Cyrano to Open July 23rd

Based on Edmond Rostand's immortal story of chivalry and wit, bravery and love and timeless romance, the classic drama “Cyrano de Bergerac” opens at Heartwood July 23^rd, in the Poe Theater at Lincoln Academy. 

Set in Louis XIII's reign, it’s the moving and exciting drama of one of the finest swordsmen in France, a gallant soldier, brilliant wit, tragic poet-lover … with the face of a clown.  Rostand's extraordinary lyric powers gave birth to a universal hero - Cyrano de Bergerac - and ensured his own reputation as author of one of the best-loved plays in the literature of the stage. 

American poet, Brian Hooker, created a translation nearly as famous as the original play, itself, generally considered to be among the finest verse translations every written.

“Theater Magic happens in the Poe Theater,” notes Heartwood’s ED Joy Braley, “and a good deal of that ‘magic’ comes from a comprehensive production concept in which the scale and marriage of technical elements meld with the space, itself.”  Simple and purposeful, each set piece, each piece of fabric, each light and each sound effect complements the narrative of this beautiful story.

 The production concept begins with Heartwood’s TD, Tish Munson, designing and building the set and creating and hanging the light plot.

 The conceptual thread continues in the costuming, and Joan Mather is lending her talent to Heartwood in this capacity for the first time.  Mather received her MFA in Costume Design at California State University, Fullerton, and has designed and constructed costumes for dozens of theater, ballet and opera companies across the country.

Certainly, Cyrano would not be complete without swordplay.  Returning to lead this charge is choreographer and instructor, Mark Bedell, who previously fight choreographed “Romeo and Juliet” and “Macbeth” for Heartwood.

 Rounding out the production team is professional makeup artist, Katie Machaiek.  Growing up in Owls Head, Katie became interested in makeup while studying filmmaking at Emerson College, further developing her skills in Los Angeles, at Cinema Makeup School.  Machaiek will arrive early each night, to build Cyrano’s nose.

 The wonderful black box nature of the Poe Theater envelops an audience and begs the “willing suspension of disbelief.”  Audiences can exchange the daily concerns of this world for the poetry, humor, wit and drama of Cyrano’s world, in this timeless classic.

  Eight performances will run between July 23 and August 1, in the Parker Poe Theater at Lincoln Academy.  Times and ticket prices vary.  For full details, visit www.heartwoodtheater.org, email info@heartwoodtheater.org or phone 563.1373.   Sellouts are common in this 150 seat space – reservations very strongly recommended.

  Generous sponsors include: Bath Savings Institution, Season Sponsor; Granite Hill Estates, Mainstage Sponsor; Colby & Gale, Student Ticket Sponsor; First Advisors, Intermission Sponsor; and Show Sponsors – Hook Yarn and Stitcher, J&H Landscaping and The Lincoln Home.

A growing network of serious actors is finding Midcoast Maine the perfect place to work and live for a few weeks each summer.  Actors Stephen Shore (returning for a second summer show with Heartwood) and Lukas Raphael expressed their appreciation as follows, "The beauty of embarking on a production at Heartwood is their distinctive rehearsal process: it begins with the technical aspect. For the actor to be working and exploring in a world built before they arrive is a uniquely liberating experience that naturally creates a strong ensemble. It's this collaboration of dreamers and storytellers who focus on the process, rather than the result, that constructs a theatrical experience worth doing and worth watching."