The story of William Moses Gould Helms is unbelievable. He was known as the Iron Mountain Baby, and Bright Star is a romantic adaptation of his incredible “lost and found and found again” tale. He became renowned for his remarkable story.

As an adopted child I never knew “my story”. I mean, I knew that I was loved and safe and that I was being very carefully raised by my wonderful adopted parents, but there were gaps in my story that I never thought would be filled. As I grew up, I started to worry about those mysterious empty places in my history and during my teenage years my doubts about myself led to doubts about the way I fit into the fabric of my own life. Luckily, as an adult those holes in my story took a back seat to the new story I was creating with my wife and my sons. But still I wondered about my birth-mother. Would she be proud of me? Would she like the man I had become? I did everything I could do to find her. Nothing worked.

Out of nowhere, a few years ago, I received a phone call from a woman named Nichole. She had found me through a DNA search on Ancestry.com and was wondering if I’d like information about my birth-mother. Not only that, she asked if it would be okay if she gave my birth-mother my information so that she could call me herself. The thought of meeting her and of finally knowing my story made me so nervous and yet thrilled me deeply. I was sitting in my VW Beetle for a few hours waiting for her to call. I was certain she was having second thoughts about reaching out to me. I was sure she would be somehow disappointed in how her baby boy had turned out. Maybe I shouldn’t answer the phone. I should just let those gaps stay gaps. I love my life as it is, I’ll just ignore...*ring*... She might not like me...*ring*...What if this is a terrible mistake...*ring*. “Hello?” “Hello Kelly, This is your birth-mother. My name is Karla. How are you, my boy?” I couldn’t talk. I could barely breathe. This woman, this glorious mystery, this person who knew my story called me “her boy”. The conversation was a wonderful messy love-filled jumble but we came out of it with plans to meet and when we finally did it was pure joy. The pains and anger I had felt at being “given away” disappeared the moment I saw her face. The guilt and worry she had carried with her for over 45 years turned into happiness and relief when she saw that her boy had been cared for and loved perfectly by terrific parents. Our relationship became instantly deep and beautiful and sacred to the both of us. I listened carefully as she finally told me my story. MY story.

I saw Bright Star on Broadway four months before Karla came back into my story. At the end of the first act I sat in my seat (back row, center, orchestra level) and wept for the story I would never know. Later, at the end of the show, I sat in my seat and rejoiced at the hope of finding it. Somehow I knew it would happen. As the music director I have a unique bond with these songs and characters.

Watching these actors carefully craft these roles has been a humbling journey. Bright Star has become part of my story. Tonight we hope it will become a memorable part of yours.

“You never know what life will bring. Only what you bring to life.”

— Kelly DeHaan, Music Director

Bre is thrilled to be back on the Hale Centre Theatre stage! HCT Credits include: Matilda (Miss Honey), Newsies (Katherine Plumber), The Pirate Queen (Grace O’Malley), Disney’s The Little Mermaid (Ariel), Catch Me If You Can (Brenda Strong), and in Sister Act (Sister Mary Robert). Other favorite credits include: WSU-Xanadu (Kira), The Light in the Piazza (Clara); CPT South Pacific (Nellie). 

Megan Lynn Heaps is honored to be joining the cast of Bright Star in the role of Alice Murphy. Notable performing credits include Donna in Mamma Mia (LyricRep) as well performing with Holland America Cruise Line and Royal Caribbean Cruise Line. 

Carter is excited to be returning to the HCT Stage. Previous stage credits include Newsies (Hale Centre Theatre), Tuck Everlasting(HCTO), Edward II, and A Doll’s House (An Other Theatre Company). Carter recently graduated from UVU with a BFA in Acting.

Making his HCT debut! Dallin is thrilled to be performing on the Hale Centre stage. Credits include: HCTO-Tuck Everlasting (Jesse Tuck) and A Christmas Carol (Topper); UVU- Urinetown; Renaissance Now Theatre and Film-As You Like It (Silvius); Brigham’s Playhouse-Anne of Green Gables (Gilbert Blythe), The Scarlet Pimpernel (Farleigh), Mary Poppins, and Freedom First. Dallin is currently a sophomore at Utah Valley University, pursuing his BFA in Musical Theatre.

A familiar face to Hale Centre audiences, Keith is thrilled to be back on the Jewel Box stage. Favorite HCT credits include - Percy Blakeney (The Scarlet Pimpernel), Harold Hill (The Music Man), Sam Wheat (Ghost: The Musical), and Frank Abegnal, Jr. (Catch Me If You Can) as well as Benny (In The Heights) at Hale Center Theatre Orem. 

