Paul Raci | Intimate Excellent
Troy Kotsur and Paul Raci
by Stephen Sachs
Theirs is a unique relationship unlike any I have witnessed in my thirty-five years of creating theater.
They have been paired for decades. They have worked, travelled, and partied together, side by side, for so long they seem to share the same mind while, at the same time, remaining two distinct personalities. Like brothers, they love each other and sometimes piss each other off. Both are married, have families. Now, after logging in countless years of career ups and downs, together and individually, they each are bathing in a dizzying moment of public acclaim and professional success. It makes my heart glad.
Troy Kotsur is an extraordinary actor who happens to be Deaf. Paul Raci is hearing, a child of Deaf parents, fluent in American Sign Language, and a powerful veteran performer. For years, they have been linked on stage – an actor who signs and an actor who speaks – creating mesmerizing blends of sign language and voice on stage, dazzling deaf and hearing audiences in Los Angeles and in regional theaters across the country. I have known and loved both for a long time. We have created new plays together at the Fountain Theatre. My soul sings to now see them bask in the warmth of a bright day in the sun, each in his own light.
Troy co-stars in “CODA,” a touching coming-of-age dramedy about a young girl in conflict with her Deaf parents and brother as she attempts to pursue singing. In January, it received top honors at the 2021 Sundance Film Festival. It ignited a bidding war, setting a record when the worldwide distribution rights were picked up by Apple Studios for $25 million — the highest sum ever for a film premiering at Sundance.
Paul has a supporting role in the film “Sound of Metal.” The movie – and Paul’s performance –has been gobbling up accolades and awards since its release. The film has been nominated for six Academy Awards, including Best Picture and, in a life-changing nod to Paul’s work, Best Supporting Actor.
It fills me with joy that each are enjoying a moment of triumph at the same time. And it makes sense. When they played brothers on stage in the world premiere of my play “Cyrano,” they were called upon to become the same person. In this Deaf spin on the classic romantic story, Paul portrayed Chris, the hearing sibling who spoke and ASL-interpreted for his lovelorn Deaf brother Cyrano (Troy). Hands and voice became one. After our acclaimed run at the Fountain, we travelled to New York Theatre Workshop for a special performance. We then brought the play to Mixed Blood Theatre in Minneapolis.
Troy Kotsur and Paul Raci in “Cyrano” at the Fountain Theatre
Troy and Paul later co-starred in a Deaf West production of David Mamet’s “American Buffalo” that opened in Los Angeles and then toured other cities.
The relationship between a Deaf actor and their hearing counterpart who “voices” for them on stage is tricky and delicate. It demands respect on both sides, with the understanding that it is the Deaf actor who dominates, who must lead the way. The “voice actor” partners with the Deaf actor to help make the performance accessible to hearing audiences – but the focus must be on the Deaf actor’s performance. This kind of unique inter-dependence between artists requires that each much surrender a degree of their autonomy. That can be hard. All kinds of feelings come up. A trust and respect must develop between them. It also demands a level of skill that the average person cannot comprehend.
Paul and Troy are men with big hearts, strong opinions, and powerful personalities. They are both blessed with their own unique skills. Most valued by me, they share a vital trait: the capacity to love. They are each kind and compassionate men and longtime actors, deeply talented, who have paid their dues.
In this year following a long period of despair, the recent triumphs of Troy Kotsur and Paul Raci are a spiritual shot in the arm. There is reason to rejoice. Every once in a while, the good guys come out on top.
Stephen Sachs is the Artistic Director of the Fountain Theatre.
Posted in actors, Deaf, Fountain Theatre
Tagged Academy Award, actor, American Buffalo, American Sign Language, ASL, CODA, Cyrano, David Mamet, deaf, Deaf West, Fountain Theatre, Paul Raci, Sound of Metal, Stephen Sachs, Sundance Film Festival, theater, theatre, Troy Kotsur
‘Cyrano’ at New York Theatre Workshop
The Fountain Theatre and Deaf West Theatre brought their lyrical and romantic deaf/hearing updated-version of Cyrano to New York last Monday, April 29, for a special staged reading at the acclaimed New York Theatre Workshop. The staged reading was performed for a full house of NY theater producers and invited VIP’s for the purpose of solidifying interest in a possible New York production.
