BRIGHT STAR

DIRECTOR’S NOTE:

Welcome back to the Rawls! We are so thrilled you have chosen to spend your day with us as we return to this beautiful theatre! Written by Steve Martin and Edie Brickwell, Bright Star premiered on Broadway in 2016. Set in the Appalachian Mountains of North Carolina bouncing between the 1920’s and the 1940’s, Bright Star follows the story of Alice Murphy and how the horrible, beautiful and, oddly enough, magical events of her life have led her to the woman she is today. I came into this show quite blind! With how new the show is, I have yet to see another production – a rarity in my career as a director. What you witness tonight will be an entirely original take from the creative team, the cast, and myself. As one might imagine, this fact was both panic-inducing and wonderfully freeing! We have really leaned into the rustic authenticity of the story while also devising deeper truths through the use of shadow and movement. You will also notice how colorful our cast and department is and how the complexities of race and lived experience affect the show on a deeper level. I have come to really appreciate this show and the heart that it encapsulates through the music, events, and ultimately the characters. I’m neither religious nor sentimental but this show has shown me the miraculous potential of humanity. Against all odds, hopes, and even basic truths, this story brings to the forefront what is magically unique about being human. What is it that links us through memory, space, and experience? Why can we feel that which we can’t always see, touch, or smell? I invite you to watch tonight with your whole heart and allow Alice’s story to speak from her soul to yours.

I want to give a special shoutout to my creative team, especially Daniel, Olivia, Carley and Jordan. I hope, like the connections in the show itself, we will all look back on this process as one of exploration, creativity, growth, and healing. I dedicate this run to my dear mentor and friend, Fred Chappel, who not only taught me everything I know about directing but through our own memories and experiences gave me a deep love for American Realism and the writings of Southern American Playwrights. He once said, ”oh baby, never apologize for your madness. It is simply a revelation of your experiences. For without your demons, how could you ever recognize your angels?” Thank you again for coming and enjoy the show!