From Grammy®, Emmy® and Academy Award®-winning Steve Martin & Grammy Award-winning Edie Brickell
This sweeping tale of love and redemption set against the rich backdrop of the American South in the 1920s and ‘40s unfolds as a rich tapestry of deep emotion, beautiful melodies and powerfully moving performances.
Rated PG
Director / Choreographer
RICHARD GATTA
Music Director
DENNIS CASTELLANO
Associate Producers
THE SCHULZMAN-NERI
FOUNDATION
JOAN WELLS
AVALEE WAGNER
Honorary Producers
HOWARD AND
ELAINE DAVIS
Youth Performance Underwriters
DR. MYRON BLOOM
DR. RON AND SYLVIA HARTMAN
Running Time
APPROXIMATELY
2 HOURS, 30 MINUTES
Cast & Crew
Devin is glad to return to Southern California after recently closing the First National Tour of Bright Star. He also toured with the North American company of Mamma Mia! before sitting with the production in Las Vegas. Regional favorites include The Last Five Years, RENT (La Mirada), Les Miserables (MTW), Tarzan (3DT), Ace (Nevada Conservatory), Follies (Chicago Shakespeare), Fiddler on the Roof (Marriott Lincolnshire), Departure Lounge (Bailiwick Rep). Future projects include a reprise of Bright Star at Musical Theatre West. Proud grad of Northwestern University (Go 'Cats!) @devinjarcher
David is a proud native of Atlanta, graduate of University of Georgia and member of Actors Co-op-Hollywood. First Nat’l Tour Bright Star. Regional: Parade (Merry Go Round), Billy Elliot (La Mirada), The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas and Urban Cowboy (TUTS Houston), Trails (NYMF world premiere). LA: Bonnie & Clyde, Lucky Stiff, Big River, Guys and Dolls, Man of La Mancha, The Spitfire Grill. TV/Film: American Made, Snowfall, Scandal, Castle, 2 Broke Girls, Castle, 50 To 1, Longmire, Justified, CSI, and True Blood.
Ted is pleased to return to Musical Theatre West, where earlier this year he played Harry the Horse in Guys and Dolls. In September he made his Off Broadway debut in Separate and Equal at 59E59. He has worked at Mark Taper Forum, TheatreWorks, North Coast Repertory Theatre, International City Theatre, Coeurage Theatre Company, Theatricum Botanicum; California, Colorado, Lake Tahoe, Kingsmen Shakespeare Festivals; Shakespeare Santa Cruz, among many others, and toured nationally in On Golden Pond.
Ricky was last seen at MTW in Yankee Doodle Dandy and 2014’s BIG FISH. Recent credits include South Pacific and Cabaret (La Mirada), Guys and Dolls (Old Globe), world premiere of EMPIRE: The Musical, The King and I (Chicago), Salome and Wonderful Town (L.A. Opera). He has appeared in productions with Sacramento Music Circus, Reprise, San Diego Opera, L.A. Opera, Arizona Opera, Houston and Dallas Operas, and the La Jolla Playhouse. Thank you Paul and Richard!
Rachelle is thrilled to return to her home state for her Musical Theatre West debut! National tour: Anything Goes (Hope Harcourt). Recent regional credits include Sophie in Mamma Mia! (Beef & Boards Theatre), Shy in The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas (Finger Lakes MTF’s Merry-Go-Round Playhouse), and Regina in Rock of Ages (Forestburgh Playhouse). UC Irvine Alumni currently residing in New York City. Love and endless gratitude to my wonderful Mom, Dad, Spencer, family, friends, Biddle girls, Meg Pantera Agency, and the MT West Team! This one’s for my favorite newlyweds, Captain & Sarah. www.rachelleroseclark.com @rachelleroseclark
MTW Debut! SoCal: The Nerd & 1776 at The Norris, Olaf & Duke in Frozen at Disneyland. TV/Film/Commercial: The Orville (FOX), The Mick (FOX), Celebrity Ghost Stories (Biography Channel), TurboTax (National), Twinings Tea, etc. NYC Concerts: Chess, A Wonderful Life. Off Broadway: Illyria, Star Messengers. Tours: 1776, All the Great Books (Abridged). Regional: Paper Mill, Geva, Great Lakes Theater, Cleveland Play House, etc. Education: Baldwin-Wallace Conservatory. For Josh & HS. www.RyanDietz.net
National tours: 1st National tour of Bright Star ( Dr. Norquist / u/s Mayor Dobbs /u/s Daddy Murphy) ,42nd Street (Julian Marsh), The Music Man (Charlie Cowell/Harold Hill), H.M.S. Pinafore (Dick Deadeye), The Pirates of Penzance (Pirate King). Regional: How the Grinch Stole Christmas (The Old Globe); Kiss Me, Kate(Pasadena Playhouse); Side Show (La Jolla Playhouse, dir. Bill Condon); Parade, Man of La Mancha (San Diego Theatre Critics Circle Award nom.);Once,The Producers, Evita, Footloose, Ring of Fire. TV/film: NBC's The Office, Journeyman, Spud, The Thin Line.
