And last but not least, the third time is the charm! Inspired by a true story and featuring the Tony®- nominated score by Steve Martin and Edie Brickell, Broadway’s 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 literary editor Alice Murphy meets a young soldier just home from World War II, he awakens her longing for the child she once lost. Haunted by their unique connection, Alice sets out on a journey to understand her past — and what she finds has the power to transform both of their lives. With beautiful melodies and powerfully moving characters, the story unfolds as a rich tapestry of deep emotion.

Character Roles:

Alice Murphy: Female; Alice is mostly seen at age 38–an editor of a southern literary magazine; intelligent, attractive, professional–but with an air of melancholy. The same actress will also play Young Alice at age 16–rebellious, high-spirited, sexually forward, adventurous–looking to break out of small-town life and experience the world. Must be very strong singer and comfortable in folk and bluegrass styles.

Billy Cane: Male; A young soldier returning home from WWII; an aspiring young writer; fresh, open, optimistic, charming, and a little naïve.

Jimmy Ray Dobbs: Male; Jimmy Ray is mostly seen in his 20s in flashbacks–Mayor Dobbs’ son and young Alice’s beau; handsome, boyishly 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 40.

Mayor Josiah Dobbs: Male; He is the mature Mayor of Zebulon; a political and financial powerbroker – distinguished, even elegant, an imposing and controlling presence; has a genuine interest in protecting his son’s future and his family name, but in doing so, is ultimately pushed to a point of extreme and irrevocable cruelty.

Margo Crawford: Female; A young (20s) small-town bookstore owner; a childhood friend of Billy’s who now harbors romantic feelings towards him; a natural beauty with a keen intellect.

Daddy Murphy: Male; Mature father of young Alice (40s–60s) an authoritative and a stern disciplinarian; devoutly religious, hard-working, a poor but proud farmer.

Mama Murphy: Female; Mature mother of young Alice (40s–60s) a caretaker to her family and her rural community; a warm, loving, sensible woman; hardworking, with great inner strength and compassion.

Daddy Cane: Male; Billy’s mature father (50s-60s); a widower; spry, good-looking; kind-hearted, if a bit lonely.

Daryl Ames: Male; An assistant at a literary magazine; funny, with a dry and officious sense of humor; insecure, and perhaps a bit socially awkward, but endearing and innately likable; some character singing required but not a major singing role; should be able to move well. Age is negotiable – prefer young adult.

Lucy Grant: Female; A junior editor at a literary magazine; an ambitious, professional young “modern” career woman of the 1940s; sexy, forthright, and provocative with a sharp sense of humor; must be able to vocally carry a big uptempo “foot stopping” drinking song and dance/move well.

Max: Male; A customer atMargo’s bookstore, at first, he has a crush on Margo, but later becomes Edna’s beau.

Florence: Female; An employee at Margo’s bookstore and a childhood friend of both Billy and Margo.

Edna: Female; An employee at Margo’s bookstore.

Stanford: Male; Loyal assistant to Mayor Josiah Dobbs

Dr. Norquist: Male; The local family doctor in Zebulon

Ensemble: Roles for males and females with speaking parts that also sing and dance as part of the ensemble.