NSSRA’s Bright Star Theatre Company Presents
THE HIVE
An Original Musical
Actors in the Northbrook-based Bright Star Theatre Company
(BSTC) are buzzing with activity preparing for their upcoming
March performances of this year’s original musical, THE HIVE.
Starring nine actors with disabilities and their volunteer Creative
Companions, rehearsals began in September.
work because the
story line is new
to all of us, but
it really shows
off
everyone’s
uniqueness well
After several years of licensing popular shows, director Julie and how well they
Gibson Lay decided it was time to pen a show of her own with can act.”
Julie Gibson Lay, Director of Bright Star Theatre
Company and co-writer of THE HIVE
BSTC cast members in mind. “What do two local moms full of
spunk and imagination do over the summer? They write a musical “This year the cast
together, of course,” said Gibson Lay, who wrote the show with has an opportunity
friend Joan Matthews, both of Northbrook. A family affair, music to
improvise
for the show was composed by Gibson Lay’s husband, Chris, during one of the
and son, Cecil, a senior at Glenbrook North High School, and the songs,” said Gibson
artwork was created by Matthews’ daughter, Julia, a junior in Lay. “We started
high school.
with a gem of an
idea and I let them
Cast members run through theater exercises
The setting of the show is a beehive rocked by change, the story run with it. I have
prior to a rehearsal last fall.
of two struggling young bees on their path to self-discovery. The been so blown
story is a lighthearted one, jammed with kooky puns, tongue-in- away by their creative ownership.”
cheek dialogue and catchy music. It is sure to inspire and bring a
smile to your face!
The performances will take place at Northbrook Theatre on
Saturday, March 16 at 5:00 pm and Sunday, March 17 at 1:00
“We started out with a universal theme---that of young people pm. Tickets will go on sale Friday, February 1 online at www.
in search of their own individuality---and we fashioned the story nbparks.org and the Northbrook Leisure Center Box Office.
around the actual actors in the troupe,” said Matthews. “The
most exciting thing for me was getting to meet the actors during In its eighth year, Bright Star Theatre Company is a program
rehearsals and watching them bring our story to life.”
produced by Northern Suburban Special Recreation Association
(NSSRA) in partnership with Northbrook Park District. Meeting
“I’m really happy about playing Johnny Bee Goode because he weekly from September to March, the experience combines
is so excited and has a big smile on his face and makes people theater games, movement exercises and musical training for
laugh,” said Jay Slotnick, a long-time NSSRA participant in his participants ages 16 and up who work with Northbrook Park
second year acting with BSTC. Along with Johnny Bee Goode, District Theatre staff to put on a professional production.
characters include Queen Elizabee, May Bee and Lord Buzzkill,
just to name a few.
TICKETS
Available Friday, February 1 online at www.nbparks.org and the
“The original show this year has been really different,” said Northbrook Leisure Center Box Office.
Marlee Fradin, a junior at Deerfield High School. Fradin has been
a companion in the program for six years. “It’s really fun because PERFORMANCES
it’s the first time we’re performing the show, so we can make Saturday, March 16, 5:00 pm • Northbrook Theatre
it our own,” Fradin continued. “It also comes with a lot more Sunday, March 17, 1:00 pm • Northbrook Theatre
www.nssra.org
BSTC PRESENTS: THE HIVE 19