[3][4] Dahan and D'Angelo had previously been working separately on their own musicals about the life of van Gogh, but when they met, they decided to collaborate and combine their outlines.
[5][6][7] Dahan and D'Angelo also looked at historical documents from painters Paul Gauguin and Émile Bernard.
[6] By late 2017 StarKid Productions members Jaime Lyn Beatty, Mariah Rose Faith Casillas, Jeff Blim, and Dylan Saunders had joined the cast.
[12][13][14] In March 2021 Dahan and D'Angelo performed pieces from Starry as part of New York Theatre Barn's New Work Series.
[4][7] The production was produced by Ameena Hamid, directed by Dean Johnson, and choreographed by Nileeka Bose.
Vincent visits Madame Segatori’s café, where he meets a group of artists who, despite their constant bickering, have a sense of camaraderie and solidarity ("United in Distaste").
Vincent has moved in with Paul Gauguin in the countryside, and he and Theo continue to write letters to each other ("The Yellow House").
However, Vincent’s mental health begins to spiral following a fight with Gauguin ("Threshold of Eternity") and he realizes the only thing that might help him is continuing to paint.
After his death, his work becomes recognized due to Jo’s efforts, and the show ends with the ensemble declaring "the sight of the starry night makes me free" ("Finale Ultimo").
[7] Several of the show's songs are named after van Gogh's artworks, including The Sower, The Yellow House, The Red Vineyard, The Starry Night, and Wheat Fields.