Auditions: Bright Star
Directed by Joe Elefante and Musical Direction by Jack Bender
Sunday, February 23 rd and Monday, February 24 th at 7:00PM
CALLBACKS Thursday, February 27 th at 7:00PM

Performance Dates:
May 16th , May 17th , May 18th
May 22nd , May 23rd , May 24th , May 25th
May 29th , May 30th , May 31st , June 1st

Please prepare a 32-bar cut of a song that shows off your voice.
Be prepared to dance

Rehearsals will begin in March. Rehearsals will typically be held 3-4 times per week including Sundays.

You will be asked to list all conflict dates on your audition form. Not everyone will be called to all
rehearsals. Please bring ALL conflicts between the auditions and opening night of the show.

The Barn Theatre seeks a cast of adult performers ranging in age 20-50s for this production. The Barn Theatre has an open casting policy for all our productions. As an organization, we are committed to diverse and inclusive casting and welcome all ethnicities and gender identities to audition. Newcomers are especially welcomed and encouraged!

"Bright Star" is a heartfelt musical that weaves together themes of love, redemption, and the power of storytelling. Set in the hills of the Blue Ridge Mountains in Asheville, NC in the 1920s and 1940s, it follows the journey of Alice Murphy, a literary editor with a mysterious past. As she grapples with secrets from her youth and the challenges of adulthood, Alice’s story intertwines with that of a young soldier returning home from World War II, forging connections that transcend time and circumstance. With bluegrass-inspired music by Steve Martin and Edie Brickell, "Bright Star" is a moving tale of hope and resilience in the face of adversity.

Featured Roles:
Alice Murphy – plays both 16-17 and 36-37. Alice at age 36-37 is an editor of a southern literary magazine; intelligent, attractive, and professional. Young Alice at age 16-17 is rebellious, high-spirited, and adventurous. She must be a very strong singer and comfortable in folk and bluegrass styles.
Mezzo F3 to C5

Billy Cane – a young soldier returning home from WWII; an aspiring young writer; fresh, open, optimistic, charming, and a little naïve. Tenor C3 to A4

Daddy Cane – Billy’s father. A widower. Spry, good-looking. Kind-hearted, if a bit lonely. Tenor C3 to A4

Margo Crawford – a small-town bookstore owner; a childhood friend of Billy’s with a keen intellect. Soprano B3 to F#5

Daryl Ames – 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. Tenor/Baritone C3 to E4

Lucy Grant – A junior editor at a literary magazine. An ambitious, professional young “modern” career woman of the 1940’s. Strong, forthright, and provocative with a sharp sense of humor. Featured singer and dancer. Soprano A3 to D5

Mama Murphy – Alice’s mother. A caretaker to her family and her rural community. A warm, loving, sensible woman. Hardworking, with great inner strength and compassion. Mezzo G3 to C5

Daddy Murphy – Alice’s father; an authoritative and stern disciplinarian; devoutly religious, hard-
working, a poor but proud farmer. Baritone A2 to G4

Mayor Josiah Dobbs – the Mayor of Zebulon; a political and financial powerbroker – distinguished, 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. Baritone A2 to G4

Jimmy Ray Dobbs – plays both age 18-20 and 38-40. Jimmy Ray in his early 20s in flashbacks is Mayor Dobbs’ son and young Alice’s beau; handsome, boyishly charming, well-built, and intelligent; The same actor will also play an adult Jimmy Ray at age 38-40. Tenor C3 to A4

Ensemble:
Max/Ensemble – a customer at Margo’s bookstore, with a crush on Margo who later becomes Edna’s beau.

Florence/Ensemble – an employee at Margo’s bookstore and a childhood friend of both Billy and Margo.

Edna/Ensemble – an employee at Margo’s bookstore.
Stanford/Ensemble – Loyal assistant to Mayor Josiah Dobbs

Dr. Norquist/Ensemble – The local family doctor in Zebulon

Government Clerk (F)/Ensemble – A clerk at the Office of Records in Raleigh

Well-Dressed Woman/Ensemble – A woman (38-40) living in Raleigh.