{"id":85872,"date":"2025-05-22T09:55:11","date_gmt":"2025-05-22T16:55:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lbpost.com\/hi-lo\/?p=85872"},"modified":"2025-05-22T10:00:58","modified_gmt":"2025-05-22T17:00:58","slug":"theater-news-a-bluegrass-infused-musical-by-steve-martin-and-edie-brickell-is-coming-to-the-long-beach-landmark","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lbpost.com\/esd\/hi-lo\/art\/theater-news-a-bluegrass-infused-musical-by-steve-martin-and-edie-brickell-is-coming-to-the-long-beach-landmark","title":{"rendered":"Theater News: A bluegrass-infused musical by Steve Martin and Edie Brickell is coming to the Long Beach Landmark"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Though Steve Martin is perhaps best known as a comedian, actor and writer, he is also an accomplished banjo player, an instrument featured in \u201cBright Star,\u201d a Tony and Grammy Award-winning musical he wrote with musician Edie Brickell in 2014.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Long Beach Landmark Theatre Company is gearing up to stage \u201cBright Star\u201d with a full orchestra and live musicians performing alongside the actors beginning May 30 at the First Congregational Church of Long Beach.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Landmark describes the musical as having a \u201crich, authentic bluegrass score\u201d featuring fiddle, guitar, piano and banjo \u2014 a quintessential American instrument, with roots in stringed African instruments replicated by enslaved peoples in the South. The banjo and ballad singing are still integral<\/a> to the southern Appalachian region of North Carolina, where the play is set.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u201cThe soaring melodies and heartfelt lyrics reflect both the show’s Appalachian setting and its themes of hope and perseverance,\u201d the Landmark says. \u201cFrom foot-stomping ensemble numbers to intimate ballads, the music seamlessly bridges traditional American folk styles with contemporary musical theater.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Curtis Heard, the show\u2019s music director, said most people have heard bluegrass music before, though they might not realize it, noting that it was featured in the movie \u201cO Brother, Where Art Thou?\u201d among others, and has influenced pop and especially country music.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAlmost anything with a banjo in it is going to invoke that kind of dance music,\u201d Heard said. \u201cYou\u2019re going to be tapping your foot to it. It\u2019s a  kind of feel-good music, too, even though some of the lyrics are sad.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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A post shared by LB Landmark Theatre Company (@lblandmark)<\/a><\/p><\/div><\/blockquote>\n