Paige is delighted to make her MTW debut! She had the honor of being in the original Bright Star cast at The Old Globe. Regional favorites: The Heart of Robin Hood (The Wallis Annenberg), Next to Normal, She Loves Me (Heritage Theatre Festival), Much Ado About Nothing (Kentucky Shakespeare), Church Basement Ladies (Sierra Rep.), Into the Woods, Sweeney Todd (NESA Theatre). Recently seen on American Housewife (ABC), I'm Dying Up Here (Showtime). BFA- Shenandoah Conservatory.
Rayna is tickled to be cast in her first show on land in four years!After contracts with Disney, Royal Caribbean and Princess cruises she’s relieved to find a stage that doesn’t roll!She would like to express gratitude to MTW for the opportunity, Michael Donovan for his confidence and My Little Family for their love and support. Proud member of AEA.
Originally from Santa Rosa California, Rachel has been seen in all fifty states and eight countries singing with Big Bird on the national tour of Sesame Street Live. Other credits include Witch (Into The Woods), Dolly (Hello,Dolly!) Aldonza (Man Of La Mancha) Roz (9 to 5) and Woman 1 (Side By Side By Sondheim) Check her out at www.rachelmclaughlan.com. Love to Kurtis, Jen, Rob, and her awesome agent Anthony Boyer with DDO Artists Agency.
Scott is proud to be making his MTW debut! LA appearances include South Coast Rep, Rockwell Table & Stage, and Main Street Theatre. Off Broadway/NYC: Rent, Bring Back Birdie, Rocket Boys, NBS!, Subways Are for Sleeping. National Tours: Oklahoma!, Big River, Go Diego Go Live!. Other favorites: Hello, Dolly!, The Foreigner, Pippin, Spelling Bee, Anything Goes, Disney Cruise Line. TV/Film: “The Big C,” “Law and Order,” “King of the Rodeo” by the Kings of Leon, The Salesman, Enhanced Interrogation. www.scottmcleanharrison.com
Broadway National Tours: BRIGHT STAR, WICKED, CITY OF ANGELS. Musical Theatre West: CAROUSEL (Starkeeper), THE FULL MONTY (Malcolm - Ovation Award nomination), CRAZY FOR YOU (Lank) and ME AND MY GIRL (Gerald). Select Regional: Center Theatre Group, American Conservatory Theatre, South Coast Repertory, Fords’ Theatre, Sacramento Music Circus, Paper Mill Playhouse, Fonda, Charles Playhouse, TUTS, San Diego Musical Theatre, Casa Mañana, Moonlight, McCoy-Rigby, Cabrillo, International City Theatre, Reprise!, Starlight. Graduate: Boston Conservatory. More: www.kevin-mcmahon.com. Twitter/Instagram: @KBMcMahonJr
MTW debut! Premiere Season of new Amazon series “New Dogs, Old Tricks,” recurring as Lauren, streaming now. Theatre credits include: Jack O’Brien’s 1st National Tour of The Sound Of Music (Maria u/s); The Door To America (SHE LA Festival); World Premiere industry presentations of Chéri (Arena Stage’s Mead Center) and Rock And A Hard Place (NYC Players Theatre). Additional TV/Film: “Blue Bloods” (CBS); “Easter Mysteries” (Fathom Events/ABC/NBC). BFA, Syracuse University. www.AnnaMintzer.com
MTW debut! Recent credits include Jonah: A Musical Detour (Williamstown), Cabaret (CB Mountain Theatre), Metamorphoses, Evita, Grease, and Hit the Wall, a new musical by Charlotte Caffey of The Go-Go͛s. Currently Hans in the Liesl Tommy‐directed Frozen—Live at the Hyperion (Disney California Adventure), he can also be seen on HBO͛s Sterling,airinglater this year. USC ͚17. Thanks to Steven Dry, Heidi, Leigh, and his big ol͛ family for their support. www.taubertnadalini.com | @taubertnadalini
