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Cyrano (musical)
Encyclopedia
Cyrano is a musical
with a book and lyrics by Anthony Burgess
and music by Michael J. Lewis.
Based on Edmond Rostand
's classic 1897 play of the same name
, it focuses on a love triangle involving the large-nosed poetic Cyrano de Bergerac
, his beautiful cousin Roxana, and his classically handsome but inarticulate friend Christian de Neuvillette who, unaware of Cyrano's unrequited passion for Roxana, imposes upon him to provide the romantic words he can use to woo her successfully in mid-17th century Paris
.
In the early 1960s, David Merrick
had announced plans to produce a musical entitled Cyrano with a score by Leslie Bricusse
and Anthony Newley
, but nothing came of the project. Burgess had translated the Rostand play for the Guthrie
in Minneapolis, and director Michael Langham suggested he adapt it for a musical version. Burgess joined forces with film composer
Lewis, replacing dialogue in his play with musical numbers, and the completed work was staged at the Guthrie, again with Langham at the helm.
Following a tryout in Boston
's Colonial Theatre
and five previews, the Broadway
production, directed and choreographed by Michael Kidd
, opened on May 13, 1973 at the Palace Theatre
, where it ran for 49 performances. The cast included Christopher Plummer
as Cyrano, Leigh Beery as Roxana, and Mark Lamos
as Christian, with Tovah Feldshuh
making her Broadway debut in two small supporting roles.
Plummer won the Tony
for Best Actor in a Musical and Drama Desk Award
for Outstanding Performance, and Beery was Tony-nominated for Best Featured Actress in a Musical.
An original cast recording LP was released by A&M Records in 1973. An original cast recording CD was released by Decca Records
in 2005.
In September 1994, an abridged version of the musical made its West Coast preview at The Newport Arts Center in Orange County, California. Directed by Kent Johnson, and starring well known regional actor John Huntington as Cyrano and actress Deirdre McGill (" A Thing Called Love " , " Dead Hollywood Blondes") as Roxanne. One of the best numbers " You have Made me Love" was recently released on a Broadway standards album sung by Deirdre McGill and is available on a CD titled " Pandora's Box" on amazon.com .
Act II
http://articles.latimes.com/keyword/newport-theatre-arts-center September 1994
Musical theatre
Musical theatre is a form of theatre combining songs, spoken dialogue, acting, and dance. The emotional content of the piece – humor, pathos, love, anger – as well as the story itself, is communicated through the words, music, movement and technical aspects of the entertainment as an...
with a book and lyrics by Anthony Burgess
Anthony Burgess
John Burgess Wilson – who published under the pen name Anthony Burgess – was an English author, poet, playwright, composer, linguist, translator and critic. The dystopian satire A Clockwork Orange is Burgess's most famous novel, though he dismissed it as one of his lesser works...
and music by Michael J. Lewis.
Based on Edmond Rostand
Edmond Rostand
Edmond Eugène Alexis Rostand was a French poet and dramatist. He is associated with neo-romanticism, and is best known for his play Cyrano de Bergerac. Rostand's romantic plays provided an alternative to the naturalistic theatre popular during the late nineteenth century...
's classic 1897 play of the same name
Cyrano de Bergerac (play)
Cyrano de Bergerac is a play written in 1897 by Edmond Rostand. Although there was a real Cyrano de Bergerac, the play bears very scant resemblance to his life....
, it focuses on a love triangle involving the large-nosed poetic Cyrano de Bergerac
Cyrano de Bergerac
Hercule-Savinien de Cyrano de Bergerac was a French dramatist and duelist. He is now best remembered for the works of fiction which have been woven, often very loosely, around his life story, most notably the 1897 play by Edmond Rostand...
, his beautiful cousin Roxana, and his classically handsome but inarticulate friend Christian de Neuvillette who, unaware of Cyrano's unrequited passion for Roxana, imposes upon him to provide the romantic words he can use to woo her successfully in mid-17th century Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
.
In the early 1960s, David Merrick
David Merrick
David Merrick was a prolific Tony Award-winning American theatrical producer.-Life and career:Born David Lee Margulois to Jewish parents in St. Louis, Missouri, Merrick graduated from Washington University, then studied law at the Jesuit-run Saint Louis University School of Law...
had announced plans to produce a musical entitled Cyrano with a score by Leslie Bricusse
Leslie Bricusse
Leslie Bricusse is an English composer, lyricist, and playwright.Although best known for his partnership with Anthony Newley, Bricusse has worked with many other composers. He was educated at University College School in London and Gonville and Caius College, Cambridge...
and Anthony Newley
Anthony Newley
Anthony George Newley was an English actor, singer and songwriter. He enjoyed success as a performer in such diverse fields as rock and roll and stage and screen acting.-Early life:...
, but nothing came of the project. Burgess had translated the Rostand play for the Guthrie
Guthrie Theater
The Guthrie Theater is a center for theater performance, production, education, and professional training in Minneapolis, Minnesota. It is the result of the desire of Sir Tyrone Guthrie, Oliver Rea, and Peter Zeisler to create a resident acting company that would produce and perform the classics in...
in Minneapolis, and director Michael Langham suggested he adapt it for a musical version. Burgess joined forces with film composer
Film score
A film score is original music written specifically to accompany a film, forming part of the film's soundtrack, which also usually includes dialogue and sound effects...
