Madison Kwiecinski 

News Editor 

Mvk5945@psu.edu 

Finally, following a two-year long break- due to COVID-19 and social distancing reasons-  the lights are back on and the audience is welcomed into Penn State Behrend’s Studio Theater. This year the performance is a musical based on true events and accompanied by folk and bluegrass music.

The theater is hosting Bright Star, a musical story of love and redemption in the south of the U.S. during the 1920s and 1940s. The tale was written by Steve Martin and Edie Brickwell, and it tells the story of Alice Murphy, a woman who meets a young soldier just home from World War II. 

This year’s musical sold out quickly, and even prompted the production two add on two additional shows, as there was a clear demand for more tickets. Everyone seems glad to be back together, performing a show like this in-person, which may have even increased interest in the show. 

Prior to this year’s fall musical, the music department has had to get creative, trying to social distance and perform at the same time. Emily Cassano, the director and an assistant teaching professor of music, theater, and the visual arts at Behrend has directed the cast through several of these more complicated performances. 

Indoor activities were largely suspended at Penn State during the height of the pandemic, which made performing live theater nearly impossible. Last year’s fall play was conducted entirely virtually. Cast members were placed in their own individual rooms inside of Perry Hall, and performed a virtual musical from there. 

The 2020 spring musical took place outdoors, in an entirely unique new way. Due to social distancing guidelines, in order for others to be able to watch and enjoy the show, there needed to be an abundance of room for not only the cast, but also for the audience if one was intended. Therefore, the spring musical was conducted in the Wilson Parking lot, under a group of tents that were set-up for the show. 

Although all of these creative solutions were interesting to watch, for many students it is just not the same experience as getting to perform live, on stage, in front of an audience. Natalya Myers, a student who has been involved with theater at Behrend since her freshman year said, “ Finally returning to in person theater has been so incredible. I was in Spelling Bee, but outdoor theater just isn’t the same. Having an audience right in front of you and really using their energy to fuel your own performance is something that just can’t be replicated.”

In-person performances and practices are exciting, and can be beneficial for not only the audience, but the cast as well. Being able to practice together, work out scenes, and not needing every character blocked out six feet apart increases the experience. It may be a theater cliqué but all of the cast members interviewed said they feel like family, and that closeness is really visible in theater when they all get on stage together. Kate Meszaros, who is playing Alice Murphy in this year’s production and has also been involved with Behrend theater since her freshman year said that her favorite scene is always the closing number, because all of the cast gets to be out on stage together. 

Theater is a place where people bond, and this show seems to be no different. Everyone seems to be thrilled this production gets to take place in-person in the Behrend Studio Theater once again, from the cast to the audience. 

“Theater is really a place where you can focus on creating something amazing instead of everything going on in the crazy world,” said Myers. “Being onstage truly means everything to me. Having the privilege to breathe life into a character that will only live for three or four performances is one of the most mentally and physically draining but also the most rewarding thing for an actor.”

These actors and actresses, as well as every member of the production staff and crew have poured their hearts out into this show, and the audience seems to be just as excited with tickets selling out at incredible speeds. If you have the ability to secure a ticket, take the time and go see a showing of Behrend Studio Theater’s production of Bright Star.