Theatre students and faculty began rehearsals before spring break for their April performances of the Broadway musical Bright Star.
Bright Star will be performed at 7:30 p.m. Apr.11-13 and Apr. 26-27 in Fulks Theatre, with a talkback on Apr. 26 and a dinner on Apr.27.
The play, set in North Carolina during the 1920s through the 1940s, was written by Steve Martin and Edie Brickell. The production’s themes deal with love, loss and redemption said Adam Hester, professor of theatre and director of the musical.
“Bright Star is such a wonderfully inspiring play that is different in many ways from what we have produced in the past,” Hester said. “It uses a piece of Broadway-style bluegrass music in telling of the story that is such a departure from most musical theatre forms.”
The theatre department performed Steel Magnolias in February and sold out during its final weekend of the show.
“Our patrons are primarily from ACU faculty and staff,” Hester said. “There is also a good deal of people who support from the local community. Student attendance usually varies depending on the show.”
Hester said he hopes that this upcoming play will take on a different genre. It will be more serious, in-depth and will leave audiences engaged and fascinated, Hester said.
“The audience takeaway I’m hoping for is that people will leave with a sense of hope and inspiration,” Hester said. “We are hoping that people will evaluate their relationships and are moved toward reconciliation and restoration.”
Kari Hatfield, Associate professor of theatre also felt that Bright Star would leave an ever-lasting impression on the audience.
“Bright Star is a beautiful story about redemption and hope. The music is fantastic, even if you dislike Bluegrass you’re going to love it”, said Hatfield. “The play is surprising, funny, moving, and it is very human. I think everybody will find something that they love about it if they come to see the play”.
“We are hoping people just have a good time to a great story and toe-tapping music,” Hester said.
Tickets for this production can be purchased online at acu.edu/theatre.
