Bright Star Appreciation Thread- Page 2

[ChiTheaterFan]

Posted: 5/8/16 at 4:17am

I'll just leave this here for you fellow Cusack fans!!!http://www.playbill.com/article/meet-the-man-who-stopped-carmen-cusack-from-giving-up-theatre  

[thomaspaine]

Posted: 5/8/16 at 9:34pm

Saw this today for Mother's Day and it couldn't have been a more perfect pick for the theme! We had no idea it was so much about motherhood when we got tickets to it -- my mom just loves Steve Martin, so we decided to see it. So glad we did. Incredibly cute, loved the bluegrass influence, and Carmen Cusack was stunning. A sweet feel-good musical.

[UnwoundFantasies]

Posted: 5/9/16 at 1:49am

Random, but does anyone know where I can find Bright Star's performance on The Tonight Show? It looks like it's been taken down from NBC. But if anyone know where else I could watch it/if someone maybe downloaded it please let me know!

[TerrenceIsTheMann]

Posted: 5/9/16 at 1:57am

I love, love, love this show. Awesome.

[ArtMan]

Posted: 5/22/16 at 9:40pm

Thanks to all of you for the heads up on this show.  I really did not have an interest until I read this thread.  Loved the show.  Out of six shows I saw,  it would have been my favorite,had I not seen The Color Purple.  But it was a strong number 2 .

Updated On: 5/23/16 at 09:40 PM

[theatreguy12]

Posted: 5/23/16 at 12:29am

I was in NY over spring break but decided to do a weekender last weekend to see American Psycho and Waitress since I missed them in March. I decided to add on Bright Star when I saw it get the Tony nod, and as others have said it was such a great show. Cusack is just so natural, and so real up there. Absolutely charming. And the music. Wow! Loved every moment of it. I'm sold. As much as I liked Hamilton...and loved Shuffle Along...I would in no way mind seeing this win musical.

[Skip23]

Posted: 5/23/16 at 12:35am

Saw the show this afternoon.  Surprised.  I'm going back.  Kill the Marketing Team!

 

 

[ChiTheaterFan]

Posted: 5/23/16 at 12:41am

Second to Hamilton, hands down my favorite musical of the season. (Although I haven't seen shuffle along yet). I'm anxiously awaiting the grosses tomorrow, hoping they've gotten another boost this week. I've seen it twice and am addicted to the score. Seeing it again the day of the Tonys and I can hardly wait. I could see this show again and again and again. It makes my heart swell with emotion and I have so much joy by the end I feel like I can't stop crying and smiling at the same time. 

[GreenGables]

Posted: 6/2/16 at 10:24am

It took me a while to see it, but I finally saw Bright Star last night.  While I agree with a lot of the comments on this thread (Carmen, the band, Josh Rhodes, cast in general), I really couldn't help but be underwhelmed by this show.

From a structure stand point, I feel like a lot of the songs were necessary.  The opener is sort of dull (If you knew my story), and doesn't really do much from an exposition standpoint.  "She's Gone" seems possibly useless, because we never talk about the dead mother again, and the bar scene is actually completely useless, unless you count setting up the joke "Hello everyone, I'm his fiance!" as relevant enough for a 3 minute song.

I was also pretty disappointed by the story.  Maybe I demand twists/surprises too much, but, having known nothing about the show going into it, I already knew that the baby wasn't dead and simply had to be our male protag.  It was a little convenient that neither one had married (with no explanation as to why, really).  There just weren't any surprises for me, and I wasn't necessarily interested in how any of the foreshadowed elements came to pass either.

So I suppose the point of this post is to ask why?  Why 1) are we celebrating a show with such a weak story / structure or 2) If you disagree that the story was flawed, what am I missing? 

[starcatchers]

Posted: 6/2/16 at 1:02pm

I think it's very rare that you find something that someone doesn't feel has flaws - and is still very much celebrated. Why, in this case, does that appear to not be allowed?

For me - I never would've claimed that the story wasn't predictable. I described it as "I could see it five miles away without my glasses on" (which would make sense if you knew me). However, I was so wrapped up in the way that this utterly predictable story was presented that I really didn't care. 

Due in no small part to the performances, I was captivated from the get go. The style of music is one that I enjoy, as a listener and a performer. Visually, the show is gorgeous. 

Like in many other things, it has its flaws, but I fell in love in spite of them. 