Four original cast members were flown in from Los Angeles: Troy Kotsur, Paul Raci, Victor Warren and Al Bernstein. The rest of the ensemble was cast with local New York actors Matt Biagini, Robert De Mayo, Samira Wiley, John McGinty, Puy Navarro, James W. Guido, Alexandria Wailes, Richard Dent, and original cast member Maleni Chaitoo who happens to now live in NY.
The company rehearsed with director Simon Levy for only three days. Our thanks to our friends at Primary Stages for providing their rehearsal studios to the Cyrano company. Also in attendance at rehearsals were playwright Stephen Sachs, Deaf West Artistic Director David Kurs, Fountain Producing Artistic Director Deborah Lawlor, DWT Founder Ed Waterstreet and his wife, actress Linda Bove.
The highly regarded New York Theatre Workshop is the Tony-winning company dedicated to developing new plays and musicals. Over their 30-year history, they have launched many acclaimed productions and have transferred several to Broadway, including Rent, Dirty Blonde, Homebody/Kabul, Peter and the Starcatcher, Once, and more. The Cyrano staged reading was held Monday in the NYTW upstairs rehearsal hall. An invited list of producers and VIP guests attended, including representatives from New York Theatre Workshop, The Public Theater, Manhattan Theatre Club, Primary Stages, 59E59 Theatres, Broadway director Jeff Calhoun, and more. The actors performed Cyrano entirely memorized and off-book and cleverly incorporated the use of captioning and video design on a large TV flat screen monitor.
Our sincere and heartfelt thanks to our Cyrano donors who contributed to our fundraising campaign and made this very important New York opportunity possible: Phillip Baron, Cal Bartlett, JB Blanc, Eve Brenner, Carlease Burke, Johnny Clark, Kyle Colerider-Krugh, Cathy Colloff, Debra Conklin, James Conley, Kimberly Cyzner Family, Lorraine Danza, Timothy Davis-Reed, Fred Dean, Donna Duarte, Susan Duncan, Michael Edwin, Mark Freund, Amy Frost, Heidi Girardoni, Jane Gordon, Gaby Gross, William Dennis Hurley, Trice Koopman, Ken LaZebnik, Robert Leventer, Dennis Levitt, Ruth Linnick, Betsy Malloy, Caitlin Marcus, Donne McRae, Susan Merson, Mills, Michelle Montooth, Joel Moreno, Russell Nore, Jenny O’Hara, Susan Oka, Z. Oppenheim, Patricia Parker, Cynthia Paskos, Patty Paul, Terry Paule, Sharon Perlmutter, Ralph Pezoldt, Allison Pickering, Lawrence Poindexter, Priscilla Pointer, Bill Pugin and The Sign Language Company, Terri Roberts, Mark Routhier, Rita Schneir, Sandy Schuckett, Susanne Spira Survivors Trust, Suanne Spoke, Marjorie Throne, Eileen T’Kaye, Zoltan & Dorcas Tokes, Andrede Toledo, Tate Tullier, Jessica Turner, Nick Ullett, Heidi Girardoni, Carol Watson, Marianne Weil, William Wilk. We could not have done it without you!
What happens now? We’ll see what the future holds for our unique, thrilling and moving ASL/spoken English version of Cyrano. In the meantime, enjoy these snapshots of the rehearsal process and the staged reading!
