Bright Star, a dark and hauntingly beautiful musical from Steve Martin and Edie Brickell, opens on April 4 at the Landis Performing Arts Center in Riverside, Ca. Performed in the round by the students from the Riverside City College theatre program, this production highlights the students acting range and talents.

Inspired by a true story, Bright Star tells a sweeping tale of love, loss, and redemption in 1920's and 1940's North Carolina. Literary publisher Alice Murphy (Samantha Sue) meets Billy Cane (Ryder Thompson) a recently returned World War 2 veteran writer who is looking to be published and this awakens her desire to find child, stolen by the baby's grandfather, Mayor Josiah Dobbs (Austin Arnwine). Can her search find her the love she lost, and redemption that she seeks?

The production features energetic dance numbers, and beautiful songs, and strong acting skills from all involved. The chemistry between Alice (Samantha Sue) & Jimmy Ray Dobbs (Emilio Rasilla) as lovers torn apart by their fathers was incredible and both showed deep emotion throughout. In the parallel love story between Billy Cane (Ryder Thompson) and Margo Crawford brought great levity to the show and was overall an adorable journey to go on.

In the characters of Mayor Josiah Dobbs and Daddy Murphy, played by Austin Arnwine and Matthew Benavides respectively, I have to note the incredible range that both of these actors brought to the stage. Arnwine is frequently a comical character that excels at creating hilarious moments on the stage, but both brought characters to life that you want to hate, and loathe. In the case of Daddy Murphy, Benavides successfully carries the character arc all the way to redemption and you genuinely feel the regret and love he has for his daughter Alice.

This show is quite different from the normal productions held in Landis Performing Arts, as it's done in the round, and the seating is on the stage with the actors, creating an intimate setting between the audience and the performers. The performers move through the audience as they enter and exit the stage and the action is right up in your face. The subject matter is also much heavier than we have come to expect from the main stage of Landis, and this show is sure to create some tears in the audience.

Bright Star opens on Thursday April 4th and runs through the weekend. You can get your tickets, and you should hurry, at the RCC Box Office online.