All-Canadian Cast Announced for Bright Star
For Immediate Release
Media Contact: John Karastamatis, Sue Toth, Erin Nantais – Mirvish Productions
ALL-CANADIAN CAST OF ACTOR-MUSICIANS ANNOUNCED
FOR STEVE MARTIN AND EDIE BRICKELL’S ACCLAIMED BROADWAY MUSICAL
IN ITS CANADIAN PROFESSIONAL PREMIERE
PERFORMANCES BEGIN SEPTEMBER 30, 2025 AT TORONTO’S CAA THEATRE
Critic’s Pick "The songs boast simple but seductive melodies, and lyrics that have a sweet, homespun quality." - The New York Times
"Smart, funny and charming! Steve Martin is a master." - USA Today
David and Hannah Mirvish and Garner Theatre Productions are excited to announce the all-Canadian cast of Actor-Musicians for the Canadian professional premiere production of Steve Martin and Edie Brickell’s acclaimed Broadway musical Bright Star.
David Mirvish said: “We are delighted to be working with another innovative local company in presenting Steve Martin and Edie Brickell’s wonderful and heartfelt Broadway musical. I remember having lunch with Broadway producer Jeffrey Seller at the time Bright Star was in previews in New York. He had seen it the night before and couldn’t stop raving about it. It had moved him tremendously. So, I’m especially looking forward to seeing this new production with an all-Canadian cast of Actor-Musicians.”
Hannah Mirvish added: “I saw the workshop presentation that Garner Theatre Productions did of Bright Star in August 2022. I was blown away by how well the concept of using Actor-Musicians worked in telling this particular story, which is beautifully woven with a superb country and bluegrass score. The work of Donna Garner and her company of artists deserves to be showcased and seen by a large audience. We are very proud to partner with her and look forward to a great run."
Donna Garner said: "It is one of the great joys of my life to express myself as an Actor-Musician; to ‘play’ onstage in every sense of the word. I've seen first-hand how Actor-Musicians elevate the storytelling experience for the audience, bringing the emotion of the characters to new levels through their instruments. After years of performing outside of Canada, I founded Garner Theatre Productions to highlight the world-class Actor-Musos we are blessed to have right here in this country.
“I wanted to return home to create a company that would honour their diverse talents and advocate for them, while exploring the very best thought-provoking theatre pieces. Bright Star is the perfect story to showcase these tremendously talented artists while uplifting audiences with this beautiful story of redemption and triumph.”
Performances begin September 30 and run through October 26 at the CAA Theatre. Media night is October 8 at 7:30PM. Tickets are available to purchase via mirvish.com or by calling 1.800.461.3333.
THE ALL-CANADIAN CAST OF ACTOR-MUSICIANS
- Kaylee Harwood stars as Alice Murphy and will play piano and percussion.
- George Krissa stars as Jimmy Ray Dobbs and will play guitar, piano and percussion.
- Scott Carmichael as Daddy Murphy and will play drums, mandolin, guitar, banjo, bass and percussion.
- Randy Lei Chang as Max and will play piano, fiddle, guitar, viola and cello.
- Beau Dixon as Daddy Kane and will play banjo, bass, guitar, piano, drums and percussion.
- Nick Dolan as Billy Cane and will play banjo, bass, guitar, mandolin, piano and percussion.
- Rita Dottor as Florence and will play cello, fiddle, viola and bass.
- Donna Garner as Mamma Murphy and will play piano, accordion, cello, viola, fiddle and bugle.
- Leah Grandmont as Edna and will play fiddle, viola, guitar and percussion.
- Jonathan Gysbers as Darryl and will play guitar, banjo, piano, bugle, harmonica and percussion.
- Andrew Legg as Stanford and will play banjo, harmonica, guitar, mandolin, drums and percussion.
- Marie Mahabal Hauer as Lucy and will play fiddle and piano.
- Yunike Soedarmasto as Margo and will play fiddle, guitar, viola, mandolin and percussion.
- Brendan Wall as Mayor Dobbs and will play bass, accordion, piano, mandolin, banjo and percussion.
ABOUT BRIGHT STAR
Inspired by a true story and featuring the Tony® Award-nominated score by Steve Martin and Edie Brickell, Broadway’s Bright Star tells a sweeping tale of love and redemption set against the rich backdrop of the American South in the 1920s and ’40s.
