BRIGHT STAR Lights Up Kanab June 18-26
On June 18-26, the award-winning Broadway musical BRIGHT STAR will charm Southern Utah with powerful vocals, an unforgettable story, and the toe-tapping sounds of a live bluegrass band. Presented in Kanab, Southern Utah’s charming getaway, this production of BRIGHT STAR offers a tantalizing opportunity for a weekend escape.
For producers, Lyndsey and Russell Wulfenstein, live music, singing, and dancing are all intrinsically connected. “When the actors and musicians are able to play off of each other in real-time, the synergy is palpable; The emotional highs and depths of the show reach all-new levels.” Featuring an eight-piece bluegrass band and a stunning Tony-nominated score, BRIGHT STAR will leave you singing and wanting to come back for more.
During the original Broadway run of BRIGHT STAR, Steve Martin (actor, musician, and director turned playwright) was confronted with questions about the old-fashioned sentimentality of his show. In typical Steve Martin fashion, he quipped that he thinks of it as a “New-fangled old-fashioned musical.” He explained that the show, like its old-time musical influences, uses sentimentality in the best sense of the word, to explore the richness of humanity. While the show is quite new, the shared experiences of joy, love, redemption, family secrets, and hope are as old as humanity itself.
The passion for taking old things and presenting them in new ways extends to the cast and producers of Kanab’s upcoming production of BRIGHT STAR. Producers Lyndsey and Russell Wulfenstein were both raised on old-time music and dance forms and went on to travel the world performing at festivals with international folk dance teams, including the International Folk Dance and Music Ensembles at Brigham Young University, where the couple first met. Similarly, Auriana and Taylon Mann (performing mandolin, lap steel guitar, and banjo) also met at BYU while sharing their love for traditional music and dance abroad. Together, their life-long passion for old-time music and dance, bring a powerful sense of authenticity to the production.
Russell commented “When you attend these international folk festivals, you are immediately struck by the diversity of steps, sounds, costuming, and culture, but as you take it in, the thing that really hits you is how much we have in common. We all dance, sing and play music about the same shared experiences: love, loss, faith, family, and the strength of the human spirit. The power of these themes can’t be dulled with time.” He added, “Now, more than ever, it’s important to focus on those things which unite us and BRIGHT STAR accomplishes this so beautifully.”
For Director Rachelle Robinson “It’s refreshing to be involved with a show that takes you to a time when life was simpler but the challenges were as big as ever. The small-town setting and old-time trimmings of the show make it plain to see that it is how we confront these challenges that define our character and that even evil acts can spring from positive intentions. The other thing I love about this show is the light at the end of the tunnel. The redemptive quality, the hope, and the consequences teach timeless principles of love & understanding between parents and children.”
Inspired by a true story and featuring the Tony®-nominated score by Steve Martin and Edie Brickell, Broadway’s BRIGHT STAR tells a sweeping tale of love and redemption set against the rich backdrop of the American South in the 1920s and ’40s. When literary editor Alice Murphy meets a young soldier just home from World War II, he awakens her longing for the child she once lost. Haunted by their unique connection, Alice sets out on a journey to understand her past—and what she finds has the power to transform both of their lives. With beautiful melodies and powerfully moving characters, the story unfolds as a rich tapestry of deep emotion. An uplifting theatrical journey that holds you tightly in its grasp, BRIGHT STAR is as refreshingly genuine as it is daringly hopeful.
Directed by 30-year Canadian theater veteran, Rachelle Robinson, BRIGHT STAR is produced by husband-and-wife performers, Lyndsey and Russell Wulfenstein (The W Duo), whose previous stage productions have consistently delighted sold-out audiences with their focus on delivering uplifting entertainment and memorable experiences.
Performances of BRIGHT STAR will be held nightly June 18, 19, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, and 26 at the KHS Auditorium in Kanab, UT. Shows start at 7:00 p.m. Tickets are available at KanabMusical.com.
This production of BRIGHT STAR is made possible by the generous support of local private sponsors and business sponsors including Best Friends, Honey’s Marketplace and Fuel Center, Glazier’s Market, The Cowboy Bunkhouse, Ramsay Service Center and Towing, Kanab Outpost Goods & Gear, Quality Printing and others. Please help support the arts by supporting these businesses!
