AUDITION NOTICE

Bright Star

Monday Nov. 30th @7 PM

Saturday Dec. 5th @ 1 PM

Callbacks Wednesday Dec. 9th @ 7 PM (if needed)

Please prepare 16- 32 measures of a song in the style of Bright Star (Americana, Bluegrass, folk, etc.) You may use songs from the show itself, if you prefer. 

There will be no accompanist present – Please be prepared to sync to a Bluetooth device for your backing track.

There will be a basic dance segment – Please wear comfortable clothing and shoes.

Written by Steve Martin (Yes, THAT Steve Martin) and Edie Brickell (New Bohemians), Bright Star is set in the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina and travels imaginatively between the time periods of 1945 and 1923. Billy Cane, a young soldier just home from WWII, meets Alice Murphy, the brilliant editor of The Asheville Southern Literary Journal. Together they discover a powerful secret that alters their lives. It’s a beautiful story of love lost and found set to incredible americana music.

Show Dates: 

March 5th & 6th @ 7:30 PM 

March 12th & 13th @ 7:30 PM

March 7th @ 3:00 PM

March 14th @ 3:00 PM

Rehearsals are Wednesday and Thursday evenings and Sunday afternoons and evenings

Character Breakdown:

Character age is not in reference to the age of the actor, but rather denotes their age within the story of Bright Star.

Alice Murphy

Female. Same actress plays Alice at age 18 and age 38.

Adult Alice: an editor of a southern literary magazine; intelligent, attractive, professional–but with an air of melancholy.

Young Alice: intelligent, rebellious, high-spirited, sexually forward, adventurous–looking to break out of small-town life and experience the world.

Must be a powerful singer, good mover, and comfortable in folk and bluegrass styles. Vocal range: F3-C5

Billy Cane

Male, 20-30.

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

Must be a strong singer and mover. Needs to bring laughter and light to the stage when he’s present. Vocal range: C3-A4

Jimmy Ray Dobbs

Male. Same actor will play Jimmy Ray in his early 20s and early 40’s.

Young Jimmy: Mayor Dobbs’ son and young Alice’s love- interest; handsome, boyishly charming 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.

Adult Jimmy: Sad, remorseful, hopeful. Still very much cares for Alice. Vocal range: C3-A4

Mayor Josiah Dobbs

Male 54-56.

The Mayor of Zebulon; he’s a political and financial powerbroker – distinguished, even elegant, an imposing and controlling presence; devoted to protecting his son’s future and his family name no matter the cost. Does not care for Alice. Becomes a drunk. Looking for warmth and callousness simultaneously. Vocal range: A2-G4

Margo Crawford

Female, 20-30.

A small-town bookstore owner; a childhood friend of Billy’s who now harbors romantic feelings towards him; a natural beauty with a keen intellect. Vocal range: B3-F#5         

Daryl Ames

Male 20-40.

Precise, exacting, specific and sarcastic. Could be played dry and witty or bold and flamboyant, either with great comic timing. Cares for his friends. Vocal range: C3-E4

Lucy Grant

Female 20-30.

Confident, intelligent, flirtatious, a bit of a tease. She speaks her mind. Must be a strong singer and comfortable mover, leads a production number. Vocal range: A3-D5

Daddy Murphy

Male 40-60.

Alice’s father; Authoritative, strict, devoutly religious, hard-working, a poor but proud farmer. A bit more bark than bite. Also extremely tender. Becomes very remorseful of the way he treats Alice in youth. Vocal range: A2-G4

Mama Murphy

Female, 40-60.

Warm and strong, the center of her family. A fierce protector of her daughter, who she knows is deeply gifted, but a handful. A deeply loving and forgiving woman. Vocal range: G3-C5. 

Daddy Cane

Male, 50 – 65.

A warm, loving country man. Lives for his son, mourning a recent loss of his wife. Loves to read. Has kept a secret for many years for all the wrong reasons. Vocal range: C3-A4

Ensemble

Includes a number of supporting roles. A variety of ages, 18+.

Ensemble actors need to embody the joy and energy of the music – strong musicality and movement. Will be required to move set pieces with grace. Everyone moves scenery, and is quite active and involved throughout the entire show. Team players, active listeners!

If you are unable to attend, you may send a video audition no later than Dec. 5th.

For questions or video submissions please email: joe@spotlighttheatrepa.org

To save time at auditions, print and complete audition form by clicking here. 

Thank you for your interest.