Steve Martin co-wrote a musical and it's coming to Cape Cod Community College April 18-20.

Cape Cod Community College director Vana Trudeau had a feeling that the Cape would be a good place to stage “Bright Star.”

And the bluegrass musical by comedian/banjoist Steve Martin and Grammy winner Edie Brickell proved a perfect fit for the peninsula.

“I felt like bluegrass was a really nice sort of handshake to a lot of musical people on Cape Cod,” she said. “Bluegrass is not specifically a thing on Cape Cod but is very much like a lot of music you hear in bars and pubs on Cape.”

Trudeau, assistant professor and coordinator for Cape Cod Community College’s performing arts, said “Bright Star” is a haunting story. The show announcement came with a content warning for “misogyny, staged physical and emotional intimacy and simulated violence against an infant.”

Cape Cod theater review: We saw Steve Martin's musical 'Bright Star.' Here's what we thought.

“Bright Star” plays April 18, 19 and 20 at 7:30 p.m., with an additional 2 p.m. matinee on Saturday, in the black box theater at Tilden Center for the Arts, Cape Cod Community College, off Route 132. Tickets are $5 to $25. Call 774-330-4044 for ticket availability.

'Reynard the Fox or The Trickster' in Harwich

Also finishing its run this weekend, with special performances for school vacation week, is a show for the family, “Reynard the Fox or The Trickster.” Staged by Cape Cod Theatre Project/Harwich Junior Theatre, the newly written piece is playwright Fred Sullivan Jr.’s retelling of old folk tales from around the world. He described it as “Aesop meets Mel Brooks.”

Playing Reynard, Brian Lore Evans takes in a cadre of talking animals in a show that will delight many children but also has enough spice to keep the attention of their adults. Performances of “Reynard the Fox” are 7 p.m. Fridays, 2 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays, through April 20. Ticket prices $18-$28. Special vacation matinees are at 2 p.m. April 17 and 18, at Cape Cod Theatre Co/Harwich Junior Theatre, 105 Division St., Harwich. Tickets: 508-432-2002; more information at www.capecodtheatrecompany.org/

'Pippin' in Dennis

Would you rather have a life of new places and adventures or your own cozy little corner of the world where each day brings its blessings in the fullness of time?

That is the heart of "Pippin." The 1972 Broadway musical ― directed and choreographed by Bob Fosse, with book by Roger O. Hirson, music and lyrics by Stephen Schwartz ― is a fictionalized story of King Charlemagne's hunchback son. The show ran for 1,944 performances.

Here on the Cape, "Pippin" is presented April 25-May 12, a production of Eventide Theatre Company in Dennis and Cotuit Center for the Arts.

"The musical uses the premise of a mysterious performance troupe, led by the Leading Player, to tell the story of Pippin, a young prince on his search for meaning and significance. The 'fourth wall' is broken numerous times during most traditional productions," according to Eventide's website.

Tickets, at $35, are available through eventidearts.org/

'Noises Off' in Orleans

Also running from April 25-May 12, the bawdy British 1982 farce by English playwright Michael Frayn, "Noises Off," is at the Academy of Performing Arts in Orleans.

The what happens in this play-within-a-play often takes a backseat to how it happens because, as any veteran performer will tell you, dealing with disasters is all part of the play. In this play, a troupe in the English countryside are staging a production of a touring sex comedy, "Nothing On."

But you might say, "Nothing Right" as cast members forget their lines, misplace props, deal with damaged sets and try to wrest charm from chaos. It promises to be a workout, in which audience laughter gets pumped by perfect timing. Tickets: $25-$35, academyplyhouse.org/.

'Willy Wonka' in Falmouth

Cast and crew at the Falmouth Theatre Guild are preparing for Roald Dahl's "Willy Wonka," being staged weekends from April 26-May 12 at Highfield Theatre, 58 Highfield Drive, Falmouth.

Candy maker Willy Wonka hides gold tickets in five of his candy bars, with the holders of those tickets entitled to tour his candy factory and enjoy a lifetime of free candy. But beware: the happiest place on Earth can become a nightmare for children who do not obey the rules in the factory.

The well-known musical is usually fun, but it will be even more fun to see how the show's set and special effects designer Peter D. Cook handles the creative ways in which the factory deals with misbehaving children.

Showtimes are 7:30 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays, 2 p.m. Sundays; tickets $30, $25 for 18 and under, $28 for 62-plus, including $3 service fee. Tickets and more info at falmouththeatreguild.org/.

Gwenn Friss is the editor of CapeWeek and covers entertainment, restaurants and the arts. Contact her at gfriss@capecodonline.com. Follow her or X, formerly Twitter: @dailyrecipeCCT

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This article originally appeared on Cape Cod Times: See Steve Martin's musical at Cape Cod Community College this weekend