Last weekend, April 23-25, Blue Valley West finished its production of “Bright Star.” This musical officially closed BV West’s final mainstage show of the ‘24-’25 school year.
“Bright Star” is a bluegrass play set in the 1920s and the 1940s in North Carolina.
The musical centers around one woman, Alice Murphy, with her story being told in two time periods. The first, when she is a wild young girl growing up barefoot and carefree in the Blue Ridge Mountains; the second, 23 years later when she is a well-to-do magazine editor in Asheville.
As a young girl, Alice Murphy, despite her parents’ warning, falls in love with the town’s heartthrob and mayor’s son, Billy Ray.
Even though their love starts pure, they ultimately fall victim to the misguided notions of their parents, which then leads to their infant son being taken away.
Flashing forward, Alice Murphy is a successful editor of “The Asheville Southern Journal,” where she meets a promising young writer, a man whose past is tangled with hers.
It’s a show filled with laughter and longing, containing equal moments of sadness and joy.
“Bright Star,” was the last main stage show for West and the last Blue Valley West musical for the seniors in the cast.
Many seniors have been involved with the school’s theatre since the beginning of high school, growing and learning along with their castmates and director for the past four years.
“Mr. Uthe has been my teacher since sixth grade, and some of the seniors have been my friends longer than that. I am so grateful to have found people that I will miss so much,” said senior Katie Coughlin.
Seniors recount their favorite memories and moments from their time in BV West theatre.
“A funny, unexpected moment was definitely me falling into the pit during one of our dress rehearsals for “Into the Woods.” I had a scene where I was covering my eyes and couldn’t see where I was going, and fell straight in. I was alright due to the safety nets, thankfully,” senior Eric Kim said.
Many of these memories are shared fun moments for multiple students.
“I’ll never forget watching Eric fall into the pit during rehearsal for ‘Into the Woods.’ It’s become a bit of a fun reference in our department, and it confirmed that the net covering our pit is doing its job well,” said senior Reid Hagan.
Other cast members enjoy talking about their favorite moments in shows.
“I would freeze the end of ‘If I Had a Vision,’ because it’s a beautiful song and a beautiful moment in the show,” said Coughlin.
A few moments from the shows made the seniors realize it was their final time on the BVW stage.
“When Katie and I were singing our duet in Act 2, the emotions and feelings were completely genuine, and it really hit that this was the last time,” senior Bubba Haynes said.
Theatre has brought students, seniors in particular, together in a way that not many things can. Some of them have attested to the connection that they all share.
“We are all one big happy family, and I wouldn’t have wanted to spend my time with anyone else,” said senior Kenzie Alexander.
“I’ll miss the people the most. Doing shows with my friends and adults who help with the production is something super special and can’t really get anywhere else except in high school theatre,” said Hagan.
Another element that brings all of the theatre students together are the traditions. Theatre traditions, much like ones created within families and friends, stem from memorable moments.
Prominent customs are ladder speeches, which are given during the cast party after closing night. Ladder speeches are a special way for graduating seniors to talk about their time in theatre.
These speeches are usually accompanied by tear-jerking stories, laugh-out-loud moments, and an all-around nostalgia as the seniors recount their time in the show.
Something else that becomes tradition are the spectacles that happen backstage or during the actor’s half hour, the last thirty minutes before the show begins. The moments that occur just before the curtains open are often the ones that leave the longest impression.
“A tradition that always made me laugh was the guys’ circle we do before every show. It really hypes us all up before going on stage and gets our energy high for the performance ahead,” said Kim.
“Before every ‘Romeo and Juliet’ show, all the named Capulets would put their hands in the center and go ‘capuleft on three,’ which then carried over with the same people in ‘Mean Girls,’ said Alexander.
These seniors have learned a lot during their high school years in theatre. Although they won’t be attending Blue Valley West next year, they have left pieces of advice for the underclassmen performers.
“Stay involved, and don’t hesitate to go out and ask for help if you need it. The people in our department want to help you be the best possible version of yourself that you can be, both as a performer and as a person,” said Hagan.
“Don’t be afraid to be yourself! Each show is one of a kind, each character is one of a kind, and there is something for every individual, so don’t be afraid to be you!” said Coughlin.
“You will always find the thing you are looking for if your heart is truly set on it,” said Alexander.
Saying goodbye is never easy, especially when you’ve known the people you’re saying goodbye to for so long. Theatre has brought this unique group together while creating memories and moments that’ll stick with these students forever. This might be the end of their time in high school, but it’s definitely not the end of their legacy at Blue Valley West.
