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Tuesday, 01 September 2026
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Written by Katie Herring
At its heart, theatre is storytelling. Whether it is dressed up in fancy costumes and elaborate choreography, or is simple and straightforward, everything onstage works to tell the story. The most effective, most lasting, most potent plays are ones that tell stories that are relatable, even universal; plays in which we see something of ourselves and our own experiences reflected back to us from the stage.
Cape Fear Regional Theatre seeks to tell such stories: ones that represent a wide variety of stories. This central aspect of their identity is reflected in their logo, which states “Great Stories Told Here.”
The theatre kicks off their 2026-27 season with a play that fits their goal to tell great stories: the musical Bright Star. Based on the true story of Iron Mountain Baby and set in North Carolina, Bright Star uses high-energy bluegrass music to tell a remarkable story of perseverance, love, and above all, hope.
Bright Star tells the story of Alice Murphy. She has a successful career as a literary editor when she crosses paths with a soldier returning from World War II. The chance encounter unlocks secrets from the past, as we flash back to Alice’s upbringing in Asheville, North Carolina, in the 1920s. With twists and turns that are difficult to predict, the show is sure to keep audiences guessing.
Written by Steve Martin (yes, that Steve Martin!) and Edie Brickell, the music of Bright Star is as bright a star as any other aspect of the show. While bluegrass is not often heard in musical theatre, it is a perfect vehicle for the story set in the Appalachian Mountains in the 1920s and 40s.
Alice Murphy is played by local actress Jennifer Newman. Originally from New Jersey, the Army brought Newman and her husband to Fort Bragg in 2019, where she quickly found a home and a family at Cape Fear Regional Theatre. Her first show at CFRT was Shrek, in which she played multiple ensemble roles. Since then, she has been in a total of 12 shows, in every capacity from understudy to ensemble to leading lady. In that time and through challenges and changes, the theatre has become Newman’s “village,” a chosen family and more than just colleagues.
Newman expresses her excitement in playing Alice Murphy. She says, “It's really neat to play such a strong, quick-witted and…powerful female character.”
Alice is a successful career woman,-something fairly uncommon in the 1940s,-who has had to overcome much during her life to arrive at the status she has been able to achieve. As Newman explains, “she gets knocked down 101 times, and she gets up 102.”
For every hero, there has to be a villain, and in the world of Bright Star that villain is Mayor Josiah Dobbs. His choices and actions make significant differences in the lives of others in the play, and he is the “antagonist to everyone.”
The Mayor is played by Scott Willis, a New York-based actor who is making his Cape Fear Regional debut. Willis has been on Broadway and national tour stages, including a run playing Monsieur Baurel in An American in Paris on Broadway and the National Tour, and as Santa Claus at Radio City Music Hall.
The Mayor’s son, Jimmy Ray Dobbs, played by Jimmy Rustenhaven, has ideas of how he wants his life to go, but father and son do not see eye to eye.
Willis describes the antagonist of the play, speaking of the character as himself: “You know, I love [my son], probably more than my father loved me…but I'm going to take care of him, and if I need to make him do what I want so that I know he can provide for himself…he's going to do it the way I was taught to do it. So, I'm very controlling.”
The company of the show is rounded out by 15 additional actors, a combination of faces that are familiar to those who have frequented CFRT shows in recent years, and some who are new to the Fayetteville stage.
Led by director and choreographer Antoinette DiPietropolo and music director Sarah Wussow, the company also features something that hasn’t been on the CFRT stage in a while: live musicians. The bluegrass sound is a combination of classic instruments, like mandolin and guitar, but that classic sound will be enhanced in Bright Star by a live fiddle and banjo on stage as well.
Tickets for Bright Star are available for purchase now through the CFRT box office at cfrt.org or by calling 910-323-4233. Season packages are still available for purchase as well, for those who would like to lock in their seats for more than one show at a significant discount.
As always, there are some special event nights planned as part of the run of Bright Star. The first preview of the show is on Thursday, Sept. 10 and will feature a Welcome Back Bash, as the theatre welcomes audiences back for what promises to be an exciting season. The Welcome Back Bash will feature a complimentary pre-show “bubbly bar” and themed snacks for those in the audience.
Military Appreciation Night is Wednesday, Sept. 16, and Educators Night is Friday, Sept. 18; both evenings offer those special guests 25% off the cost of tickets.