Lewis, replacing dialogue in his play with musical numbers, and the completed work was staged at the Guthrie, again with Langham at the helm.
Following a tryout in Boston
Boston
Boston is the capital of and largest city in Massachusetts, and is one of the oldest cities in the United States. The largest city in New England, Boston is regarded as the unofficial "Capital of New England" for its economic and cultural impact on the entire New England region. The city proper had...
's Colonial Theatre
Colonial Theatre
The Colonial Theatre is the oldest continually-operating theatre in Boston, Massachusetts, United States. Designed by the architectural firm of Clarence Blackall and paid for by Frederick Lothrop Ames the theatre first opened its doors for a performance of Ben-Hur on December 20, 1900...
and five previews, the Broadway
Broadway theatre
Broadway theatre, commonly called simply Broadway, refers to theatrical performances presented in one of the 40 professional theatres with 500 or more seats located in the Theatre District centered along Broadway, and in Lincoln Center, in Manhattan in New York City...
production, directed and choreographed by Michael Kidd
Michael Kidd
Michael Kidd was an American film and stage choreographer.-Life and career:Born Milton Greenwald in New York City on the Lower East Side, the son of Abraham Greenwald, an immigrant barber, and his wife Lillian, Michael Kidd moved to Brooklyn with his family and attended New Utrecht High School there...
, opened on May 13, 1973 at the Palace Theatre
Palace Theatre, New York
The Palace Theatre is a Broadway theatre located at 1564 Broadway in midtown-Manhattan.-History:Designed by architects Kirchoff & Rose, the theatre was built by Martin Beck a California vaudeville entrepreneur and Broadway impresario. The project experienced a number of business problems before...
, where it ran for 49 performances. The cast included Christopher Plummer
Christopher Plummer
Arthur Christopher Orne Plummer, CC is a Canadian theatre, film and television actor. He made his film debut in 1957's Stage Struck, and notable early film performances include Night of the Generals, The Return of the Pink Panther and The Man Who Would Be King.In a career that spans over five...
as Cyrano, Leigh Beery as Roxana, and Mark Lamos
Mark Lamos
Mark Lamos is an American theatre and opera director, producer and actor. Under his direction, Hartford Stage won the 1989 Tony Award for Outstanding Regional Theatre and he has been nominated for two other Tonys...
as Christian, with Tovah Feldshuh
Tovah Feldshuh
Tovah Feldshuh is an American actress, singer and playwright.-Early life:Terri Sue Feldshuh was born to a Jewish family in New York City, the daughter of Lillian and Sidney Feldshuh, who was a lawyer. She was raised in Scarsdale, New York, an affluent community in Westchester County and graduated...
making her Broadway debut in two small supporting roles.
Plummer won the Tony
Tony Award
The Antoinette Perry Award for Excellence in Theatre, more commonly known as a Tony Award, recognizes achievement in live Broadway theatre. The awards are presented by the American Theatre Wing and The Broadway League at an annual ceremony in New York City. The awards are given for Broadway...
for Best Actor in a Musical and Drama Desk Award
Drama Desk Award
The Drama Desk Awards, which are given annually in a number of categories, are the only major New York theater honors for which productions on Broadway, Off-Broadway, Off-Off-Broadway compete against each other in the same category...
for Outstanding Performance, and Beery was Tony-nominated for Best Featured Actress in a Musical.
An original cast recording LP was released by A&M Records in 1973. An original cast recording CD was released by Decca Records
Decca Records
Decca Records began as a British record label established in 1929 by Edward Lewis. Its U.S. label was established in late 1934; however, owing to World War II, the link with the British company was broken for several decades....
in 2005.
In September 1994, an abridged version of the musical made its West Coast preview at The Newport Arts Center in Orange County, California. Directed by Kent Johnson, and starring well known regional actor John Huntington as Cyrano and actress Deirdre McGill (" A Thing Called Love " , " Dead Hollywood Blondes") as Roxanne. One of the best numbers " You have Made me Love" was recently released on a Broadway standards album sung by Deirdre McGill and is available on a CD titled " Pandora's Box" on amazon.com .
Song list
Act I- Cyrano's Nose
- La France, La France
- Tell Her
- From Now Till Forever
- Bergerac
- Pocapdedious
- No, Thank You
- From Now Till Forever (Reprise)
Act II
- Roxana
- It's She and It's Me
- You Have Made Me Love
- Thither, Thother, Thide
- Pocapdedious (Reprise)
- Paris Cuisine
- Love Is Not Love
- Autumn Carol
- I Never Loved You
Original Broadway Cast
- Cyrano de Bergerac - Christopher Plummer
- Roxana - Leigh Beery
- Christian de Neuvillette - Mark Lamos
- Le Bret, Captain of the Gascons - James Blendick
- Montfleury, A Romantic Tragedian - Patrick Hines
- Count de Guiche, Guardian of Roxana - Louis Turenne
- Ragueneau, A Baker and Poet - Arnold Soboloff
- Viscount de Valvert - J. Kenneth Campbell
- Roxana's Duenna, Sister Marthe - Anita Dangler
- Pickpocket, Capucine Monk - Geoff Garland
- Jodelet - Michael Goodwin
- The Marquis in Red - Alexander Orfaly
- Vendor - Tovah Feldshuh
External links
http://articles.latimes.com/keyword/newport-theatre-arts-center September 1994