Steve Martin and Edie Brickell--the dynamic bluegrass duo--will premiere Bright Star, a musical, on Broadway in March 2016. The production will receive a pre-Broadway premiere at Washington D.C.'s Kennedy Center on Dec. 17.
Joey Parnes, a Tony-winning producer, announced the news Tuesday that the show will make its debut at a Shubert theatre starting in March. Parnes' work includes A Gentleman Guide to Love & Murder, which won him the award.
As Variety reports: "Bright Star centers on a literary editor (Carmen Cusack) whose meeting with a young soldier fresh home from World War II (Shively) prompts her to come face to face with her past. Martin pens the book and co-writes the music with composer-lyricist Brickell, basing the musical on their Grammy-winning country-bluegrass album Love Has Come For You."
Carmen Cusack, who originated the lead role in 2014 at San Diego's Globe Theater, will appear alongside Paul Alexander Nolan, Michael Mulheren, A.J. Shively, Hannah Elless, Stephen Bogardus, Dee Hoty and others at the Kennedy Center debut.
Alongside Parnes, Star is directed by Walter Bobbie (Chicago) and choreographed by Josh Rhodes. Previews of the performance will begin March 7 ahead of a March 31 opening at one of the Shubert theatres. The exact house for the production will be determined based on availability soon.
Steve Martin, obviously, is best known for his roles on Saturday Night Live as part of the "wild and crazy guys" duo and the neurotic dad in Father of the Bride. However, the actor is also a Grammy-winning banjo player who has dedicated his life to musical projects over the last few years.
Edie Brickell, too, has enjoyed a lifelong career as a performance artist as well as a front woman for the New Bohemians.
The new musical should be another large addition to Martin's long list of works--which also includes a repertoire of books.
Check out the bluegrass duo below in the meantime.
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