Adam is excited to be back on the HCT stage. Other HCT roles: An American In Paris (Henri Baurel), A Christmas Carol (Dickens, Young Scrooge, Tiny Tim, Ensemble), Beauty and the Beast (Gaston), Oklahoma! (Curly), Les Miseràbles (Javert), Brigadoon (Tommy), Tarzan (Kerchek). 

Josh is a familiar face to our HCT audiences. HCT credits include: The Addams Family (Gomez Addams), The Hunchback of Notre Dame (Dom Claude Frollo), The Scarlet Pimpernel (Elton), The Heart of Robin Hood (Robert Summers), To Kill A Mockingbird (Bob Ewell), Les Miserables (Thernardier) plus many more. 

Patrick is glad to be back after last being seen in Phantom as Alain Cholet. Recent credits include: HCTO: Tarzan (Kerchak), Jane Eyre (Richard Mason), Big Fish (Don Price and u/s Edward Bloom), Damn Yankees (Mr. Applegate), and The Man of La Mancha (Duke/Dr. Carrasco); Sundance Theatre: The Music Man (Charlie Cowell); 

Excited to be back on the HCT stage, Brianna was last seen in our production of The Hunchback of Notre Dame. UVU Credits include Julius Caesar, 9 to 5: The Musical, The Children’s Hour, and Jumpers. Brianna also served a performing mission in Nauvoo, IL. 

Morgan was recently seen in our productions of Seusscial, Cinderella, and as Marie in The Scarlet Pimpernel. Favorite credits include: CPT: Crazy for You (Polly), The Addams Family (Wednesday Addams), 1776 (Martha Jefferson); Hopebox Theatre: Catch Me if You Can (Brenda Strong). 

Jeffrey was most recently seen in our production of Matilda. Other HCT credits include The Scarlet Pimpernel (The Prince of Wales/Robespierre), My Son Pinocchio (Buonragazzo), The Nerd (Axel Hammond), Peter and the Starcatcher (Smee), Oliver! (Fagin), and The Hasty Heart (Lachlen). 

Dustin’s last appearance at HCT was as Horton the Elephant in Seussical. Some of his favorite roles include the Cowardly Lion in The Wizard of Oz (HCT), Terk in Tarzan (HCT), Henry Allerdyce in Betty Blue Eyes (HCTO), and Amos Hart in Chicago (MMST). Dustin has also performed with Pioneer Theatre Company, Salt Lake Acting Company, and Good Company Theatre. 

Kelly was last seen on our stage as Gertrude McFuzz in Seussical. Other favorite credits include: Jerusha Abbott (Daddy Long Legs) and Katherine (Newsies) at Hale Center Theatre Orem and Gabrielle (Cinderella) here at HCT. She graduated from UVU in performing arts and loves working in the education department at HCTO. “Enjoy the show!” 

Camilie is excited to be returning the Jewel Box Stage. She has appeared in The Addams Family, The Wizard of Oz, Sister Act, and The Pirate Queen at HCT. Favorite credits include: HCT-Sister Act (Mary Martin-of- Tours); University of Utah-Spring Awakening (Illse). She has a BFA in Musical Theatre from the University of Utah. “Thank you to Brad, family and friends. ‘Reality is something you rise above.’’’ - Liza Minnelli

Returning to our stage after last being seen in Steel Magnolias as M’Lynn Eatenton. She has performed with Riot Act, Pioneer Theatre Company, Pinnacle Acting Company, The Grand Theatre, Lyric Repertory Company, The Classical Greek Theatre Festival, and Sting and Honey. 

On the HCT stage: Tuck Everlasting (Besty Foster), A Christmas Carol (Mrs. Cratchit), The Heart of Robin Hood (Lady Falconbury), Seven Brides for Seven Brothers (Mrs. Hoallum), Big Fish (Mrs. Baskin), Fiddler on the Roof (Shaindel), The Scarlet Pimpernel, and The Pirate Queen; Salt Lake Acting Company: Saturday’s Voyeur 2019; 

Recent HCT credits include Seussical (General Gengus Khan Schmitz), The Wizard of Oz (Professor Marvel/ Wizard of Oz), Cash on Delivery (Dr. Chapman). CenterPoint Legacy Theatre: in The Pirates of Penzance (The Major General), Mary Poppins (Mr. Banks), Curtains (Lt. Cioffi), Guys and Dolls (Nathan Detroit), and Dirty Rotten Scoundrels (Lawrence Jamison). He also appeared at the Egyptian Theatre in Park City in Noises Off (Lloyd). “The Dude abides.”

Zac was last seen in Seussical as General Gengus Khan Schmitz on our Centre Stage. Favorite HCT credits include Wait Until Dark (Sargent Carlino), The Music Man (Mayor Shinn), Disney’s Beauty and the Beast (Cogsworth), Peter and the Starcatcher (Alf), She Loves Me (Mr. Marachek), Chitty Chitty Bang Bang (Goran the Spy), and Born Yesterday (Harry Brock). 

