Bright Star
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April 28 - May 14
Peter Lemongelli is Directing, Music Director/Assistant Director is Raegan Kotz, Choreographer is Katy Smith, Production Manager is Craig Gustafson (Audition Info Below) Greenman Theatre Troupe is pleased to announce auditions for its 2023 season-closer, Bright Star. We are seeking actors and actresses 18 or older. Written by World Renowned Storytellers Steve Martin and Edie Brickell, This warm and loving show premiered in 2014 at the Old Globe in San Diego before moving to Broadway in 2016. The musical won Outer Critics Circle awards for Outstanding New Broadway Musical and Score as well as the Drama Desk award for Outstanding Music. Set in the Blue Ridge mountains of North Carolina, this Bluegrass-tinged musical is inspired by Real Life Events, and an Appalachian folk tale. 1940’s Literary Editor Alice Murphy meets Billy Cane, a young soldier just home from serving in World War II. As Billy pursues his life long dream of being an author, Alice is transported back to the 1920’s & the dreams of her youth, each following their own BRIGHT STAR. As the story of Alice and Billy’s lives simultaneously unfold with beautiful melodies and moving characters, the rich tapestry & deep emotions of their theatrical journey serves as a sincere reminder - no matter how dark the world gets, the sun will shine again. Peter Lemongelli is Directing, Music Director/Assistant Director is Raegan Kotz, Choreographer is Katy Smith, Production Manager is Craig Gustafson. |
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Auditions for Bright Star, a warm and loving musical, will take place on February 26, 27. Full details early in February.
To best utilize everyone’s time, auditions are by appointment only Sunday, February 26 and Monday, February 27 at Double Tree Suites by Hilton Hotel & Conference Center Chicago-Downers Grove, located at 2111 Butterfield Rd, Downers Grove, IL 60515.
The process is as follows:
To schedule an appointment, please send an email to : brightstarauditions@gmail.com
Please state your Name, the date/time you would like to audition, & any specific Roles You would like to be considered for. Attaching a headshot and resume is acceptable, but not required.
a. Actors will be scheduled into audition time blocks for Sun. February 26 (3:00pm, 4:00pm, 5:00pm, 7:00pm, 8:00pm, 9:00pm) or Mon. February 27 (7:00pm, 8:00pm, & 9:00pm).
2. Actors will be assigned to groups and will spend 20 minutes in singing auditions, 20 minutes in dance auditions, and 20 minutes in reading auditions. Everyone who attends will get to read.
a. For Reading: Details will be provided when your appointment is scheduled. Everyone will get to read. Southern Accents are welcome, but not required.
b. For Singing: Please prepare 32 bars of a song, preferably in the style of the show, that both shows off your voice and also your acting abilities. No musical theatre songs or songs from Bright Star. Please provide the sheet music for your song for the pianist, which will be provided.
3. For Dance: We’re looking for a least Two couples with Strong Dancing Skills, Everyone Else can Move Well. The show involves multiple styles of dance – please dress to move.
4. Callbacks will be held on Wednesday, March 1 at Greenman Theatre Troupe - First Methodist Church, 232 S York Road, in Elmhurst, IL. Those called back will be notified Tuesday, February 28. If you are not called back, it doesn’t mean you’re not cast.
5. Actors who are cast will be called on Thursday, March 2. Those not cast will be contacted by email.
For a synopsis of the show, go here:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bright_Star_(musical)
To hear samples of the music, go here: https://www.theatricalrights.com/show/bright star/ and the songs will be on the lower right side of the page.
Performances of Bright Star are April 28 through May 14, 2023. Shows are Fridays and Saturdays at 7:30pm and Sundays at 2:00pm.
Bright Star is presented by special arrangement with Theatrical Rights Worldwide. For tickets & more information, please visit: www.greenmantheatre.org
ALL ROLES ARE AVAILABLE:
Character Breakdown and Vocal Ranges
There are 10 principal acting roles, 6 male, 4 female identifying performers. The production will also feature an ensemble of 10 consisting of 5 male and 5 female identifying performers who will play additional supporting roles. See descriptions below for more information about principal and ensemble roles. Actors of any race/ethnicity or gender identity are encouraged to audition. Ages listed in description reflect character ages, not required actor ages.
