Theater News

New York Stage and Film to Present Steve Martin and Edie Brickell’s Musical Bright Star

Tony Award winner Walter Bobbie will direct a concert reading of the work-in-progress.

Steve Martin
Steve Martin
(© David Gordon)

New York Stage and Film and Vassar College have announced that the 2013 Powerhouse Season will now include a concert reading of Steve Martin and Edie Brickell’s work-in-progress musical Bright Star, July 12-14 at Vassar College’s Martel Theater. Tony Award winner Walter Bobbie (Venus in Fur) will direct.

The concert production of Bright Star will feature Stephen Bogardus (Falsettos), Emmy Award winner Mare Winningham (Picnic), Michael Esper (The Lyons), Cory Michael Smith (Breakfast at Tiffany’s), Phoebe Strole (Macbeth), Skipp Sudduth (South Pacific), Carmen Cusack (Wicked), Kelsey Fowler (Bonnie and Clyde), Jake Kitchin, and Tori Alexa Feinstein.

The musical is set in the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina and takes the audience on a journey between 1945 and 1922. It is the tale of a young man who returns from war and uncovers hidden yearnings and dark secrets about his past. It features a live bluegrass score including songs from Brickell and Martin’s new album “Love Has Come for You.” Brickell and Martin have collaborated on music for the piece, with Martin writing the book and Brickell penning lyrics.

Powerhouse Theater is dedicated to aiding artists in the development and production of new works for theater and film. The program consists of an eight-week residency on the Vassar campus during which more professional artists and apprentices live and work together to create new theater works.