‘Cyrano’ in New York
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Posted in Acting, actors, Arts, arts organizations, Deaf, Fountain Theatre, new plays, performing arts, plays, Theater, theatre
Tagged 59E59 Theatres, actors, Al Bernstein, Alexandria Wailes, Allison Pickering, American Sign Language, Amy Frost, Andrede Toledo, ASL, ASL Poetry, Betsy Malloy, Bill Pugin and The Sign Language Company, Caitlin Marcus, Cal Bartlett, Carlease Burke, Carol Watson, Cathy Colloff, Cynthia Paskos, Cyrano, Cyrano de Bergerac, David Kurs, deaf, deaf actor, deaf culture, deaf theatre, Deaf West Theatre, deafness, Deborah Lawlor, Debra Conklin, Dennis Levitt, Dirty Blonde, Donna Duarte, Donne McRae, Ed Waterstreet, Eileen T’Kaye, Eve Brenner, Fountain Theatre, Fred Dean, Gaby Gross, Heidi Girardoni, Homebody/Kabul, James Conley, James W. Guido, Jane Gordon, JB Blanc, Jeff Calhoun, Jenny O’Hara, Jessica Turner, Joel Moreno, John McGinty, Johnny Clark, Ken LaZebnik, Kimberly Cyzner Family, Kyle Colerider-Krugh, Lawrence Poindexter, Linda Bove, Lorraine Danza, Los Angeles, Maleni Chaitoo, Manhattan Theatre Club, Marianne Weil, Marjorie Throne, Mark Freund, Mark Routhier, Matt Biagini, Michael Edwin, Michelle Montooth, Mills, new plays, New York, New York Theatre Workshop, Nick Ullett, Once, Patty Paul, Paul Raci, performing arts, Peter and the Starcatcher, Phillip Baron, plays, playwriting, Primary Stages, Priscilla Pointer, Puy Navarro, Ralph Pezoldt, Rent, Richard Dent, Rita Schneir, Robert De Mayo, Robert Leventer, Russell Nore, Ruth Linnick, Samira Wiley, Sandy Schuckett, Sharon Perlmutter, sign language, Simon Levy, staged reading, Stephen Sachs, Suanne Spoke, Susan Duncan, Susan Merson, Susan Oka, Susanne Spira Survivors Trust, Tate Tullier, Terri Roberts, Terry Paule, The Public Theater, theater, theatre, Timothy Davis-Reed, Trice Koopman, Troy Kotsur, Victor Warren, William Dennis Hurley, William Wilk, Z. Oppenheim, Zoltan & Dorcas Tokes
Fountain Theatre wins Best Season Award.
On Monday night, the Fountain Theatre won 7 LA Drama Critics Circle Awards:
- Best Season 2012 – El Nogalar, Cyrano, The Blue Iris, In the Red and Brown Water
- Best Production – Cyrano
- Best Director – Simon Levy, Cyrano
- Best Director – Shirley Jo Finney, In the Red and Brown Water
- Best Lead Performance – Troy Kotsur, Cyrano
- Best Ensemble – In the Red and Brown Water
- Best Writing (Adaptation) – Stephen Sachs, Cyrano
Fountain Theatre Sweeps with 7 Awards on the Gala Night
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Posted in actors, Arts, director, Drama, Fountain Theatre, new plays, performing arts, plays, playwright, Theater, theatre
Tagged 2012 Los Angeles Drama Critics Circle Awards, Athol Fugard, Best Production, Cyrano, Cyrano de Bergerac, Daniel Durant, David Kurs, deaf, Deaf West Theatre, Deborah Lawlor, Eddie Buck, El Nogalar, Erinn Anova, Fountain Theatre, Gilbert Glenn Brown, In The Red and Brown Water, Iona Morris, Justin Chu Cary, LADCC, Laura Hill, Los Angeles, Maleni Chaitoo, Maya Lynne Robinson, new plays, Paul Raci, Peggy Blow, performing arts, plays, playwriting, Shirley Jo Finney, Simon Levy, Stephen Marshall, Stephen Sachs, Tanya Saracho, Tarell Alvin McCraney, The Blue Iris, theater, theatre, Troy Kotsur, Victor Warren
Troy Kotsur and Paul Raci in a scene from “Cyrano”.
Cast Performs Scene from ‘Cyrano’ at Deaf West Fundraiser
Cast members from our acclaimed co-production of Cyrano were asked to perform a scene from the play at a Deaf West fundraising event honoring Ed Waterstreet last Saturday at the Kirk Douglas Theatre in Culver City. A co-production between Fountain Theatre and Deaf West Theatre, Cyrano ran for four sold-out months at the Fountain and has been honored with four Los Angeles Drama Critics Circle Award nominations for Best Production, Best Director, Best Lead Actor and Best Writing.
