The Sun Is Gonna Shine at PTC's "Bright Star"

Last night I had one of the best theatre experiences in my whole life - I saw Bright Star at Pioneer Theatre Company in Salt Lake City. Through a special arrangement with Center Theatre Group and the original Broadway production, Pioneer Theatre is the third city since the show left Broadway to be able to host the touring company. The same company that includes many members of the original Broadway cast and the INCREDIBLE Carmen Cusack.

Bright Star (music, book & story by Steve Martin and music, lyrics & story by Edie Brickell) follows the story of Billy Cane as he's just returned home from WWII and "waiting for his life to begin." Billy heads to Asheville, North Carolina in hopes of becoming a published writer at The Asheville Southern Journal. This is where he meets Alice Murphy, a shrewd editor who, against normal protocol and because of a clever lie, agrees to take a look at Billy's stories. It's here that we begin to follow Alice's story too and learn about some pivotal moments from her past that connect her and Billy.

Carmen Cusack (Alice Murphy) throughout the course of the play has to flip back and forth between  serious paper editor adult Alice and young, love struck Alice and she does this so well through her physicalizations that it seemed as if there were two actresses playing each version. I could write many novels about how much I love Carmen Cusack's voice - it's the perfect fit for this show that is a beautiful combination of upbeat bluegrass numbers and slow, heartbreaking ballads. It has personality, power and beauty. The songs she sings can crush your soul with one well placed note. Cusack's tiny frame at any given moment was jumping for joy or racked with grief because she truly effused every emotion from head to toe. The audience was eating out of the palm of her hand the entire show and it was so fun to watch.

The direction of the show by Walter Bobbie was so brilliantly done. Going into this show knowing that there were different timeframes being shown simultaneously, I was nervous that I would have a hard time being able to tell what was going on, but it's so effortlessly done it seems silly now that I was worried at all. The first time you go backwards in time to Alice's youth, this amazing transition scene was done that I can't stop thinking about! A formally dressed, older Alice in her dark suit with her hair pulled back stands stage left and begins walking towards an ensemble member holding a bright yellow dress on stage right. As Alice gets closer to her youthful, yellow dress, her suit is removed, she steps out of her high heels, removes her earrings, slips on her dress, lets her hair down and puts on a sun hat. It takes no more than 30 seconds or so, but it's very effective. Instantly, with the help of a beautifully done costume change and the amazing physical transformation of Cusack, she's slouchy and playful rather than stiff and cold, we're transported to 1923.

The set, designed by Eugene Lee, was simple, but clever - mostly bare to begin with, save a few chairs and a big movable cabin where the band sat. Having the band on stage was a fun element that is very rarely done. Anytime characters traveled, the cutest little train set (with real steam!) set up hear the ceiling moved from one side of the stage to the other. The lighting, designed by Japhy Weideman, was delicious. It was warm and rich in a way that felt like you were in the sunny South even though it was a dark theatre in the middle of January. There were moments throughout the show that doors would open and bright light would flood in - it brought importance to the character that was entering in this dramatic way that I really enjoyed.

Bright Star only runs until January 27th and I would suggest you do everything or anything in your power to be there to see it. It was such a cathartic experience to be in a room full of strangers all sharing and feeling and sobbing through this beautiful story. I will remember the experience of seeing this show live for a very long time. You can buy tickets here.

If you're someone like me who likes to memorize any and all music to a show before seeing it - I put a little playlist for you below. Enjoy - and when you get teary eyed at "I Had a Vision" and not know why like I did...well just wait until you see it within the context of the show. YOU. WILL. SOB.