Character Breakdowns

Character age is not in reference to the age of the actor, but rather denotes their age within the story of Bright Star.

Alice Murphy
Female. Same actress plays Alice at age 16 and age 38. 

Adult Alice: an editor of a southern literary magazine; intelligent, attractive, professional–but with an air of melancholy.

Young Alice: intelligent, rebellious, high-spirited, sexually forward, adventurous–looking to break out of small-town life and experience the world.
Must be a powerful singer, good mover, and comfortable in folk and bluegrass styles.

Vocal range: F3-C5

Billy Cane
Male, 20-30.
A soldier returning home from WWII; an aspiring young writer; fresh, open, optimistic, charming, and a little naïve. Must be a strong singer and mover. Needs to bring laughter and light to the stage when he’s present. 

Vocal range: C3-A4

Jimmy Ray Dobbs

Male. Same actor will play Jimmy Ray in his early 20s and early 40’s.

Young Jimmy: Mayor Dobbs’ son and young Alice’s love-interest; handsome, boyishly charming and intelligent; from a family of wealth and power and is being groomed by his father for a similar future in the family business; an independent thinker who is not afraid to stand up to his father for what he believes in; he has a sense of personal responsibility and morality as well as a deep reserve of passion and emotion.

Adult Jimmy: Sad, remorseful, hopeful. Still very much cares for Alice. 

Vocal range: C3-A4

Mayor Josiah Dobbs
Male 54-56.
The Mayor of Zebulon; he’s a political and financial powerbroker – distinguished, even elegant, an imposing and controlling presence; devoted to protecting his son’s future and his family name no matter the cost. Does not care for Alice. Becomes a drunk. Looking for warmth and callousness simultaneously. 

Please prepare: A Man's Gotta Do from the audition materials 

Vocal range: A2-G4

Margo Crawford

Female, 20-30.
A small-town bookstore owner; a childhood friend of Billy’s who now harbors romantic feelings towards him; a natural beauty with a keen intellect. 

Vocal range: B3-F#5

Daryl Ames
Male 20-40.
Precise, exacting, specific and sarcastic. Could be played dry and witty or bold and flamboyant, either with great comic timing. Cares for his friends. 

Vocal range: C3-E4

Lucy Grant
Female 20-30.
Confident, intelligent, flirtatious, a bit of a tease. She speaks her mind. Must be a strong singer and comfortable mover, leads a production number. 

Vocal range: A3-D5

Daddy Murphy
Male 40-60.
Alice’s father; Authoritative, strict, devoutly religious, hard-working, a poor but proud farmer. A bit more bark than bite. Also extremely tender. Becomes very remorseful of the way he treats Alice in youth. 

Vocal range: A2-G4

Mama Murphy
Female, 40-60.
Warm and strong, the centre of her family. A fierce protector of her daughter, who she knows is deeply gifted, but a handful. A deeply loving and forgiving woman. 

Vocal range: G3-C5.

Daddy Cane
Male, 50 – 65.
A warm, loving country man. Lives for his son, mourning a recent loss of his wife. Loves to read. Has kept a secret for many years for all the wrong reasons. 

Please prepare: She's Gone from the audition materials 

Vocal range: C3-A4

Ensemble
Includes a number of supporting roles.
A variety of ages, 16+.

Ensemble actors need to embody the joy and energy of the music - strong musicality and movement.

Will be required to manoeuvre set pieces with grace. Everyone moves scenery, and is quite active and involved throughout the entire show. Team players, active listeners!