The critically acclaimed production of Cyrano de Bergerac, Edmond Rostand's 1897 romantic classic with a translation and adaptation by Anthony Burgess, was recorded live on Wednesday, January 2, 2008 PBS "Great Performances." It's now going to be made available on DVD on January 6, 2009. It's currently available for pre-order on Amazon.com and elsewhere.
The revival played its final performance on Sunday, January 6, 2008. It was originally set to close on Sunday, December 23, 2007 but was extended for two weeks due to popular demand. The production, starring Kevin Kline, Jennifer Garner and Daniel Sunjata, directed by David Leveaux, began previews on October 11, 2007 and opened on November 1, 2007 at the Richard Rodgers Theater, 226 W. 46th Street.
During its first weekend of previews, on Saturday, October 12, 2007, Cyrano de Bergerac shattered the record at the Richard Rodgers Box office for the highest gross for one performance of a play. The play has broken its own record over 15 times.
Cyrano de Bergerac was consistently one of the top ten grossing shows on Broadway during its limited run and grossed over $900,000 every (full performance) week post opening. It grossed over $500,000 during the first and last week of the 2007 Broadway strike while only playing 5 performances.
"Based on a true story, Cyrano de Bergerac is a classic tale of romance and tragedy. The soulful poet/philosopher and brilliant swordsman Cyrano (Kline), a cadet in the French Army, falls for the beautiful, strong-willed Roxane (Garner), but is too ashamed of his large nose to tell her. Instead, when he learns that she loves the handsome Christian de Neuvillette (Sunjata), his dim-witted comrade, he pens poetry and love letters to Roxane on Christian's behalf. After many years, the truth is revealed. Will love or beauty conquer all?" explain press notes.
The production stars Kevin Kline as Cyrano de Bergerac, Jennifer Garner as Roxane, Daniel Sunjata as Christian de Neuvillette, Max Baker as Ragueneau, Euan Morton as Ligniere, Chris Sarandon as Comte de Guiche, John Douglas Thompson as Le Bret and Concetta Tomei as Roxane's Duenna. The rest of the cast includes Tom Bloom as Montfleury, Peter Jay Fernandez as Carbon de Castel-Jaloux, MacIntyre Dixon as Jodelet, Carman Lacivita as Vicomte de Valvert. Nance Williamson, Piter Marek, Baylen Thomas, Daniel Stewart Sherman, Keith Eric Chappelle, Thomas Schall, Davis Duffield, Alexander Sovronsky, Lucas Papaelias, Fred Rose, Stephen Balantzian, Amefika El-Amin, Ginifer King, Kate Guyton, Leenya Rideout.
Cyrano de Bergerac features scenic design by Tom Pye (Fiddler on the Roof), costume design by Gregory Gale (Urinetown), lighting design by Donald Holder (Movin' Out) and sound design by David Van Tiegham (Doubt).
