Footlite Musicals, a nonprofit theater troupe based in Indianapolis, will present their rendition of “Bright Star” from March 1 to 17.
“Bright Star” is a bluegrass-infused musical from comedian Steve Martin and musician Edie Brickell. The Tony Award-nominated musical tells the story of one woman at two different points in her life: as a rebellious, high-spirited young woman growing up in the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina and, 22 years later, when she is a well-to-do magazine editor in Asheville.
In his directorial debut, “Bright Star” director says: “I’m so excited to bring a bluegrass musical to Indianapolis. Steve Martin has written some of the funniest lines I’ve ever heard in musical theatre,” said Isaac Becker-Chamberlin, director of “Bright Star. “There are moments in this show that will make you laugh, cry, and maybe even get up in dance. And we’re also excited to feature our talented musicians in ways not typically done on the Footlite stage.”
The protagonist, Alice Murphy, is played by singer-songwriter Aprille Goodman. After college in Nashville, Goodman spent a decade in New York City. She has collaborated with many amazing musicians in the jazz, blues, rock, and folk worlds, and has worked on music for film and television. Goodman stumbled upon Footlite Musicals after moving to Indianapolis in 2021, and she has now performed in several productions with the nonprofit theater organization.
Fellow cast members include local performers Luke Bockelman (Jimmy Ray Dobbs), Bobby Haley (Billy Cane), Alyssa Linville (Margo Crawford), Dick Davis (Mayor Josiah Dobbs), Bryan Padgett (Daryl Ames), Kennedy Wilson (Lucy Grant), Phil Criswell (Daddy Cane), Shari Jacobs (Mama Murphy), Dan Miller (Daddy Murphy), and ensemble members Olivia Mozzi (Government Clerk), Logan Laflin (Stanford), Bailey Rae Harmon (Edna), Alex Bast (Max), Emily Theurer (Florence), and Derek Savick-Hesser (Dr. Norquist).
Tickets to the production can be purchased online at footlite.org.