If you have any questions, please email the production team at : BrightStarProduction2023@gmail.com
CASTING BREAKDOWN (in order of appearance):
Alice Murphy – Alice as a youth is a firecracker, Alice as an adult is buttoned up. The actress playing Alice must play Alice as both 16-17 and 36-37. Adult Alice is the editor of the Asheville Southern Journal, she is smart, serious, does not suffer fools with but also kind and haunted by her past. Young Alice at age 16-17 is strong willed, independent and is destined ready for something greater than her town has to offer. She must be a very strong singer and comfortable in folk and bluegrass styles with a strong belt. She is the star of the show. This role requires intimacy.
Vocal range: F3-C5
Billy Cane – a young soldier returning home from WWII; an aspiring young writer; has a goofy charm, and he is talented but unpolished and a little naive. Featured in multiple songs
Age: early 20s
Vocal range: C3-A4
Daddy Cane – Billy’s father. Kind, if simple, man living alone in the woods following the death of his wife, great father, great husband. Featured song “She’s Gone” and others. Age: Must be believably able to play Billy’s Father
Vocal range: C3-A4
Margo Crawford – a small-town bookstore owner; smart as a whip, kind, Billy’s best friend, she has feelings for Billy but he is too naive to see. Sweet warm folk voice. Featured song “Asheville” and others.
Age: early 20s
Vocal range: B3-F#5
Daryl Ames – An assistant at the Asheville Southern Journal. Funny, with a dry and officious sense of humor. Great comedic timing. Can be harsh in his directness but is innately likeable.
Age: Open
Vocal range: C3-E4
Lucy Grant – A junior editor at the Asheville Southern Journal. Strong dancer and singer. Forthright and provocative with a sharp sense of humor. Strong modern working woman who is also a flirt. Featured song “Another Round” and others.
Age: 20s
Vocal range: A3-D5
Mama Murphy – Alice’s mother. A warm, loving, sensible woman. Strong singer with harmonies. Featured in the song “Please Don’t Take Him” and others.
Age: Must be able to believably play Alice’s Mother
Vocal range: G3-C5
Daddy Murphy – Alice’s father; proud man with old world views on family and children. A strict, and hard-working man, a poor but respected farmer. Featured song “Firmer Hand/ Do Right” and others.
Age: Must be able to believably play Alice’s Father
Vocal range: A2-G4
Mayor Josiah Dobbs – the Mayor of Zebulon; a political and financial powerbroker – an imposing and controlling presence; interested in “protecting” his son’s future and his family name, but in reality is really only advancing his own self interest and identity. He is ultimately pushed to a point of extreme and irrevocable cruelty, the guilt breaks him. Featured song “A Man’s Gotta Do” and others.
Age: Must be able to believably play Jimmy Ray’s Father
Vocal range: A2-G4
Jimmy Ray Dobbs – Mayor Dobbs’ son and Alice’s first love, plays both age 16-17 and 36-37. Young Jimmy Ray charming, well-built and intelligent; from a family of wealth and power and is being groomed by his father for a similar future in the family business; an independent thinker who is not afraid to stand up to his father for what he believes in; he has a sense of personal responsibility and morality as well as a deep reserve of passion and emotion. The same actor will also play an adult Jimmy Ray at age 36-37. Must be an excellent musical theater singer featured in multiple songs with a comfortable folk-pop style. This role requires intimacy.
Vocal range: C3-A4
Stanford: Mayor Dobbs’ lawyer. He is very professional and hard-working. He is caught up in the same societal expectations as Mayor Dobbs, enforcing every one of the Mayor’s wishes. The community in Zebulon is very important to Stanford, and he feels strongly about upholding its standards and traditions .
Florence: Florence works at Margo’s bookstore. She is a very supportive friend to Margo, always willing to help out. She is a romantic and often gets caught up in dreams.
Edna: Edna works at Margo’s bookstore, as well. She is energetic, hard-working, and optimistic. Along with Florence, Edna is an essential part of the strong community surrounding Margo.
Max: A young resident of Zebulon who frequents the bookstore. He’s naive and very earnest. His blossoming relationship with Edna displays a sense of community and continuity in the town beyond the main plot.
Dr. Norquist: As Alice’s doctor in Zebulon, Dr. Norquist values the picture of a perfect community and, along with Mayor Dobbs, tries to preserve Zebulon’s image. At times valuing that preservation above Alice’s own wellbeing, Dr. Norquist’s influence on Alice displays an important conflict in the show.
The Ensemble
A group of strong and dynamic musical theatre performers will be featured throughout the show. They will be utilized as singers in the backing vocals for many songs and featured in the dance numbers. We are looking for well rounded performers who can work with the directing team to create a dynamic ensemble. Ensemble will also be used to move scenery and will be quite active throughout the entire show.
Age: 18 to 99