When literary editor Alice Murphy meets a young soldier just home from World War II and with aspirations to be a writer, he awakens her longing for the child she once lost. Haunted by their unique connection, Alice sets out on a journey to understand her past — and what she finds has the power to transform both of their lives.
With beautiful melodies and powerfully moving characters, the story unfolds as a rich tapestry of deep emotions. An uplifting theatrical journey from a cast of actor-musicians that holds you tightly in its grasp as all the actors simultaneously perform as the orchestra onstage. Bright Star is as refreshingly genuine as it is daringly hopeful.
This Canadian professional premiere is produced by Garner Theatre Productions, a company founded by Donna Garner that specializes in shows performed by Actor-Musicians and presented by Mirvish Productions as part of the 2025/26 Off-Mirvish Season. Garner was a member of the Canadian productions of two Broadway hits in Toronto that were performed by Actor-Musicians: Once at the CAA Ed Mirvish Theatre and Natasha, Pierre and the Great Comet of 1812 at Crow’s Theatre – and which has just been transferred to the Royal Alexandra Theatre, playing a summer run until August 24, 2025.
Bright Star is created by Steve Martin & Edie Brickell. The creative team includes Jacob Wolstencroft (Director), Donna Garner (Music Director), Lisa Goebel (Choreography), Brandon Kleiman (Set Designer), Jason Hand (Lighting Designer), Deanna Choi (Sound Designer), Joyce Padua (Costume Designer) and Randy Pryce (Props Master).
Bright Star is produced by Donna Garner, Tricia Soltys and Andy Cohen.
CAST BIOS
Kaylee Harwood
Kaylee is a London-born, west-coast raised performer, director and coach based in Toronto. She returns to Mirvish after appearing in Títanique last season. She’s been fortunate that her career has taken her across North America, performing on Broadway in Jesus Christ Superstar and on the 1st and 2nd National Tours of Beautiful: The Carole King Musical, in addition to her work at Radio City Music Hall, the La Jolla Playhouse, the Stratford and Shaw Festivals, the Niagara Symphony Orchestra, and numerous regional stages across the country. Recently, Kaylee appeared in Life After (Yonge Street Theatricals, Dora nomination), starred as Jenna in Waitress (Capitol Theatre) and Kate/Lilli in Kiss Me, Kate (Drayton). Other credits include: Títanique (Mirvish/Segal Centre); The Invisible (Catalyst); Controlled Damage (The Grand); Beautiful: The Carole King Musical (Stage West, Betty Mitchell award winner); Serving Elizabeth (Aquarius); Cabaret, Trifles, A Lovely Sunday for Creve Coeur, The Light in the Piazza (Shaw); Jesus Christ Superstar, Camelot (Stratford); Sweeney Todd (Citadel); Beautiful: The Carole King Musical, Les Misérables (Arts Club); The Sound of Music, My Fair Lady (Western Canada Theatre). Film/TV: Star Trek: Strange New Worlds, Workin’ Moms, Reign, Good Witch, Christmas Movie Magic, Mayday, America’s Got Talent, The View, The Tony Awards. VO: Assassin’s Creed: Valhalla, The White Rose audiobook. www.kayleeharwood.com @kaylee.harwood
George Krissa
Selected Theatre: upcoming & Juliet (Mirvish); Natasha, Pierre & The Great Comet of 1812 (Mirvish, Crow’s Theatre; Toronto Theatre Critics’ Award), Dracula, A Comedy of Terrors (The Old Globe San Diego), The Rocky Horror Show, The Music Man (Stratford Festival), The Horse and His Boy, Brigadoon (Shaw Festival), West Side Story (Citadel; Sterling Award), Million Dollar Quartet (Segal Centre). Film/television: The Holiday Sitter (Hallmark, GLAAD Award nomination), Road Trip Romance (Hallmark), A Killer Behind Closed Doors (Lifetime), 11h11, Murdoch Mysteries (CBC) Coroner (CBC/CW),The Dwelling (Breakthrough Entertainment), The Social (CTV). georgekrissa.com, @georgekrissa on Instagram.
Scott Carmichael
Drayton Entertainment: Million Dollar Quartet. Select other theatre: Buddy: The Buddy Holly Story (Arts Club, Stage West, Mayfield, WTC, TIP, Theatre Aquarius, Magnus, STC); The Ballad of Stompin' Tom (Capitol Theatre, STC); Million Dollar Quartet (Stage West, Drayton/Mirvish); Ring of Fire (Chemainus, TIP); Man of La Mancha (GTP/Magnus); It's a Wonderful Life (Chemainus); The Foursome (Foster Festival); Elf The Musical (Chemainus). Select Film/TV: Mega Brands That Built America (History); Justice for MLK - The Hunt For James Earl Ray (Discovery); Marine Disasters (Discovery); Final 24 (Next Films); Motive and Murder (Cineflix).
