See What I’m Saying | Intimate Excellent

Paul Raci (Chris), Erinn Anova (Roxy), and Troy Kotsur (Cyrano).

The Fountain Theatre and Deaf West Theatre present the world premiere of a modern day classic romance, a re-imagined signed/spoken version of “Cyrano de Bergerac.” CYRANO, written by Fountain Theatre co-artistic director Stephen Sachs (Bakersfield Mist) and directed by Simon Levy, opens at The Fountain Theatre on April 28, with previews beginning April 20.

In Sachs’ new adaptation, Cyrano is a deaf poet hopelessly in love with Roxy, a beautiful hearing woman. But she 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? ASL (American Sign Language) becomes the language of love in this new spin on a classic love story.

Troy Kotsur (Cyrano).

“In the original classic, Cyrano feels self-conscious and over-glorifies his enormous nose, but in this modern deaf version, it’s his hands that are the focus,” explains Sachs. “Cyrano’s deafness is channeled through his hands, which swirl and soar to express the most complex human concepts, his inner-most thoughts and feelings, through the beauty of sign language.”

“It’s a mythic story about our hunger for love, the pangs for it,” says Levy. “But the deeper theme is how we communicate with one another. Stephen has written a beautiful adaptation that’s contemporary and fresh, set in a modern city where people communicate via text, Facebook and Twitter. It’s a world of iPhones, Blackberries and tablets. The production marries three forms of communication: ASL, English, and e-language.”

American Sign Language is not English, but a unique language unto itself with its own syntax, sentence structure, slang, humor, subtlety and complexity. It’s the job of ASL masters Tyrone Giordano and Shoshannah Stern to work with the deaf actors to translate the script into ASL, and director Simon Levy works with ASL interpreters in rehearsals. Fight choreographers Brian Danner and Abby Walla must not only create a fight scene between actors Troy Kotsur (Cyrano) and James Royce Edwards, but incorporate the simultaneous sign language with the help of Giordano, Stern and Levy.

A new project such as this has attracted deaf actors from all over the world. Six of the 13-member ensemble are deaf, and many of them have traveled great distances to make their Los Angeles debuts in Cyrano. Auditions were completed using Skype and video submissions.

“Deaf West is the only established theater company in the U.S. that regularly stages new works featuring deaf actors,” notes newly appointed Deaf West Theatre artistic director David Kurs. “Deaf actors from all over the country and the world were anxious to participate.”

Troy Kotsur is Cyrano.

Troy Kotsur (Cyrano), a veteran of Deaf West Theatre (Big River, Pippin, A Streetcar Named Desire, Of Mice and Men), traveled to Los Angeles from his current home in Arizona; Daniel Durant majored in theater at Gallaudet University and comes to L.A. from Maryland; Eddie Buck, who has acted in productions ranging from A Christmas Carol to Romeo and Juliet to Hamlet, joins the cast from Pennsylvania; Maleni Chaitoo (Switched at Birth) recently arrived from New York; and stage, film and TV actress Ipek D. Mehlum comes all the way from Oslo, Norway. Completing the deaf cast is Los Angeles-based actor Bob Hiltermann, who appeared in the Academy Award winning film version of Children of a Lesser God and recurred on All My Children. The cast also includes hearing actors Erinn Anova (Blues For An Alabama Sky, For Colored Girls…, Doubt) as Roxy and Paul Raci (Joseph Jefferson “Best Actor” nomination for Children of a Lesser God in Chicago) as Cyrano’s brother Chris. Hearing ensemble members Al Bernstein, James Babbin, James Royce Edwards, Victor Warren, and Martica De Cardenas also “voice” for the deaf actors.

The set designer for Cyrano is Jeff McLaughlin; lighting designer is Jeremy Pivnick; sound designer is Peter Bayne; video designer is Jeff Teeter; multimedia tech is by Media Fabricators, Inc.; costume designer is Naila Aladdin Sanders; prop designer is Misty Carlisle; fight choreographers are Brian Danner and Abby Walla; production stage manager is Sue Karutz; assistant stage manager is Terri Roberts; Laura Hill and Deborah Lawlor produce for The Fountain Theatre, and David Kurs produces for Deaf West Theatre. Cyrano is funded in part by a grant from the National Endowment for the Arts.

Paul Raci (Chris) and Troy Kotsur (Cyrano).

The relationship between The Fountain Theatre and Deaf West Theatre dates back 21 years to the early beginnings of both companies. Excited by the visual theatricality of ASL, Stephen Sachs had already been conducting workshops with deaf actors for a number of years. He and Fountain co-artistic director Deborah Lawlor offered office space in their newly founded theater facility to Ed Waterstreet, an actor with National Theatre of the Deaf who envisioned starting a theater company for deaf actors in Los Angeles. Deaf West Theatre produced its first two productions, The Gin Game and One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest (the latter directed by Sachs) in the Fountain space. Deaf West Theatre went on to produce 40 plays and four musicals in their own venue and around the country, including the Tony-nominated Big River on Broadway, and to win more than 80 theater awards. The Fountain Theatre is one of the most successful intimate theaters in Los Angeles with over 200 awards for all areas of production, performance, and design. Fountain projects have been seen in New York, Chicago, San Francisco, Seattle, Florida, New Jersey, Minneapolis and Edinburgh.

