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 for a future broadcast on PBS "Great Performances." An exact air-date and details are yet to be announced.
The revival will play 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.
On Saturday, December 8, 2007, Cyrano de
Bergerac smashed another record at The Richard Rodgers Theater by earning
the highest gross for a performance of a play or musical with $153, 880.
This broke the record set over the Thanksgiving holiday in 2006, by
Disney's Tarzan.
"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).
The performance schedule for Cyrano de
Bergerac is Tuesday at 7pm, Wednesday - Saturday evenings at 8pm, Wednesday
and Saturday matinees at 2pm and Sunday matinees at 3pm. A performance has been
added on Sunday, December 30 at 8pm.
Tickets are $20-$100 and can be purchased via the internet at www.Ticketmaster.com, by
calling (212) 307-4100 or in person at The Richard Rodgers Theatre Box Office, 226 W. 46th Street.
