The musical received its Canadian premiere in March 2019 at Rosebud Theatre in Alberta, demonstrating its ongoing appeal and international reach.
Musical Composition
Bright Star is a musical developed by the iconic Steve Martin and Edie Brickell, whose partnership began with their Grammy-winning bluegrass album 'Love Has Come for You' in 2013.
The original Broadway cast album of 'Bright Star' was recorded in March 2016 and released on digital platforms on April 29, 2016, before hitting stores in May 2016.
The cast recording of 'Bright Star' peaked at number two on the US Cast Albums chart and topped the US Bluegrass and Americana/Folk Albums charts, making it the first cast recording to enter either of these latter two charts.
The 'Bright Star' musical album received a Grammy Award nomination for the 2017 Grammy Award for Best Musical Theater Album.
All the songs in 'Bright Star' were composed by Steve Martin and Edie Brickell, except for two songs specifically written by Edie Brickell.
'Bright Star' features a score rich with country and bluegrass music, prominently including instruments like the fiddle, piano, and banjo, played by a nine-person band.
Notable Tours
Following its Broadway stint, Bright Star embarked on a U.S. national tour starting in October 2017, showcasing the original Broadway cast in multiple cities.
Bright Star: School Edition was edited and performed for a high school production in Virginia in January 2019, showing the musical's adaptability for different performance groups.
Production Facts
The plot of Bright Star involves intricate storytelling set in the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina, spanning from the years 1923 to 1946.
The first workshop of Bright Star took place at the Powerhouse Theater at Vassar College under the auspices of New York Stage and Film in July 2013.
Bright Star had its world premiere at the Old Globe Theatre in San Diego on September 28, 2014, highlighting its early success and potential.
Broadway performances of Bright Star began at the Cort Theatre in February 2016, directed by Walter Bobbie with a star-studded cast including Carmen Cusack and Paul Alexander Nolan.