Alice, played by Bri Olshawsky is surrounded by the ensemble cast during “Firmer Hand / Do Right” in Bright Star. In “Firmer Hand / Do Right” Alice’s father was reflecting his parenting style with Alice and regretting not taking a stronger approach. Bright Star occurred from Friday, Feb. 27, 2026 until Sunday, March 8, 2026 in Doudna Fine Arts Center.
Thunderous applause suddenly filled the Doudna Fine Arts Center Theater as the audience watching the performance of “Bright Star” celebrated the cast following Feb. 27’s performance.
“Bright Star” is set in North Carolina in the 1920s and ‘40s and tells two interconnected stories revolving around Alice Murphy, played by senior musical theater major Brianna Olshawsky, and Billy Cane, played by freshman theater major Gentry Copsy.
Murphy’s story is set in the ‘20s and shows how she fell in love as a teenager and was forcibly separated from her child as a young mother. Cane’s story is set in the ‘40s and follows him pursuing his dream of becoming a writer in the city, moving away from his small town upbringing.
The musical is set in the rural American South, and its songs closely resemble bluegrass music, with the strings of banjoes filling the audience’s ears.
Many people in the audience responded to the show positively, with audience members laughing, crying and gasping throughout the performance.
To prepare for bringing her character to life, Olshawsky researched what North Carolina was like in the ‘20s and ‘40s. Copsy researched World War II, as his character is a newly returning veteran, and he listened to a lot of Appalachian bluegrass.
Both leads also researched literature from their characters’ respective time period. Since both characters are writers, the actors had to understand the authors that the characters would’ve read.
“I looked up a lot of stories from back then, like from people like Thomas Wolfe, whom we talk about in the show, just to understand how the writing was back then and what kind of writing style my character would have had,” Copsy said.
The emotion felt among the audience carried over even to those who had seen the performance before, like audience member Emerson Gausmann.
“I’d seen this show once before in a different theater program and even knowing what was coming it was so heart-wrenching and beautiful,” Gausmann said.
Ensemble member Emily Ritter said, “The end product is always so rewarding when the audience laughs and cries and cheers with us.”
Senior interpersonal communication major Maddy Colby, another ensemble member, said the rehearsal process was intensive.
“We were rehearsing for a few hours every night, and I think everyone worked really, really hard to make this into what it is,” Colby said. “Our stage management team worked really hard. Our costuming and hair people worked really hard. Our set designers worked really hard. Everyone has just given it 110%, and it’s just incredible.”
Junior theater major Ellis Mansfield, who played secretary Lucy, said working alongside her castmates provided a strong connection.
“All of the cast has a really nice bond, and we’ve all had a lot of fun together,” Mansfield said.
Evan Rybak can be reached at 581-2812 or [email protected].