A modern musical using Americana-styled music and themes might seem a bit risky, like remaking “Oklahoma!”

It works wonderfully, however, with “Bright Star,” in its Lehigh Valley debut at Pennsylvania Playhouse.

“Bright Star” moves back and forth between the 1920s and 1940s in North Carolina. It begins in 1946 with Alice Murphy (Gabrielle Hondorp), editor of the Asheville Southern Journal, singing “If Your Knew My Story.” Her story is told by the play.

Billy Cane (Chris D’Imperio) returns home to Hayes Creek to his father (Nate C. Kuhns). He seems to be developing a relationship with Margo (Emily Barrett), but he decides to move to Asheville, N.C., hoping to sell his stories to the Journal.

The scene moves back to 1923 to the town of Zebulon, when the teenage Alice has a romance with Jimmy Ray Dobbs (Stephen Krock).

Alice’s Mama (Denise Shelton) and Daddy (Mike Daniels) think that Alice is becoming a bit wild. Mayor Dobbs (Bob Calder) is even more disapproving, since Jimmy Ray’s involvement with Alice threatens the big plans he has for his son.

“Bright Star” is too sunny at first, and its early cheerfulness would be too much for its two and one-half hours. But it takes a dark turn, and there are many powerful and moving scenes.

It is supposed to be based on a true story, “Iron Mountain Baby.” It seems more likely that this is a folk tale instead of a real incident, and a legend seems to be a better fit for this musical.

The singing is superb throughout, which is particularly noticeable in the ensemble scenes. There is more music than dialogue, with a total of 22 different numbers.

There are not any obvious showstoppers, but all the songs are good and move the plot along without any of them sounding like fillers added for exposition. Americana and Broadway musical songs have a tradition of telling stories. “Bright Star” adeptly mixes the best characteristics of each genre.

The acting matches the singing in quality, with great performances by nearly everyone. The southern accents are a bit difficult to understand at first, and when the actors are facing away from the audience, it is sometimes hard to hear them. But things are easy enough to follow.

“Bright Star” tells a simple but melodramatic story that never becomes too corn-pone or overdone. Hondorp and Krock effectively span a range of emotions over the years, while Chris D’Imperio never makes the innocence of Billy seem too one-dimensional.

There is occasional humor from Lucy (Monica D’Imperio) and Daryl (Andrew Maldonado) in the Journal offices and by the mayor’s assistant Stanford (Deven Windisch).

You might expect more funny stuff from a work co-written by comedian Steve Martin (along with Edie Brickell), but Martin’s long-standing commitment to bluegrass banjo playing is more evident here.

The sets are minimal, which is a necessity with so many scene changes and a cast of 23. Director Brian Houp keeps things moving quickly, working with choreographer Jaedon Muhl and music director Lynn Flickinger.

Even if your tastes are more urban sophistication than rural folk-telling, “Bright Star” is an attraction that any lover of musicals should see.

“Bright Star,” 7:30 p.m. June 10, 11, 17, 18 and 6 p.m. June 12, 19, Pennsylvania Playhouse, 390 Illick’s Mill Road, Bethlehem, www.paplayhouse.org; 610-865-6665