‘BRIGHT STAR’ CHARACTER DESCRIPTIONS

Alice Murphy (F)

Age range: 30 -40 The same actress will play both 16-17 and 36-37.

Alice at age 36-37 is an editor of a southern literary magazine; intelligent, aloof, and
with an air of melancholy. Alice at age 16-17 is rebellious, high-spirited, adventurous.

The actress must be a very strong singer and comfortable in folk and bluegrass styles.

Jimmy Ray Dobbs (M)

Age range: 30 -40 The same actor will play both 18-20 and 38-40.

Jimmy Ray at age 18-20 is charming and intelligent. He comes from a family of wealth
and lives under the thumb of his power-hungry father. The events of the show shape
him into a man that has a sense of personal responsibility and morality as well as a
deep reserve of passion and emotion at age 38-40.

Billy Cane (M)

Age range: 18 -30

A young soldier returning home from WWII; an aspiring young writer; optimistic,
charming, and idealistic.

Margo Crawford (F)

Age range: 18 -30

Margo is Billy’s childhood friend who has grown to love him romantically. She has a
keen intellect and a big heart. She owns a small-town bookstore, and edits Billy’s stories
for him.

Mayor Josiah Dobbs (M)

Age range: 50 +

The Mayor of Zebulon; a political and financial powerbroker – distinguished, an

imposing and controlling presence; has a genuine interest in protecting his son’s future
and his family name, but in doing so, is ultimately pushed to a point of extreme and
irrevocable cruelty.

It is our hope to give this character some depth, and not to play him like a mustache
twirling villain.
Daryl Ames (M)
Age range: 25 - 45

Daryl is an assistant at a literary magazine. He’s funny, with a dry sense of humor. He’s
also insecure, and perhaps a bit socially awkward, but endearing and innately likeable.

Actor should be a strong dancer.

Lucy Grant (F)

Age range: 20 - 35

Lucy is a junior editor at a literary magazine. She is an ambitious, professional young

career woman with a sharp sense of humor, but not without warmth and sincerity.

Daddy Cane
Age range: 50 +

Daddy Cane is Billy’s father. He is a recent widower - kind hearted, and a bit lonely.

Mama Murphy (F)

Age range: 50 +

Mamy Murphy is Alice’s mother. She is a hardworking caretaker to her family and her
rural community. A warm, loving, sensible woman.

Daddy Murphy (M)

Age range: 50 +

Daddy Murphy is Alice’s father; an authoritative and a stern disciplinarian; devoutly

religious, hard-working, a poor but proud farmer.

Stanford (M or F)
Age range: 35 - 55

Stanford is a loyal assistant to Mayor Josiah Dobbs

Spirits (F)
Age range: 14+

Featured dancers and singers who represent Alice’s emotions during various
heightened scenes.
Opportunities for Featured Casting in the Ensemble:

Florence + Edna (F)

Two of Margo’s friends

Max (M)
A bookstore patron with an unrequited crush on Margo.

Dr. Norquist (M or F)
The local family doctor in Zebulon

Mama Cane (F)

Seen in one song, representing the mother Billy lost.

Government Clerk (M or F)
A clerk at the Office of Records in Raleigh

Well-Dressed Woman (F)

A woman (38-40) living in Raleigh

AND MORE!!!