A familiar face to the Utah theatre audience. Hale Centre Theatre credits include Newsies, Tuck Everlasting, To Kill A Mockingbird, Beau Jest, Disney’s Beauty and the Beast, and, most recently, A Christmas Carol 2019. HCTO: Newsies, Joseph.. Dreamcoat, Big Fish. PTC: Newsies. 

Michael is excited to be returning to the HCT stage. Previous credits with us include To Kill A Mockingbird (Heck Tate), Big River (Pap), Big Fish (Amos Calloway), Joseph...Dreamcoat (Jacob), Catch Me If You Can (Roger Strong), and The Three Musketeers (Athos). 

Nathanael was previously in our production of The Addams Family as Lucas Beineke. Nathanael is Director/Co-Founder of Panscape Pictures, an independent film company. “To have faith is to have wings.” Peter and the Starcatcher.

A familiar face to HCT audiences. Previous credits include: The Addams Family (Lucas Beineke), The Scarlet Pimpernel (Armand St. Just), Matilda, and The Hunchback of Notre Dame. Other favorite credits include Juanito Bandito (Grimm) at Pickleville Playhouse. Thank you to my beautiful wife, Becca. “All that we see or seem is but a dream within a dream.” -Edgar Allan Poe

Carson was recently seen in our production of Cinderella as the Fox/Footman. Other credits include: Hale Centre Theatre-Les Miserables (Courfeyrac), The Hunchback of Notre Dame; BYU-The Count of Monte Cristo (Mr. Morrell) a US Premier! Carson studied in the MDT Program at BYU with additional studies at BYU. “Thank you to Mark, Sally, Dave, Kelly and everyone at HCT! Shoutout to Brodee & McKelle for helping me get here!”

Recent credits include: Freaky Friday (Mike), The Scarlet Pimpernel (Ozzy), and The Music Man (Jacey Squires) at Hale Centre Theatre. The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee (William Barfee) and Damn Yankees (Joe Hardy) at Weber State University. 

Abram was recently seen in Phantom as Inspector Ledoux on our Centre Stage. Previous credits: Hale Centre Theatre- The Scarlet Pimpernel (St. Cyr) and Joseph...Dreamcoat (Issachar); HCTO- Newsies (Davey) and Peter and the Starcatcher (Peter). 

MaKenna has previously been seen on the HCT stage in The Addams Family (Wednesday Addams), Matilda, The Hunchback of Notre Dame, Seven Brides for Seven Brothers (Sarah), and Sister Act. Other credits include: Peter Pan (Wendy) and Joseph... Dreamcoat at HCTO. 

Becca made her Hale Centre Theatre debut in our recent production of The Addams Family. Other credits: HCTO-The Odd Couple (Cecily Pigeon), Disney’s The Little Mermaid, Annie, and Anything Goes. She earned her BFA in Acting from Utah Valley University and works as Master Carpenter and Scenic Charge for the UVU School of the Arts. “Thank you Dave and Kelly for letting me be part of this beautiful story!”

Haley is excited to be back on the HCT Stage. Favorite credits include Hunchback of Notre Dame (Florika), The Last Five Years (Cathy), West Side Story (Maria), and Les Miserables (Eponine). Haley graduated with a BFA in Music Dance Theater from Brigham Young University and currently works as a voice teacher for HCTO. “Thanks for all the love and support from my friends and family! Love you all!”

HCT audiences will recognize Rebecca from her recent performance in The Addams Family as Wednesday Addams. HCT credits include: The Hunchback of Notre Dame (Esmeralda), Aida (Nehebkah), Matilda (Acrobat). Other roles on the HCT stage include An American in Paris, Sister Act and Mary Poppins. 

Making her Hale Centre Theatre Debut! Favorite stage credits include- Million Dollar Quartet (Dyanne) at HCTO; Little Shop of Horrors (Audry), The Drowsy Chaperone (The Chaperone), Les Miserables (Eponine), Seussical (Mayzie LaBird). “I want to thank my amazing family for always cheering me on and supporting me.”

Amelia was most recently seen as Morticia Addams in our production of The Addams Family. Other favorite HCT credits include: Mrs. Wormwood (Matilda), Dorcus (Seven Brides for Seven Brothers), Belle (Disney’s Beauty and the Beast), as well as The Scarlet Pimpernel and AIDA. Other favorite roles: Grizette in The Merry Widow (Utah Opera), Narrator (Joseph...Dreamcoat) with HCTO; she also appeared in A Year with Frog and Toad at SLAC. 

