAR, featuring Tony nominee Carmen Cusack, currently playing at the Cort Theatre. In celebration of the show's run - not to mention five Tony nods - Martin and Cusack stopped by CBS THIS MORNING today, where they opened up about the process of bringing the musical to the Great White Way. Check out their interview below!

BWW Blog: Jeff Blumenkrantz - Favorite Dressing Room Items of the BRIGHT STAR Cast
by Guest Blogger: Jeff Blumenkrantz - May 16, 2016

Today I'm addressing another excellent question from @JudyMolnar: 'What are some favorite items Bright Star cast members have in their dressing rooms? Show & tell.'

STAGE TUBE: Steve Martin Surprises Audience During Entr'acte at BRIGHT STAR
by Stage Tube - May 14, 2016

Last night's BRIGHT STAR audience was pleasantly surprised at the start of Act 2 when Steve Martin joined the band onstage for the Entr'acte. Martin, who wrote the show's book and composed the music with Edie Brickell, played the banjo. Check out footage from the surprise performance below!

Tony Awards Close-Up: Sun Is Shining Hard on BRIGHT STAR's Carmen Cusack!
by BroadwayWorld TV - May 15, 2016

Carmen Cusack has finally made her Broadway debut, and it's in the role of a lifetime. She plays Alice Murphy (at two ages) in Steve Martin and Edie Brickell's BRIGHT STAR- a performance that earned her a nomination for Best Performance by and Actress in a Leading Role in a Musical. Hear her story below!

Bright Star FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Bright Star has had 2 productions including Broadway which opened in 2016 and US Tour which opened in 2017.
Best Musical and , Best Book of a Musical for Steve Martin, Best Orchestrations for August EriksmoenBest Original Score (Music and/or Lyrics) Written for the Theatre for Steve Martin and Best Original Score (Music and/or Lyrics) Written for the Theatre for Edie Brickell .
Bright Star has been nominated for several awards. These include Outstanding Costume Design for a Musical (Drama Desk Awards) for Jane Greenwood, Outstanding Music (Drama Desk Awards) for Steve Martin and Edie Brickell, Outstanding Orchestrations (Drama Desk Awards) for August Eriksmoen, Outstanding Sound Design in a Musical (Drama Desk Awards) for Nevin Steinberg, Distinguished Performance Award (Drama League Awards) for Carmen Cusack, Outstanding Production of a Broadway or Off-Broadway Musical (Drama League Awards) for Bright Star, Outstanding Book of a Musical (Broadway or off-Broadway) (Outer Critics Circle Awards) for Steve Martin, Outstanding Choreography (Outer Critics Circle Awards) for Josh Rhodes, Outstanding Costume Design (Play or Musical) (Outer Critics Circle Awards) for Jane Greenwood, Outstanding Director of a Musical (Outer Critics Circle Awards) for Walter Bobbie, Outstanding New Broadway Musical (Outer Critics Circle Awards) for Bright Star, Outstanding New Score (Broadway or off-Broadway) (Outer Critics Circle Awards) for Steve Martin, and Outstanding New Score (Broadway or off-Broadway) (Outer Critics Circle Awards) for Edie Brickell.
Bright Star has won several awards, including Outstanding Costume Design for a Musical (Drama Desk Awards) for Jane Greenwood, Outstanding Music (Drama Desk Awards) for Steve Martin and Edie Brickell, Outstanding Orchestrations (Drama Desk Awards) for August Eriksmoen, Outstanding Sound Design in a Musical (Drama Desk Awards) for Nevin Steinberg, Distinguished Performance Award (Drama League Awards) for Carmen Cusack, Outstanding Production of a Broadway or Off-Broadway Musical (Drama League Awards) for Bright Star, Outstanding Book of a Musical (Broadway or off-Broadway) (Outer Critics Circle Awards) for Steve Martin, Outstanding Choreography (Outer Critics Circle Awards) for Josh Rhodes, Outstanding Costume Design (Play or Musical) (Outer Critics Circle Awards) for Jane Greenwood, Outstanding Director of a Musical (Outer Critics Circle Awards) for Walter Bobbie, Outstanding New Broadway Musical (Outer Critics Circle Awards) for Bright Star, Outstanding New Score (Broadway or off-Broadway) (Outer Critics Circle Awards) for Steve Martin, and Outstanding New Score (Broadway or off-Broadway) (Outer Critics Circle Awards) for Edie Brickell.

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