Some people wonder how I can see the same show multiple times and keep my sanity. Well, when you have a personality and brain like I do it’s easy but also I love seeing how different companies approach the same material. In many ways it can feel like seeing the show afresh because yes I may have seen it before but I haven’t seen it done this way or with this cast. Yesterday I had such an experience with a wonderful production of my favorite musical Bright Star put on by the Jaks Theatre Company. Not only was this the first time I’ve seen this musical in a black box but the youth cast brings a powerful new layer to the material I found enlightening.

It’s interesting because if you think about it Bright Star makes a lot of sense for teens to put on. Most of its characters are young adults for at least part of the show and in many ways it’s a coming of age story for Alice, Jimmy Ray, Margo and especially Billy. I know there is a Bright Star: School Edition but I hope that companies and schools will go for the full version like Jaks did.

The production takes place in the Regent Street Black Box at Eccles and like I said I’ve never seen Bright Star in a black box so that was interesting. Director Jill Wilhelm uses the space well with a cabin that houses the musicians but also acts as the setting for many of the scenes in both Zebulon and Hayes Creek (no set designer credited in the program.) I also appreciate how they used dance in unexpected places such as an accompaniment to “Way Back in the Day” (choreography by Sarah Hayward and Alex LaPorte.)

They must have a huge program at Jaks because the cast I saw was huge and it is one of three casts they’ve assembled. That’s a lot of students who get to learn and become inspired through this wonderful musical. I saw the Blue Ridge cast and they were wonderful. I really appreciate how they all were prepared to ad-lib when necessary. For example when one castmate misses their cue the performer on the spot said “well, I guess there’s no date after all.” Such thinking on the fly is indictive of a well directed group especially coming from a teen who might more easily get flustered.

Of our main leads Myles LaPorte stuck out the most playing Billy although they are all sweet and endearing in their roles. I think it is LaPorte’s youthful energy which brings something special to the youthful role of Billy. Like I said, I’ve never seen the role played by an actual teenager and helped elevate him beyond the country bumpkin who writes I’ve often seen. He’s a sweet naive young man we are rooting to succeed. Nara Morgan and Matthew Salzman are terrific as Alice and Jimmy although this is one of the rare instances where I preferred the characters in their younger scenes than old just because it is more true to their ages. Still, I enjoyed their efforts very much.

Today is actually the last day to see this production and there are still tickets available so go out and support these wonderful teens. You can never go wrong with a production of Bright Star as it is one of the most underrated Broadway musicals ever made but this is a fresh take I thoroughly enjoyed. Tickets can be purchased here.

Bright Star has music and lyrics by Steve Martin and Edie Brickell with lyrics by Brickell and book by Martin. It premiered on Broadway in 2016 and was nominated for 5 Tony awards (it would have won some if it wasn’t up against Hamilton I’m convinced of that.)

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