For Hale Centre Theatre, Dave has previously directed Seussical, The Addams Family, Cinderella, Matilda, An American in Paris, The Wizard of Oz, Wait Until Dark, Newsies, The Hunchback of Notre Dame, Aida, The Heart of Robin Hood, Seven Brides for Seven Brothers, Sister Act, The Pirate Queen, Peter and the Starcatcher, She Loves Me, Tarzan, Hello, Dolly!, The Drowsy Chaperone, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, Zorro the Musical, Oliver!, and Les Misérables. 

Kelly is one of the most sought after Music Directors along the Wasatch Front. His talent and skills have been instrumental in the success of many of our productions, with the most recent being Seussical, Freaky Friday, An American in Paris, Aida, Forever Plaid, Sister Act, Disney’s Beauty and the Beast, Peter and the Starcatcher, Big Fish, The Little Mermaid, GHOST the Musical, Catch Me If You Can, Mary Poppins, and Les Misérables. 

Susan was born and raised in Irvine, California and holds a BA in stage management from Brigham Young University. She is thrilled to be the Production Stage Manager of Bright Star. Her recent credits include: Production Assistant of Into the Woods at the Hollywood Bowl, Production Stage Manager of BYU’s Wonderland, Single Wide, Christmas Around the World, The Barber of Seville, and The Importance of Being Earnest, Utah Vocal Arts Academy’s Don Giovanni, and Assistant Stage Manager of Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street at the Noorda Center for the Arts, Sundance Summer Theatre’s Okla- homa! and of the BYU Spectacular tour to China this past May. 

Jenn’s work was most recently seen as the Scenic Designer for The Addams Family, Freaky Friday, and Steel Magnolias. Recent costume design credits for HCT: The Wizard of Oz and Aida. Other Scenic Designs for HCT include The Nerd, A Bundle of Trouble, Big River, Beau Jest, Over the River and Through the Woods, Is He Dead?, The Foreigner, The 39 Steps, and The Game’s Afoot. 

As an accomplished artist, Madeline’s work was recently seen in our productions of Seussical, Matilda and Cinderella. Other scenic design credits include credits include Oklahoma! (Sundance), Distance of the Moon (Sackerson), Let The Right One In and Angels in America (An Other Theatre). Madeline earned Bachelor Of Fine Arts in Scenic Design from Utah Valley University.

Marianne is thrilled to be back at HCT, after designing lights for The Addams Family last season. She works as the Assistant Lighting Designer for BYU Arts Production. Marianne holds her Bachelor’s Degree from Brigham Young University and her Master’s from University of Idaho. Other credits include BYU - BYU Spectacular, Wonderland, Anne of Green Gables. Utah Metropolitan Ballet - Snow White

Dan loves the challenge of theatrical sound and is very excited for the opportunity to work in such a marvelous place. Some of his favorite sound designs have been The Three Musketeers, The Wedding Singer, and A Tale of Two Cities. He feels blessed to have worked on a variety of other projects, which include The Savior of the World, The Nauvoo Pageant, A Brand New Year and various concerts and television programs for the LDS Church.

Previous HCT credits include Projection Designer for Seussical, The Addams Family, Cinderella, Freaky Friday, Matilda and video content for A Gentleman’s Guide to Love and Murder. Bobby studied video production at Utah Valley University. He owns and operates In Blue Productions, where he specializes in aerial video, time-lapse and motion graphics. 

Michelle is extremely passionate about details, research, beautiful and interesting “things,” anything to do with flowers, and opening packages. She recently designed her 63rd show with Cinderella; some of her other favorite designs have included The Drowsy Chaperone, Over The River..., Les Miserables, Tarzan, Tuck Everlasting, My Fair Lady, Aida, and She Loves Me. 

Peggy has designed & sewn for HCT since 2005. She lists as some of her favorite designs as Heart of Robin Hood, Peter and the Starcatcher, Big Fish, Tarzan, Les Miserables, The Civil War, The Three Musketeers, Treasure Island, Aida (2006), Hunchback of Notre Dame, and Matilda. 

Krissa has been with HCT for a number of years, and has designed hair and make-up for Aida, Seven Brides for Seven Brothers, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, She Loves Me, Peter and the Starcatcher and Disney’s Beauty and the Beast. 

Stephen Martin is one of the most well-known and pervasive talents in entertainment. His work has earned him an Academy Award, five Grammy Awards (two for comedy, three for music), an Emmy, the Mark Twain Award and the Kennedy Center Honor. 

Edie Brickell released the debut multiplatinum album Shooting Rubber Bands at the Stars with New Bohemians in 1988. Her recent works include a 13-track collaboration with Steve Martin titled Love Has Come for You. The album won a Grammy for Best American Roots Song and inspired the musical Bright Star. Their second album, So Familiar, is out now.