Bright Star

A rich tapestry of deep emotion, beautiful melodies and powerfully moving performances, Pursued By Bear brings the award-winning new musical, Bright Star to Chapel Off Chapel for a strictly limited season this October.

Inspired by a real event and featuring the Grammy-Award nominated score by Steve Martin and Edie Brickell, Bright Star tells a sweeping tale of love, regret and redemption set against the rich backdrop of the American South in the 1920s and 1940s that will have your feet stomping and heart thoroughly warmed.

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 their lives.

Nominated for five Tony Awards and winner of the Outstanding New Broadway Musical in the Outer Critics Circle Awards, Bright Star will be brought to life by Mark Taylor (Director), Nathan Firmin (Musical Director), Freya List (Choreographer) and featuring a brilliant cast including Kala Gare (Master Class, Thoroughly Modern Millie) as Alice Murphy, Matthew Prime (Jersey Boys) as Jimmy Ray Dobbs, and Callum O’Malley (Vivid White, Open Heart) as Billy Cane.

Established in 2013 with hope to challenge and inspire Melbourne audiences through inventive and thought-provoking theatre, Pursued By Bear has grown to be at the forefront of independent musical theatre in Melbourne with their catalogue of work including Next To Normal (2013), the Australian premiere of High Fidelity: The Musical (2014), John & Jen (2015), Green Room Award nominated tick, tick…BOOM! (2016), the Australian professional premiere of First Date: The Musical (2016), the Victorian premier of Lin-Manuel Miranda’s 21 Chump Street (2017), and Green Room Award winning Ordinary Days (2017).

Director: Mark Taylor Featuring: Kala Gare, Mike Gardiner, Matthew Prime, Bradley Beard, Callum O’Malley, Daisy Calnin, Sarah Krndija, Ruby Clark, Lachlan Hewson, Anthony Craig, Ellie Nunan, Shay Debney, Lindy Yeates, Nathan Fernandez, Tref Gare, Lauren Jimmieson, Tom Blair, Teagan Nowicki Musical Director: Nathan Firmin Choreographer: Freya List Assistant Director: Emma Gough Assistant Choreographer: Leah Hamlet Stage Manager: Ashleigh Walwyn Assistant Stage Manager: Brittany McVicar Costume Designer: Jodi Hope Lighting Designer: Mungo Trumble Production Designer: Sarah Tulloch