Riverside Productions might be the “new kid on the block” when it comes to theater arts in Franklin County, but founders John and Jen Caldwell and Jon and Rivkah Wright have more than one hundred combined shows under their belts.
After performing and producing for several years, the two couples teamed up to create a theater company designed to bring quality productions to Franklin County. John Caldwell says, “Riverside came about because we really wanted to give people a chance [to perform] and to give them something they could be proud of.” Their first production locally was Wizard of Oz in 2022. Since then, they’ve brought other crowd favorites to Franklin County, such as Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat and Seven Brides for Seven Brothers.
“The community was so supportive when we did the first production that we felt we didn’t want to stop. We’ve been doing theater for so long that it’s in our blood,” says Jon Wright.
This Spring, Riverside is tackling Bright Star, a newer play, written by actor/comedian/musician, Steve Martin, and singer-songwriter, Edie Brickell.
John Caldwell had the opportunity to see Bright Star performed and instantly knew he had to bring it to Franklin County. He said, “I love this show because it shows that people can make mistakes and change. A story of redemption; a story of delayed happiness is something that most of us can relate to in one way or another.”
Bright Star is a heart-wrenching saga that shows happy endings are indeed possible, even when all hope seems lost. The story flips between two time periods in the life of successful literary editor, Alice Murphy. Alice is drawn to aspiring, young writer, Billy, who has just returned from serving in World War II.
Something about Billy reminds her of the past she has tried to forget. Through flashbacks to Alice’s younger years, we learn that she has suffered horribly from her own choices and those of others for many years. Will Alice finally get the closure she deserves? Will Billy find his own “bright star”? Find out in this emotional performance spanning two time periods in the deep south, with sweeping ballads–played by a live bluegrass band–that will stir your heart and set your feet tapping.
Riverside Productions will perform Bright Star March 22, 23, 25, 29, 30, and April 1 at the Worm Creek Opera House at 7:30 p.m. Tickets can be purchased at riversideproductions.org.
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We welcome comments, however there are some guidelines:
Keep it Clean: Please avoid obscene, vulgar, lewd, racist or sexual language. Don't Threaten: Threats of harming another person will not be tolerated. Be Truthful: Don't lie about anyone or anything. Be Nice: No racism, sexism or any sort of -ism that is degrading. Be Proactive: Report abusive posts and don’t engage with trolls. Share with Us: Tell us your personal accounts and the history behind articles.