The 2026-27 season will no doubt be a momentous one for Cape Fear Regional Theatre and its loyal patrons. While the season opener as well as the holiday favorite Best Christmas Pageant Ever will still be performed at their temporary location at 1707 Owen Drive, the season will wrap up back in their newly renovated home theatre on Hay Street.
By kicking off its new season with Bright Star, Cape Fear Regional Theatre is doing what it does best: bringing people together through unforgettable stories. With a standout cast, upbeat bluegrass music, and a deeply moving tale of hope and resilience, it is a show you won’t want to miss.
Grab your tickets today and join in on the magic!
(Photo: The cast of Bright Star will bring to life the story of Alice Murphy on the Cape Fear Regional Theatre stage. Live music will be a part of the performance. Photo courtesy of Cape Fear Regional Theatre)
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Tuesday, 01 September 2026
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Written by Sheila D Barker
For one weekend in September, the sights, sounds and flavors of Greece will fill Fayetteville’s historic Haymount neighborhood as the Fayetteville Greek Festival returns for its 36th year.
The annual celebration will take place Sept. 12 and 13 at Saints Constantine and Helen Greek Orthodox Church, located at 614 Oakridge Ave. Festival hours are 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Saturday and noon to 6 p.m. Sunday. Admission and parking are free.
Organized by members of Fayetteville’s Greek community, the festival invites visitors to experience Greek heritage through traditional food, music, folk dancing, shopping and educational activities. Approximately 5,000 people attended the festival in 2025.
Food is traditionally one of the festival’s biggest attractions. Guests can enjoy familiar Greek favorites such as gyros, souvlaki and spanakopita, along with an assortment of homemade pastries and desserts. Baklava, loukoumades and Greek coffee will offer something sweet for those who save room after the main course.
Souvlaki consists of seasoned pieces of meat grilled on skewers, while spanakopita combines spinach and cheese inside layers of flaky phyllo dough. Loukoumades are small, fried dough pastries traditionally served with honey. Together, the dishes offer visitors a flavorful introduction to Greek culinary traditions.
The festival offers more than a meal. Live music and folk dancing will help create a lively atmosphere throughout the weekend, while church tours will give visitors an opportunity to learn about the Greek Orthodox faith and the history of the congregation.
Shoppers can browse approximately a dozen outside vendors offering locally made art, crafts and other items. Additional attractions inside the church will include Greek jewelry and gifts, an olive oil maker, artwork depicting scenes from Greece and a cooking class.
The festival’s Greek Grocery Store will also return this year. Visitors will be able to shop for imported and specialty products including Greek chocolates, honey, olive oil, candy, pasta and coffee. The store gives guests a chance to take some of the festival’s flavors home and experiment with Greek ingredients in their own kitchens.
While the weekend celebrates traditions passed down through generations, it also reflects Fayetteville’s broader cultural diversity. The Greek community has played a notable role in the local restaurant and business landscape, and the festival provides a place for families to share their heritage with neighbors from across Cumberland County.
Festival co-chair Lia Hasapis described Fayetteville as a “melting pot” where people come together, regardless of whether they have Greek ancestry.
A new community partnership will extend that welcoming spirit beyond the festival grounds. Organizers are working with the Cumberland County Animal Services Department to promote responsible pet ownership, animal adoption and the shelter’s programs.
Festivalgoers will be able to learn about the organization’s work and donate requested pet supplies. The collaboration gives the festival an additional way to support the community that has embraced the event for more than three decades.
Raffles, family-friendly activities and cultural displays will round out the weekend. Whether guests come to sample their first gyro, watch traditional dancing, learn about the Orthodox faith or stock their pantry with Greek specialties, the festival offers multiple ways to experience the hospitality and heritage of Fayetteville’s Greek community.
The Fayetteville Greek Festival will be held from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 12, and noon to 6 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 13, at Saints Constantine and Helen Greek Orthodox Church, 614 Oakridge Ave. Admission and parking are free. Food, merchandise and other goods will be available for purchase. For more information, visit the Fayetteville Greek Festival’s Facebook page at www.facebook.com/p/Fayetteville-Greek-Festival-61575166151341/.
(Photo: Dancing is a large part of the Fayetteville Greek Festival. Those who go can expect to see performers on the stage, showcasing their craft. Photo courtesy of the Fayetteville Greek Festival Facebook page)
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