Randy Lei Chang
Randy (he/they) is a Toronto-based actor-musician/educator. He is a classically trained and self-taught multi-instrumentalist (pianist/violinist/vocalist/guitarist/saxophonist). When not performing on a stage, he is also a private piano + music teacher to numerous students across the Toronto area. Randy is so incredibly excited to be a part of such a special project, and thanks Garner Productions for trusting him with being a part of their incredible team :). Notable credits include: Kevin/Khang in A Perfect Bowl of Pho (Send Noods Productions - Toronto), Warren/Jason in Ordinary Days (Shifting Ground Collective - Toronto), Whizzer in Falsettos (Bowtie Productions - Toronto), and Ensemble/Band Member in Buddy: The Buddy Holly Story (Grove Theatre - Fenelon Falls).
Beau Dixon
Selected Theatre: Guys 'n' Dolls, HMS Pinafore, Freedom Cabaret: The Spirit and Legacy of Black Music, Freedom 2.0: Black Music That Shaped The Dream Of America (Stratford Festival); Ghost Quartet, Rosmersholm, The Shape Of Home: Songs In Search Of Al Purdy (Crow's Theatre); Marjorie Prime, The Father (Coalmine Theatre); Hamlet, Harlem Duet, Orphan Song, Next To Normal (Tarragon Theatre); The Colour Purple (Neptune Theatre); Ma Rainey's Black Bottom, The Big Easy, Detroit: Music Of Motown, Secret Chords: Songs Of Leonard Cohen, On A Night Like This (Soulpepper Theatre); As You Like It, Titus Andronicus (Canstage/ Shakespeare In High Park); Passing Strange (Obsidian/ Musical Stage Co.)
Composer/Sound Designer: Wedding Band (Stratford Festival); The Big Sleep (Vertigo Theatre); The Shape of Home: Songs in Search Of Al Purdy (Crow's Theatre/ County Stage)
Selected Film and TV Credits: Station Eleven (HBO/Paramount); The Expanse (Amazon Prime); Ginny and Georgia (Netflix). Other: Three-time Dora Mavor Moore award winner, two Toronto Critics Awards, Calgary Critics Award, three Dora Mavor Moore and Betty Mitchell nominations. KM Hunter Award finalist. www.beaudixon.com
Donna Garner
Donna has performed in theatres across Canada, the U.S., Austria and Japan. Selected credits include the Canadian premiere of Natasha Pierre and the Great Comet of 1812 (Musical Stage Co/Crows, Mirvish); Once (U.S. First National Tour, Mirvish, Neptune); The Sound of Music (U.S. First National Tour, Mirvish, Grand Theatre); Two Pianos, Four Hands (across Canada and the U.S.); Dr. Silver (Musical Stage Company/Outside The March); and Full Monty (Capitol Theatre). Selected TV/Film credits include Mr. Monk's Last Case (Peacock/NBCUniversal); Dare Me (USA Network); Spinning Out (SVOD Series); Private Eyes (Global); Handmaid’s Tale (Hulu); Anne (Netflix/CBC); Designated Survivor (ABC). Offstage, Donna works with talented singers in her private voice studio, at Sheridan, Randolph, and in her role as an adjudicator and Royal Conservatory Examiner. Donna's love of Actor-Musicianship led to the establishment of Garner Theatre Productions, and she is honoured to share the stage with these tremendously talented and hard-working colleagues. www.garnertheatreproductions.com
Most importantly, much love and thanks to Rick for the depth of his support on this journey.
Leah Grandmont
Selected Theatre: Country Roads, Fiddler on the Loose, Good Ol’ Country Gospel, Ghost (Drayton Entertainment) Where the Heart Is, East Coast Kitchen Party, Starbright Christmas, Scotland Sings (Victoria Playhouse Petrolia); Vigilante (Grand Theatre). Leah is an actor, fiddler and classical violinist from London, ON. Outside of theatre, she performs with various symphonies and chamber groups throughout Canada. She spent several summers touring internationally with the National Youth Orchestra of Canada, and has recorded and performed with pop artists Stacey Kay, Lindsay El, and Priyanka. Leah sends all her love and gratitude to her amazing family, best friends, and mentors - whose unwavering love (and occasional kick in the pants) brought her here!
