Audition for Singing in "Bright Star"

Young Adult - Tenor a young soldier returning home from WWII; an aspiring young writer; fresh, open, optimistic, charming, and a little naïve.

Mezzo-Soprano plays both 16-17 and 36-37. Alice at age 36-37 is an editor of a southern literary magazine; intelligent, attractive, professional – but with an air of melancholy. Young Alice at age 16-17 is rebellious, high-spirited, adventurous – looking to break out of small-town life and experience the world. She must be a very strong singer and comfortable in folk and bluegrass styles.

Tenor plays both age 18-20 and 38-40. Jimmy Ray in his early 20s in flashbacks is Mayor Dobbs’ son and young Alice’s beau; handsome, boyishly charming, well-built 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.

Baritone 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.

Soprano 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.

Mezzo-Soprano Alice’s mother. A caretaker to her family and her rural community. A warm, loving, sensible woman. Hardworking, with great inner strength and compassion.

Baritone Alice’s father; an authoritative and a stern disciplinarian; devoutly religious, hard-working, a poor but proud farmer.

Tenor Billy’s father. A widower. Spry, good-looking. Kind-hearted, if a bit lonely

Soprano A junior editor at a literary magazine. An ambitious, professional young “modern” career woman of the 1940’s. Strong, forthright and provocative with a sharp sense of humor

Tenor, Baritone An assistant at a literary magazine. Funny, with a dry and officious sense of humor. Insecure, and perhaps a bit socially awkward, but endearing and innately likable.

Baritone, Tenor Loyal assistant to Mayor Josiah Dobbs

Non-Singer

Mezzo-Soprano An employee at Margo’s bookstore and a childhood friend of both Billy and Margo

Mezzo-Soprano An employee at Margo’s bookstore

Non-Singer A customer at Margo’s bookstore, at first, he has a crush on Margo, but later becomes Edna’s beau.

Non-Singer The local family doctor in Zebulon

All Singing Ranges