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Black Hills State University Music Department and Matthews Opera House are partnering to present “Bright Star,” a bluegrass musical written and composed by Steve Martin and Edie Brickell. Performances will be February 21-22 at 7:30 pm with a matinee at 2:00 pm on Sunday, February 23.
This special presentation is a collaborative effort between Matthews Opera House and BHSU Music Department, with both organizations seeking to equip students with crucial educational skills and real-world experience as well as create a connected body of student and community performers
Plot
Set in the 1920’s and 40’s against the rich backdrop of the American South, Bright Star is the story of Alice Murphy, presented at two different points in her life. First, as a carefree young girl hopelessly in love with the mayor’s son and, later, as a successful magazine editor with a mysterious connection to a young man named Billy. As star-crossed teenagers, Alice and small town heart-throb Jimmy Ray fell in love and their relationship resulted in a pregnancy that threatened the ambitions of Jimmy Ray’s father. The couple’s infant son was whisked away and a string of lies unraveled their happy ending before it could even begin. Years later, now a successful literary editor, Alice meets a promising young writer named Billy who awakens her longing for the son she lost. Alice sets out on a journey to understand her past and unlocks a secret that will change both of their lives forever. With beautiful melodies and powerfully moving characters, Bright Star is an epic tale inspired by true events.
Cast
Alice Murphy. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Gwen Hoops
Billy Cane. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Justin Schultz
Daddy Cane. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Jim Miles
Margot. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Rylann Olson
Max. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Aiden O’Shea
Florence. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Carissa Deming
Edna. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Analena Urquidez
Daryl /Darla. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Hannah Rehmeier
Lucy. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Maegan Detlefs
Mamma Murphy. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Laurel Simpson
Daddy Murphy. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Colin Hanzlik
Mayor Dobbs. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Will Merry
Jimmy Ray Dobbs. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Bryce Mullaney
Stanford. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Greg Roling
Dr. Norquist. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Jase Zebrowski
Government Clerk. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Pamela Wegner
Well-Dressed Woman. . . . . . . . . . . . . . Mallory Wilde
Spirit Women. . . .Madigan Schmitz, Hailey Hanzlik, Kaija Swisher
Ensemble: Alexis Hauf, Marley Neururer, Lily LaValley, Anya Jones, A.J. Adkins, Carissa Deming, Hailey Hanzlik, Analena Urquidez, Madigan Schmitz, Laurel Simpson, Kaija Swisher, Aiden O’Shea
In Memory of Tad Addy
The Matthews Opera House and BHSU Music Department would like to thank Sandra Addy who chose to support the production of Bright Star to honor the memory of her husband Tad Addy. Tad was a strong supporter of the Music Department at Black Hills State University. As well as providing scholarship funds, he was a major donor toward the purchase of a Steinway piano for the recital hall in Meier Hall. He was a distinguished faculty member in mechanical engineering at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign for nearly forty years. As a result he was well aware of how difficult it is for faculty to find funding for the purchase of equipment for research and teaching. During a decade as head of his department, he was a driving force in obtaining funding for equipment that would foster the careers of young professors. He was delighted to have the opportunity to quickly make a dream come true for the BHSU music professors who had launched a fund-raising effort to purchase a much needed world class piano. Students and faculty were profuse in their thanks to Tad. Just last fall Sandra sat in on a class through BHSU’s Visitor Pass program and as they left class a student said to her “I’m on my way over to Meier Hall to play on the Steinway. Thank you.” Tad would have loved to hear that comment!
