The McPherson College Theatre Department opens its season with performances of the musical “Bright Star” on October 13-15 at 7:30 p.m. in Brown Auditorium.
“Bright Star” is the 2015 musical adapted by Steve Martin and Edie Brickell based on the Appalachian tale of the Iron Mountain Baby. The story shows Alice at two points in her life: in 1924, after meeting her true love, and in 1945, after a new young man walks into her life.
The cast includes Rebekah Ballast, Toby Leffew, E.J. Landrum, Kade McCune, Octavius Toliver-Flient, Mattis Ahlgrimm, Jean McKinney-Chance, Sierra Portenier, Gabby Lopez, Isaac Fleming, Bailey Hulce, Jailynn Hammel, Hudson Edwards, Jewel Hardin, Phebe Lyne, Susie Cunningham, and Hannah Simmons.
“Most people are not familiar with this new musical because it opened on Broadway the same year as the musical ‘Hamilton,’” said Jd. Bowman, professor of theatre. “But, in 2022, ‘Bright Star’ was named one of the top five most-produced musicals of high schools, colleges, and amateur theatres.”
Presented in concert form, the bluegrass score and folk-telling lyrics remind the audience that we each have multiple stories of past and present running through us.
A themed meal on the opening night of each production is offered to theater season ticket holders, also known as First Nighters. Tickets to each show are available online at www.mcpherson.edu/theatre-tickets or by emailing the box office at [email protected].