Audience members will feel at home watching the ETSU Theatre and Dance program’s newest show “Bright Star” as the Appalachian region begins to flourish in its plot.
Written by Steve Martin and Edie Brickell, “Bright Star” is a musical performance that follows a journey of two deep entities of love. The story jumps back and forth from the 1920s to 1945, post-World War II, following a stream of complexity and depth into the lives of Appalachian people.
Plotted in the Blue Ridge Mountain region, settings varying from Asheville to other North Carolina areas following the mystery of a newly aspiring writer Billie Crane, played by Charlie Landry, after returning from the war. In the play, we see flashbacks of prior love in the life of Alice Murphy, played by Taylor Phillips.
“There is a lot in the play about small town life in Appalachia,” said Robert Funk, the play’s director. “[The audience] will know these characters, they will have met people like them, especially if they’re from a small town in this area.”
Robert “Bobby” Funk, ETSU professor of theatre, sees this musical as a chance to blend programs on campus for a multifaceted performed piece of work. The unfolding rich journey of “Bright Star” is considered to be a refreshingly genuine sweeping tale of love that audience members will be able to relate to with having relation to this area.
“The department of Theatre and Dance chose this play for the opportunity to work with the [ETSU] bluegrass program and also the department of music studies because it is very much an Appalachian story,” said Funk.
The love story musical will be performed in Bert C. Bach Theatre at the Martin Center for the Arts. Showtimes are 7:30 p.m. on April 1-2 and 7-9 and 2 p.m. on Sundays, April 3 and 10. Tickets are available for $15 at general admission, with the April 10 performance available for livestream at $17.50.
The ETSU Department of Theatre and Dance holds many performances throughout the year while offering many opportunities to get involved. It offers auditioning for performances and play production, joining Patchwork Players, which is an entity for student led performances, and more.
To purchase tickets, read the cast list and receive additional information, please visit https://etsu.edu/cas /theatre/upcoming-production.php
