Bluegrass & Broadway

It's not very often that my two worlds collide-- but when they do, it's absolutely wonderful.

A little known fact about musical theatre is that it's one of only two true American art forms--that and jazz music. Bluegrass music is actually a combination of several different cultures, thanks to immigrants who combined traditions from all over the world to create a truly unique style of music. When the two are combined, the possibilities are endless!

When I found out that Steve Martin (world renowned comedian--& banjo player for the Steep Canyon Rangers) and Edie Brickell (famous 1980s singer-songwriter, wife of Paul Simon) were collaborating on a bluegrass musical set in Asheville, North Carolina, I nearly lost my mind. I knew I HAD to hear this soundtrack.

Bright Star is loosely based on the true story of the Iron Mountain Baby, and inspired by the music on the 2013 Martin and Brickell collaborative album titled Love Has Come For You. Check out the trailer here.

I remember listening to the soundtrack on my drive to move to Boone. I was inspired by the raw hope, tragedy, and strength of the characters' stories. I then took an Appalachian Strings class in the spring to learn clawhammer banjo, and discovered Steve Martin's Bright Star Banjo app that has all of the sheet music and tutorials to play the songs in the musical! Everything about this musical and how I connected it to my life was so very serendipitous.

I saw the show when it stopped in Raleigh at the North Carolina Theatre. I couldn't say it better than those at NC Theatre themselves when they say, it's a "beautiful story that has everything musical theatre buffs love: extraordinary music, heartbreak, tragedy, a rollercoaster of emotions and a happy ending that proves there will always be a 'bright star' of light to shine through the darkness." The music and hopeful story that this show presents got me through some very difficult times, and I'm so grateful to have found a show that I can connect with so well.

Is there a musical, movie, or album that you personally connect with? I'd love to hear about it!