The funny and charming ‘balcony scene’ from Cyrano was performed by cast members Troy Kotsur, Paul Raci and Erinn Anova. The gala evening also included remarks by actresses Marlee Matlin and Deanne Bray, former Mark Taper Forum Artistic Director Gordon Davidson, Broadway director Jeff Calhoun, and Fountain Co-Artistic Director Stephen Sachs.
Enjoy Some Photos!
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Posted in actors, Arts, Deaf, Fountain Theatre, new plays, performing arts, plays, playwright, Theater, theatre
Tagged 2012 Los Angeles Drama Critics Circle Awards, Cyrano, Cyrano de Bergerac, Daniel Durant, deaf, deaf actor, deaf theatre, Deaf West Theatre, Deanne Bray, Ed Waterstreet, Erinn Anova, Fountain Theatre, Gordon Davidson, Jeff Calhoun, Joseph Sargent, Kirk Douglas Theatre, Los Angeles, Marlee Matlin, National Theatre of the Deaf, new plays, Paul Raci, performing arts, plays, Simon Levy, Stephen Sachs, Switched at Birth, theater, theatre, Troy Kotsur, world premiere
Enjoy this new video created from our critically acclaimed sold-out 2012 production of Cyrano. This world premiere of a new play, a re-imagined sign language spin on the romantic classic Cyrano de Bergerac reset in a modern city, has been named a Theater Highlight of 2012 by LA Stage Times.
In this funny, poetic and powerful co-production between Fountain Theatre and Deaf West Theatre, Cyrano is a brilliant deaf poet in love with a hearing woman.
Posted in actors, Arts, Deaf, director, Fountain Theatre, new plays, performing arts, plays, playwright, poetry, Theater, theatre
Tagged American Sign Language, ASL Poetry, Best of 2012, Cyrano, Cyrano de Bergerac, deaf, deaf poet, deaf theatre, Deaf West Theatre, deafness, Erinn Anova, Fountain Theatre, LA Stage Times, Los Angeles, new plays, Paul Raci, plays, playwriting, sign language, Stephen Sachs, theater, Troy Kotsur, world premiere
“Cyrano” reading at Mixed Blood Theatre, MN.
Fountain actors Troy Kotsur and Paul Raci, director Simon Levy, and playwright Stephen Sachs were at Mixed Blood Theatre in Minneapolis last weekend to join local actors there for a reading of Cyrano, the recent smash hit Fountain co-production with Deaf West Theatre. Cyrano was being read as part of Mixed Blood’s Center of the Margins new play festival.
The weather was cloudy in Minneapolis, a chilly 38 degrees. The cast was lead by Kotsur and Raci, with nine local deaf and hearing actors creating the ensemble. Rehearsal time was brief. Director Levy and the cast had to work fast, quickly coordinating the complicated blending of American Sign Language, spoken English, and printed text projected on screens.
Cyrano is an imaginative modern day retelling of the romantic classic Cyrano de Bergerac by Edmond Rostand. In this updated new deaf/hearing version, Cyrano is a brilliant deaf poet in love with a hearing woman who doesn’t know sign language.
There were two public readings of Cyrano at Mixed Blood Theatre over the weekend, on Saturday and Sunday. Mixed Blood Theatre holds 200 people and both readings were full. Audience response to the play was very enthusiastic.
Artistic Director Jack Reuler and the entire staff at Mixed Blood were wonderful hosts, welcoming the Cyrano company and making sure everything ran smoothly.
The acclaimed Fountain/Deaf West production of Cyrano earned two Ovation Award nominations: Best Lead Actor (Troy Kotsur as Cyrano) and Best New Play (playwright Stephen Sachs). The Ovation Awards will be held Monday, November 12th, in Los Angeles.
Snapshots from Cyrano Reading at Mixed Blood Theatre!