[JudyDenmark]

Posted: 6/2/16 at 2:05pm

She Loves Me is stupidly predictable too. Doesn't make it any less charming. Even though you can see where Bright Star is going from a mile away, it didn't take away anything for me. (Though I had to laugh at the couple next to me who after the show said to the other couple they were with, "I can't believe you figured it out!" 

[Call_me_jorge]

Posted: 6/2/16 at 2:23pm

People love bright star, because it's an original show which becoming a rarity. An original show will be light years better than a show based on a movie, because it takes more dedication and work to write it. 

[JayG 2]

Posted: 6/2/16 at 2:54pm

It's a really delightful show with a terrific cast and a melodic, enjoyable score. It looks good, sounds good (hear that, Waitress?), and is beautifully and cleverly  choreographed and directed. Why this isn't drawing crowds says nothing about the show but more about audiences today.

 

[Call_me_jorge]

Posted: 6/2/16 at 3:03pm

The fact it's an original show on top of the producers casting a complete unknown in the lead role just shows how much passion the producers have for the show. The producers of bright star are a million times better than the Harvey Weinstein's and Ken davenports of Broadway.

[scripps]

Posted: 6/2/16 at 3:21pm

I'm a jaded New Yorker. I walked into BRIGHT STAR to essentially see Paul Alexander Nolan in his new gig and walked out with tears in my eyes over the joy of experiencing Camen Cusack live in every moment on stage. It was exhilarating to finally discover her and her gifts. Sure, the show is a bit hokey, but I haven't been able to stop listening to the score. Really lovely work that I can't recommend enough. 

Updated On: 6/2/16 at 03:21 PM

[gypsy101]

Posted: 6/2/16 at 9:59pm

I just listened again for the first time in a month or so, the cast recording is fantastic. Such catchy melodies that get into your brain, in basically every single song. And Carmen's voice is to die for. At Long Last, If You Knew My Story, Way Back in the Day, Asheville, Whoa Mama...such wonderful songs. I'm getting a little bummed I got tickets to see Waitress and not Bright Star.

[schubox]

Posted: 6/3/16 at 10:40pm

Wanted to thank you all in here. Saw this tonight basically based on the recommendations I saw here and I was blown away 

[TFMH18]

Posted: 6/4/16 at 5:49pm

I am so glad this thead has gotten people to the show! Everyone I know who has gone has loved it, so it really is a word of mouth thing. I am devastated that it's struggling so. I went to the show earlier this week and I have to say, the actors all seemed pretty bummed-- still giving amazing performances of course, but there was a general vibe of sadness. I have a feeling they have all been told, unless the Tonys performance leads to a miraculous bump in sales, they will be out of their jobs by the end of the month. It pains me just to write that, I love this show so much. Just the reality of this fickle business.

[tja928]

Posted: 6/4/16 at 6:19pm

Hopefully they can keep open until the July 4th weekend! Had another trip planned.

[schubox]

Posted: 6/4/16 at 6:55pm

At Long Last was so emotionally overwhelming. Brought me to tears. Very glad there is a cast recording out there 

[broadwayboy223]

Posted: 6/4/16 at 7:08pm

Anyone know if this will be open June 27-28th? I'm really dying to see it!!

[TFMH18]

Posted: 6/4/16 at 7:21pm

As of now, it is scheduled to run with no closing announcement having been made. 

[#1CarrieFan]

Posted: 6/5/16 at 4:37pm

I had heard not positive things from theater goers who saw this show at the Kennedy Center. I went ahead and purchased the OCBR and have found my self listening over and over again to this wonderful story, cast and score. I'm rooting heavily for this one! 

[Phantom4ever]

Posted: 6/5/16 at 4:57pm

Saw this show today based on the love for it shown on this board. And wow what a gem!  The music is gorgeous, tuneful, and endearing. The set and the scene transitions were fun to watch and thoughtfully executed. 

It was been predictable but it was a good kind of predictable where I wanted to see how it would work out even though I already could tell what was going to happen.  I still enjoyed watching it unfold. 

The two assistants in the office, Jeff Blumenkrantz and Emily Padgett had some very funny dialogue and quips. As a English teacher, I enjoyed many of the language jokes as well.  

I highly recommend this show.  

Updated On: 6/5/16 at 04:57 PM

[marcor]

Posted: 6/5/16 at 9:04pm

I watched it earlier too. Such a nice show. Carmen Cusack lives up to the hype. Brilliant cast. Wonderful set, choreography and music. Definitely exceeded my expectations. I hope it has a long run!