Mackenzie Is thrilled to be making her MTW debut on this southern gem of a show! Previous credits include: National Tour: Annie; Ben, Virginia, and Me at NYMF; Regional: The North American premiere of Tim Rice’s “From Here to Eternity” at Merry-Go-Round Playhouse. The Atlanta Workshop Players, and The Alliance Theatre. Some favorite credits include: A Christmas Carol, Footloose, Steel Magnolias, and Legally Blonde. Marymount Manhattan Alumni. CTG. @Mackperp
CA Credits: Guys and Dolls, Musical Theatre West; Bobby – Cabaret, Celebration Theatre. Other Credits: Parkeeper/Ensemble – Mary Poppins, Utah Shakespeare Festival; It Happened One Christmas and Fiddler on the Roof, Pioneer Theatre Company. Other favorite roles: George Nowack – She Loves Me, J. Pierrepont Finch – How To Succeed... Tanner holds a B.A. in Musical Theatre from Weber State University. All the love to my Nic and the fam
Sean is grateful to return to MTW after last year’s “Carousel”. Theatre: Pre-Broadway/Nat’l Tours of “Jersey Boys” (Norm Waxman); “Phantom of the Opera” (M. Andre); “Candide” (Maximilian) as well as LA Premieres of “Chess” (Anatoly *Ovation & LADCC Awards*); “Assassins” (Czolgosz); Yeston/Kopit “Phantom” (Phantom) and World Premieres of “London Calling” (Harry, Eddie French, Recruiter); “Moscow” (Jon) and “Judy’s Scary Little Christmas” (Bing Crosby). Most recently appeared as Martin in Edward Albee’s “The Goat, or Who Is Sylvia?” for CVRep. Film and TV credits too numerous to mention.
Nikki is honored to return to the MTW stage with the regional premier of Bright Star! Previous MTW credits: South Pacific, My Fair Lady, Carousel, and Mary Poppins. Most recently Nikki appeared as Gloria Upson inMame (MTG). Other credits: Betty Jean (The Marvelous Wonderettes/Crown City Theatre), Marilyn (Pipe Dream/RRS). Todo mi amor a mi familia! Many thanks to Todd at ATB Talent. IG: @nikkielena
Photos & Video
Reviews
Bright Star is a rich show, charming the audience with powerful and nostalgic music, a captivating story and a brilliant cast.
A Steve Mar-‘Tin Pan Alley’ Marvel: None Could Be Better Than Musical Theatre West’s ‘Stellar’ Regional Premiere Of “Bright Star”
...Some of the scenes are melodramatic but the characters are so charming that it’s easy to overlook those moments. And on the original sets from Broadway, director and choreographer Richard Gatta does a great job taking us smoothly through the two time periods.
MTW is giving audiences a right.on.the.mark recreation by Richard Gatta of Walter Bobbie's original fluid staging and Josh Rhodes' splended choreography... and the performances, particularly that of Anna Mintzer, are deliriously wonderful.
Gorgeous bluegrass melodies, a leading lady’s incandescent star turn, all-around terrific supporting performances, ingenious staging, and a plot straight out of a 1930s/40s Hollywood weeper will have you crying joyful tears that Musical Theatre West has made Steve Martin and Edie Brickell’s Bright Star its 66th season opener.
‘Bright Star’ a big Broadway get for Musical Theatre West