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Posted in actors, Arts, Deaf, director, Drama, Fountain Theatre, new plays, performing arts, plays, playwright, poem, poetry, Theater, theatre
Tagged American Sign Language, ASL, ASL Poetry, Best Lead Actor, Best New Play, Center of the Margins, Cyrano, Cyrano de Bergerac, deaf, deaf actor, deaf theatre, Deaf West Theatre, deafness, Edmond Rostand, Erin Gardner, Fountain Theatre, Jack Reuler, Los Angeles, Minneapolis, Mixed Blood Theatre Company, new play festival, new plays, Ovation Awards, Paul Raci, plays, playwriting, Simon Levy, staged reading, Stephen Sachs, theater, Troy Kotsur
Snapshots from our party celebrating the magical sold-out run of the world premiere of Cyrano after the final performance on Sunday, July 29th.
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Posted in actors, Arts, Fountain Theatre, new plays, performing arts, plays, theatre
Tagged American Sign Language, ASL, Bob Hiltermann, Chip Bent, Cyrano, Cyrano de Bergerac, Daniel Durant, David Kurs, deaf, Deaf West Theatre, Deborah Lawlor, Ed Waterstreet, Eddie Buck, Erinn Anova, Fountain Theatre, Ipek D. Mehlum, Linda Bove, Los Angeles, Maleni Chaitoo, new plays, Paul Raci, plays, sign language, Simon Levy, Stephen Sachs, theater, Troy Kotsur, Victor Warren, Victoria Platt, world premiere
by Jessica Broutt
I don’t think I’ve ever been so nervous to see a show before, but I actually was anxious to see my first show at The Fountain Theatre. More than anything I wanted to love Cyrano. I wanted to tell people that the theatre I was interning at had this amazing show and that everyone just had to see it. And after watching last night’s performance, I can confidently do exactly that.
Though I had done a little research on the show itself, I really was not sure what to expect. And while I had peeked into the theatre before, being there just before a show was a completely different experience. People were speaking English and signing in American Sign Language, and laughing, excited to be there. The theatre filled up fast, and everyone seemed eager for the show to start.
When it did, I was delighted by how intimate it felt. While this should have been no surprise to me, since it is an 80-seat theatre, there was something about the way the stage was set and my proximity to it that made me feel like I was really a part of it all.
Troy Kotsur and Paul Raci are brothers in “Cyrano”
As the play started, I immediately wondered how I would feel about seeing a signed/spoken adaptation. Would it be distracting? Make the show difficult to understand? Well, I shouldn’t have worried. The second Troy Kotsur, the actor playing Cyrano, came on stage everything else seemed to melt away. I soon became engrossed in the story of Cyrano, a deaf man falling in love with a hearing woman. The unorthodox love story trumped everything else. The way this show was put together just worked so well. Sometimes Troy would be signing, and Paul Raci, who played his brother Chris, would be interpreting. Other times, both characters on stage where signing and there were two interpreters on the sidelines translating. I thought this would be distracting, but it wasn’t. Their voices came out as the voices of Chris and Cyrano to the point where I almost forgot they were there. It all just seemed to fit.
Troy Kotsure and Erinn Anova
More than that, it seemed like everyone who saw the play was enjoying it immensely but in different ways. For instance, sometimes the actress playing Roxy (Erinn Anova) would laugh, this really charming laugh, and the hearing audience laughed too. Other times the actor playing Cyrano would sign something which the hearing audience might miss, but really struck a chord with the deaf viewers. And then there were those moments in the play, (which I won’t give away for those yet to see it), that are so completely universal, we all laughed together. It was an unforgettable experience.
I encourage anyone who has yet to see Cyrano to attend as soon as possible. It is a very rare and wonderful experience to see a play with such a well-written story be carried out with both a remarkable cast and well-placed technology weaved throughout. Not only does it fit into our modern world perfectly, acknowledging the growing role of social media, but it gives a voice to a world most viewers don’t typically see, a world they should come experience immediately!
Jessica Broutt is our summer intern at the Fountain Theatre from UC San Diego.