Cyrano marks Stephen Sachs’ ninth new play, his third incorporating deaf culture and illuminating the deaf world. His play Sweet Nothing in my Ear (1997, PEN USA Literary Award finalist, Media Access Award winner for Theater Excellence) has been produced in theaters around the country and in 2008 was made into a TV movie for CBS starring Academy Award winner Marlee Matlin and Jeff Daniels. Open Window (2005, Media Access Award winner for Theater Excellence) had its world premiere at the Pasadena Playhouse, directed by Eric Simonson. His other plays include Bakersfield Mist (recently optioned for London’s West End and New York), Miss Julie: Freedom Summer (Fountain Theatre, Vancouver Playhouse,Canadian Stage Company, LA Drama Critics Circle award and LA Weekly award nominations for Best Adaptation), Gilgamesh (Theatre @ Boston Court), Central Avenue (PEN USA Literary Award finalist, Back Stage Garland award, Best Play), Mother’s Day, The Golden Gate (Best Play, Drama-Logue), and The Baron in the Trees. Sachs co-founded The Fountain Theatre with Deborah Lawlor in 1990.

Simon Levy was honored with the 2011 Milton Katselas Award for Lifetime Achievement in Directing by the Los Angeles Drama Critics Circle. Directing credits at the Fountain include A House Not Meant to Stand; Opus; Photograph 51;The Milk Train Doesn’t Stop Here Anymore; The Gimmick with Dael Orlandersmith (Ovation Award-Solo Performance); Master Class (Ovation Award-Best Production); Daisy in the Dreamtime; Going to St. Ives; The Night of the Iguana; Summer & Smoke (Ovation Award-Best Production); The Last Tycoon, which he wrote and directed, (5 Back Stage West awards, including Best Adaptation and Direction); and Orpheus Descending (6 Drama-Logue awards, including Best Production and Direction). What I Heard About Iraq, which he wrote and directed, was produced worldwide including the Edinburgh Fringe Festival (Fringe First Award) and the Adelaide Fringe Festival (Fringe Award), was produced by BBC Radio, and received a 30-city UK tour culminating in London.

Troy Kotsur (Cyrano) and Erinn Anova (Roxy).

Cyrano opens on Saturday, April 28, with performances Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays @ 8 pm and Sundays @ 2 pm through June 10. Preview performances take place April 20-27 on the same schedule with an additional preview performance on Wednesday, April 25 @ 8 pm. Tickets are $30 on Thursdays and Fridays and $34 on Saturdays and Sundays, except previews which are $15. On Thursdays and Fridays only, students with ID are $20 and seniors are $25. The Fountain Theatre is located at 5060 Fountain Avenue (at Normandie) in Los Angeles. Secure, on-site parking is available for $5. The Fountain Theatre is air-conditioned and wheelchair accessible. For reservations and information, call 323 663-1525 or go to www.FountainTheatre.com.

Photo Credit: Ed Kreiger 

Posted in actors, Arts, Deaf, designers, Fountain Theatre, new plays, performing arts, plays, playwright, poetry, theatre

Tagged A House Not Meant to Stand, Al Bernstein, ASL, Bakersfield Mist, Big River, Bob Hiltermann, Central Avenue, Cyrano, Daniel Durant, David Kurs, deaf, Deaf West Theatre, Deborah Lawlor, Ed Waterstreet, Eddie Buck, Erinn Anova, Fountain Theatre, Gallaudet University, Ipek D. Mehlum, James Babbin, James Royce Edwards, Jeff Daniels, Jeff McLaughlin, Jeff Teeter, Jeremy Pivnick, Los Angeles, Maleni Chaitoo, Marlee Matlin, Martica de Cardenas, Master Class, Media Fabricators, Miss Julie, Misty Carlisle, Naila Aladdin-Sanders, National Endowment for the Arts, new plays, New York, One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest, Open Window, Orpheus Descending, Paul Raci, Peter Bayne, Photograph 51, Pippin, plays, playwriting, See What I’m Saying, Simon Levy, Sue Karutz, Summer and Smoke, Sweet Nothing in my Ear, Terri Roberts, The Gin Game, The Night of the Iguana, Troy Kotsur, Victor Warren, What I Heard About Iraq, world premiere

Troy Kotsur is “Cyrano”, opening April 28 at the Fountain Theatre.

Our upcoming signed/spoken production of Cyrano will be featured in a Special Event weekend at Disneyland later this month.  On the weekend of March 17 and 18, Downtown Disney District will host a celebration of creativity in the deaf community – SIGNin’ in the Street. During this special 2-day-weekend event, the public is invited to embrace the social, technological and artistic accomplishments of world-renowned Deaf talent and local community organizations. The Fountain Theatre and Deaf West have been asked by Disney to share a scene from our upcoming co-production of Cyrano on both Saturday, March 17th and Sunday March 18th. Exact times to be announced.