Jonathan Gysbers
Jonathan is an Actor-Musician who grew up on a farm outside London, Ontario. Theatre credits include: Peter in Jesus Christ Superstar (Drayton Entertainment); Bob Gaudio in Jersey Boys (Charlottetown Festival, Stage West Calgary, NCL); Gilbert in Anne & Gilbert (The Guild); Baloo in The Jungle Book (Magnus Theatre); Sky in Mamma Mia!, Crazy For You (Capitol Theatre); Matt in The Fantasticks (Victoria Playhouse Petrolia). Jonathan is a proud graduate of Sheridan College’s Music Theatre Performance program and holds a Bachelor of Education from Queen’s University. His debut EP Ambrosia is now available on all major streaming platforms.
Andrew Legg
Andrew Steven Legg has performed from the Chemainus Theatre Festival on Vancouver Island to The Stone Jug in Carbonear Newfoundland. Favourite credits include the Canadian premiere of Bright Star at Rosebud Theatre in the role of Daddy Cane; solo works of One Christmas Carol and Cotton Patch Gospel with ETC. On screen highlights include roles on: Fargo, The Detour, Saint Pierre and Son of a Critch. Beyond his primary role as Dad to Felix Violet and Oscar he is the Chief, cook and bottle washer at The Espresso Theatre Co focusing on small cast theatre for intimate spaces. He resides alternately in Alberta and Newfoundland.
Yunike Soedarmasto
Yunike (you-NEE-ka) is an NYC-born, Canadian-raised interdisciplinary artist, excited to be making her Mirvish debut. From the workshop to now, Yunike is thrilled to be returning to Bright Star. She is a trained dancer, choreographer, and mostly self-taught musician. Select theatre credits: Prairie Nurse (Capitol Theatre), A Year with Frog and Toad (Capitol Theatre), Rapunzel: A Merry Hairy Panto (Capitol Theatre), Playground: A New Musical (Toronto Fringe), Guildwood (Next Stage Festival). All my love to my family, my Mochi, and my sweet Aaron. Xo
Nick Dolan (He/Him)
Selected Credits: Gordon in Rent, Prince Escalus in Romeo & Juliet, Seth Soakem in London Assurance (Stratford Festival); Jason Powers in The Louder We Get (Theatre Calgary); Sloane Sherman in Killing Time, Dean in Iris Says Goodbye (Mixtape Projects); Demetrius/Snout in A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Driftwood Theatre); Andrej in Once (Theatre St. John’s); Jonathan Harker in Written in Blood (Talk is Free Theatre). Film/TV: Partum; recurring principal on Locke & Key; No. 8 Reporting. Training: BFA, Toronto Metropolitan University. Et cetera: I am thrilled to join Donna, Jacob and the wonderful folks of our cast and crew in sharing this story with you. Enjoy! Special thanks to Mia at The Characters, to my brother Sean and parents Jen and John, and to my partner Sara. I love you all.
Marie Mahabal Hauer
Marie is a singer, dancer, actor, and musician and has been working professionally on stage for over 10 years. She started her career as an Artist of Atelier Ballet with Opera Atelier, dancing with the company for 3 seasons before making her transition into theatre and musical theatre. Marie has performed in theatres across North America and Europe, including 4 seasons at the Shaw Festival, major regional theatres across Canada, Disney, and tours to the Salzburg Festival, Chateau de Versailles and Glimmerglass Festival. She is thrilled to return to the stage to tell this beautiful story after taking on her most important and fulfilling role yet- becoming a mother.
Brendan Wall
First: Dad and Husband.
For Garner Theatre Productions: A Man of No Importance.
Mirvish: Harry Potter and The Cursed Child, Once, Warhorse.
Other Theatre: Natasha, Pierre and the Great Comet of 1812 (Crow’s/Musical Stage/Mirvish), Paradise Square (BerkeleyRep); Warhorse (National Theatre - West End); 6 Seasons at The Confederation Centre for the Arts, 8 Seasons at Soulpepper Theatre.
Film and TV: Adults, Accused, Ripple, Murdoch Mysteries, Gavin Crawford’s Wild Wild West, Degrassi, Chicago, Hairspray, Orphan.
Upcoming: Murder on the Orient Express (Aquarius).