Posted in Deaf, Fountain Theatre, new plays, performing arts, plays, playwright, theatre
Tagged American Sign Language, ASL, Cyrano, Cyrano de Bergerac, deaf, Deaf West Theatre, Erinn Anova, Facebook, Fountain Theatre, intern, Jessica Broutt, Los Angeles, new plays, Paul Raci, plays, playwriting, Simon Levy, social media, Stephen Sachs, Troy Kotsur, Twitter, UC San Diego, world premiere
On May 10, the cast and company of Cyrano enjoyed a Q&A Talk Back with the audience immediately following the performance. Joining the cast was director Simon Levy, playwright Stephen Sachs , and ASL Masters Tyrone Giordano and Shoshannah Stern. The cast answered questions from the audience on a wide range topics, including a discussion of the themes of the play, the rehearsal process, the ASL translation of the script, and the joy of performing the play as an actor.
A wonderful time was had by all, and the excited conversations continued in the theatre long after the official Q&A was over. Enjoy the photos!
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Cyrano Now to July 8th! (323) 663-1525 More Info Buy Tickets
Posted in actors, Arts, Deaf, Fountain Theatre, new plays, performing arts, plays, playwright, theatre
Tagged American Sign Language, ASL, Cyrano, Cyrano de Bergerac, Daniel Durant, deaf, Deaf West Theatre, Eddie Buck, Erinn Anova, Fountain Theatre, Ipek D. Mehlum, Los Angeles, Maleni Chaitoo, Martica de Cardenas, new plays, Paul Raci, plays, Shoshannah Stern, Simon Levy, Stephen Sachs, theater, Troy Kotsur, Tyrone Giordano, Victor Warren, world premiere
Troy Kotsur and Erinn Anova
The Fountain Theatre and Deaf West Theatre have announced a four-week extension of Cyrano, a signed/spoken adaptation of “Cyrano de Bergerac” that has been re-set in modern-day Los Angeles. The Fountain/Deaf West co-production will continue Thursdays through Saturdays at 8 pm and Sundays at 2 pm through July 8.
Written by Fountain Theatre co-artistic director Stephen Sachs (Bakersfield Mist) and directed by Simon Levy, Cyrano stars Deaf West actor Troy Kostsur in the title role as a brilliant deaf poet hopelessly in love with Roxy, a beautiful hearing woman. But Roxy doesn’t understand sign language and instead loves Chris, his hearing brother. Can Cyrano express his love to Roxy with his hands? Or must he teach Chris to woo her, to “speak his words” for him? American Sign Language (ASL) becomes the language of love in this new spin on a classic love story.
Troy Kotsur and Paul Raci
Over a dozen reviewers have weighed in, earning Cyrano a score of “100% Sweet” on Bitter Lemons, the website that aggregates reviews of Los Angeles theater. “CRITIC’S CHOICE… inspired and inspiring! —Los Angeles Times; “CRITIC’S PICK…clever and deeply moving… bridges the gap between [deaf and hearing] worlds with poignancy and a huge dose of humor.” — Back Stage; “Skillful and impressive… terrific performances.” —LAist; “5 STARS… a poignant, inventive, riotously funny and marvelously satisfying masterpiece!”—Santa Monica Daily Press; “Nothing short of amazing… a dazzling accomplishment.” —Talkin’ Broadway; “A gem… fascinating on so many levels.” —Buzzine; “Superlative… an evening not to be missed.” —StageHappenings; “GO! [a] glorious swirl of words floating around the stage.” —LA Weekly; “An extraordinary production of a terrific play” —Latin Heat; “A sheer and exceptional pleasure.” —LifeInLA.
Cyrano continues through July 8 at The Fountain Theatre. For reservations and information, call 323 663-1525 or click here.
photos by Ed Kreiger
Posted in actors, Arts, Fountain Theatre, new plays, performing arts, plays, playwright, poem, theatre
Tagged American Sign Language, ASL, Bakersfield Mist, Broadway, Critic’s Choice, Cyrano, Cyrano de Bergerac, Daniel Durant, deaf, Deaf West Theatre, Eddie Buck, Erinn Anova, Fountain Theatre, Ipek D. Mehlum, Jeff McLaughlin, LA Weekly, Los Angeles, Los Angeles Times, love story, Maleni Chaitoo, National Endowment for the Arts, new plays, Paul Raci, plays, rave reviews, Simon Levy, Smash hit, Stephen Sachs, theater, Troy Kotsur, Victor Warren, world premiere