Auditions for MCC Musical Theatre's production of Bright Star
Director - Darl Jones
Music Director - Leia Wasbotten
Choreographer - Jennifer Seigle
Audition Dates: August 28 - 29 from 4:00PM - 7:00 PM
Callbacks: Saturday August 30, 9:00 AM
MCC Performing Arts Center Mainstage
1520 S Longmore, Mesa, AZ 85202
Please prepare 32-bars of a music theater song of your choice, plus 32-bars of a folk/country song, not to exceed 3 minutes total.
An accompanist will be provided. Please bring printed music in the correct key properly marked.
PLEASE NOTE - All actors cast in the production are required to sign up for a 1 credit class at MCC.
The MCC Musical Theatre Program is committed to inclusive casting. As such, we encourage performers to attend auditions, without regard to ethnicity, ability, race, sexual orientation or gender identity. Auditions are open to all MCC students and other interested individuals.
Please complete the audition form using the button below.
Once you have completed the form, please email meghan.perales@mesacc.edu to request an audition time.
Company Meeting and Start of Rehearsals on September 3, 2025
The normal rehearsal schedule will be 3:30pm - 6:30pm M, W, F evenings.
Tech begins October 29, 2025. Performances are October 31 - November 9, 2025.
Synopsis
Set in the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina, Bright Star is a sweeping, emotionally resonant musical that weaves a tale of love, loss, and the enduring power of hope. The story unfolds across two timelines: the mid-1940s and the 1920s.
In the 1940s, a young soldier named Billy Cane returns home from war, determined to become a writer. He travels to Asheville to submit his stories to the prestigious Asheville Southern Journal, where he meets the formidable and sharp-witted editor, Alice Murphy. Alice, a woman with a mysterious and guarded past, sees something special in Billy’s writing.
As Alice mentors Billy, the musical transports us back to the 1920s to witness her youth. We see a vibrant, rebellious teenage Alice fall head over heels for a handsome young man from the wrong side of the tracks, Jimmy Ray Dobbs. Their passionate love affair is opposed by their families and ultimately results in a tragic event that shatters Alice’s world and forces her to leave her home.
As the stories of Alice and Billy intertwine, a powerful secret slowly unravels, connecting them in a way neither of them could have ever imagined. With a beautiful bluegrass score by Steve Martin and Edie Brickell, Bright Star is a powerful and uplifting story about finding your way back to who you are, the family you are meant to have, and the profound truth that what’s lost can be found again.
Character Descriptions
Alice Murphy: The central protagonist. We see her at two different stages of her life.
Young Alice (16-22): Spirited, rebellious, and intelligent. She falls deeply in love with Jimmy Ray Dobbs and challenges the societal norms of her conservative community. Her youth is marked by a tragic secret that shapes her entire life. She is a woman who, despite immense hardship, possesses a deep resilience and an enduring romantic heart.
Adult Alice (40s): The respected editor of the Asheville Southern Journal. She is sharp, witty, and seemingly hardened by time. Her emotional walls are high, and she carries a palpable sense of loss and regret. Underneath her professional exterior, she is still the same young woman, longing for a connection to the past she left behind.
Billy Cane: A young, idealistic soldier returning from World War II. He is an aspiring writer with a naive optimism and a deep love for his hometown and his childhood sweetheart, Margo. His journey to Asheville to submit his stories to the Asheville Southern Journal sets the main plot in motion, intertwining his story with Alice's. He is driven by a desire to find his place in the world and a hope for a brighter future.
Jimmy Ray Dobbs: The handsome, charismatic son of the mayor. He is deeply in love with Young Alice, and their relationship is a passionate and forbidden one. He has a complicated relationship with his father, who pressures him to conform to societal expectations. Jimmy Ray is a good-hearted man, but he struggles to stand up against the authority of his father, a weakness that leads to a devastating tragedy.
Daddy Cane: Billy's gentle and supportive father. He is a widower who encourages Billy's dreams of being a writer and provides a grounding, loving presence in Billy's life. He represents the comfort and tradition of home.
Margo Crawford: Billy's childhood friend and a librarian. She secretly loves Billy and is a source of unwavering support and encouragement for him. She is practical and grounded, representing a different kind of love than the one Alice experiences—one that is steady and enduring.
Mayor Josiah Dobbs: Jimmy Ray's cold and calculating father. He is the main antagonist of the Young Alice timeline. He is a powerful and manipulative man who is obsessed with his family's reputation and image. He ruthlessly manipulates those around him to protect his power, leading to the central conflict of the play.
Mama Murphy: Alice's cautious and concerned mother. She is protective of Alice and worries about her relationship with Jimmy Ray. She represents the anxieties and societal pressures placed on women in the early 20th century.
Daddy Murphy: Alice's stern but ultimately loving father. He is a deeply religious and conservative man who struggles to reconcile his daughter's choices with his own values. He is torn between his love for his daughter and his fear of social disgrace.
Florence, Edna, and the Townspeople: The ensemble plays various roles throughout the play, including the gossipy townsfolk who judge Alice and Jimmy Ray, and the workers at the Asheville Southern Journal. They provide the social context for the story, representing the collective voice of the community and the pressures that weigh on the main characters.
Daryl and Lucy: Alice's sharp-witted and loyal staff at the Asheville Southern Journal. They provide comic relief and serve as a sounding board for Adult Alice, helping to reveal her character and backstory through their interactions. They are a modern-day Greek chorus, commenting on the events and helping to move the plot forward.
MCC Music Theatre practices and supports non-traditional casting.
Standbys and swings will be selected from those auditioning.
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