▁Martin ▁and ▁Ed ie ▁Br ick ell . ▁It ▁is ▁set ▁in ▁the ▁Blue ▁R idge ▁Mountains ▁of ▁North ▁Carolina ▁in ▁ 1 9 4 5 - 4 6 ▁with ▁flash back s ▁to ▁ 1 9 2 3 . ▁The ▁musical ▁is ▁inspired ▁by ▁their ▁Gram my - win ning ▁collaboration ▁on ▁the ▁ 2 0 1 3 ▁bl u egr ass ▁album ▁Love ▁Has ▁Come ▁for ▁You ▁and , ▁in ▁turn , ▁the ▁folk ▁story ▁of ▁the ▁Iron ▁Mountain ▁Baby . ▁ ▁Produ ctions ▁Bright ▁Star ▁was ▁work sh o pped ▁by ▁the ▁New ▁York ▁Stage ▁and ▁Film ▁at ▁the ▁Power house ▁Theater ▁at ▁V ass ar ▁College ▁in ▁July ▁ 2 0 1 3 . ▁It ▁had ▁its ▁world ▁premi ere ▁at ▁the ▁Old ▁Glo be ▁Theatre ▁( San ▁Diego ) ▁on ▁September ▁ 2 8 , ▁ 2 0 1 4 ▁and ▁ran ▁to ▁November ▁ 2 , ▁ 2 0 1 4 . ▁▁ ▁The ▁musical ▁opened ▁at ▁the ▁Kennedy ▁Center ▁in ▁Washington , ▁D . C . ▁on ▁December ▁ 2 , ▁ 2 0 1 5 . ▁ ▁The ▁show ▁began ▁pre views ▁at ▁the ▁Cort ▁Theatre ▁on ▁Broadway ▁on ▁February ▁ 2 5 , ▁ 2 0 1 6 ▁before ▁officially ▁opening ▁on ▁March ▁ 2 4 . ▁Direct ed ▁by ▁Walter ▁Bob bie , ▁the ▁cast ▁features ▁Car men ▁C us ack ▁as ▁Alice ▁Mur phy , ▁Paul ▁Alexander ▁N olan ▁as ▁Jimmy ▁Ray ▁Dob bs , ▁A . J . ▁Sh ively ▁as