This fun-filled, educational and exciting weekend celebration is open to all — deaf and hearing guests.

The event will spotlight top performers, interactive workshops, film screenings and appearances by the stars of ABC Family’s hit series, “Switched at Birth”: Katie Leclerc, Vanessa Marano, Constance Marie, Lea Thompson, D.W. Moffett, Lucas Grabeel, Sean Berdy and Academy Award winner Marlee Matlin.

In addition, two episodes of the show, including an exclusive sneak preview of the spring finale, will be screened at AMC Theatres on Saturday, March 17.

The “Switched at Birth” cast will be on hand earlier in the day for panel question and answer sessions, as well as autograph signings.

Throughout the weekend, AMC Theatres will show two feature films, “The Hammer,” based on the life of triple NCAA champ and professional mixed martial artist Matt Hamill, and the award-winning documentary “See What I’m Saying” featuring our very own Bob Hiltermann, also in Cyrano.   Stars from the films will host question and answer sessions, sign autographs and perform live.

Other highlights of this fun, interactive weekend include:

• Musical performances from Big River and Pippin by Tony Award-winning Deaf West Theatre, including a sneak preview of the group’s upcoming world premiere of Cyrano, and workshops for guests interested in learning American Sign Language and acting.
• Drum Café, the internationally acclaimed drumming crew, will super-charge the audience through interactive performances and workshops.
• Nighttime concerts by popular deaf performers including singer-signer TL Forsberg, rock band Beethoven’s Nightmare, and comic CJ Jones.
• Specially created Disney merchandise featuring American Sign Language.

The high-energy entertainment kicks off at 1 p.m. both days and continues until 9 p.m. Saturday and 8 p.m. Sunday.

We’re thrilled and excited to be part of this weekend celebration of deaf talent, artistry and entertainment. Please click here for the full schedule of events and how you might grab a seat to the sneak preview scene from our upcoming production of Cyrano!

Cyrano April 20 – June 10 (323) 663-1525  More Info   Get Tickets

Posted in actors, Arts, Deaf, Fountain Theatre, new plays, performing arts, plays, playwright, theatre

Tagged ABC Family, AMC Theatres, American Sign Language, ASL, Beethoven’s Nightmare, Big River, Bob Hiltermann, CJ Jones, Constance Marie, Cyrano, D.W. Moffett, deaf actors, Deaf West Theatre, Disneyland, Downtown Disney, Drum Cafe, Fountain Theatre, Katie Leclerc, Lea Thompson, Los Angeles, Lucas Grabeel, Marlee Matlin, Matt Hamill, new plays, Pippin, plays, playwriting, Sean Berdy, See What I’m Saying, Signin’ in the Street, Simon Levy, Stephen Sachs, Switched at Birth, The Hammer, TL Forsberg, Troy Kotsur, Vanessa Marano, world premiere

Maleni Chaitoo from New York is ready to get to work at the Fountain.

Rehearsals start tomorrow at the Fountain for the world premiere of the thrilling new deaf/hearing version of Cyrano set in a modern city.  In this re-imagined new adaptation of the classic “Cyrano de Bergerac” Cyrano is a brilliant deaf poet hopelessly in love with a beautiful hearing woman, Roxy. But she doesn’t understand sign language and instead loves his hearing brother, Chris. Can Cyrano express his love for Roxy with his hands – the source of such deaf pride and shame? Or must he teach Chris to “speak his words” for him, to woo her? ASL becomes the language of love in this modern sign language spin on a classic love story.

Troy Kotsur

Supported by a grant from the National Endowment for the Arts, Cyrano is written by Stephen Sachs, directed by Simon Levy, in a co-production between the Fountain Theatre and Deaf West Theatre.   It stars Troy Kotsur as Cyrano, Paul Raci as his brother Chris, and Erinn Anova as Roxy. Previews start April 20. It opens April 28 and runs to June 10.

This unique new project has already created a stream of excited buzz — and attracted deaf actors from all over the world. Half of the 12-member Cyrano cast are deaf. Almost all of them are coming to Los Angeles from other cities worldwide — one from as far away as Oslo, Norway. All to be part of this electrifying new production.

Troy Kotsur

Troy Kotsur is arriving from Arizona to tackle the lead role of Cyrano. No stranger to LA audiences, Troy is a veteran Deaf West actor, seen in such award-winning productions as Big River, Pippin, A Streetcar Named Desire and Of Mice and Men.  Troy is also seen on TV and is married to actress Deanne Bray (TV’s “Sue Thomas: F.B.Eye“). Later this year, Troy will direct and act in the independent feature film, Deaf Ghost.

Daniel Durant

Actor Daniel Durant comes to LA from Maryland. Daniel has been deaf since birth. Born in Detroit, Michigan, he grew up in Minnesota. He attended Gallaudet University, majoring in theater. While appearing in Cyrano, Daniel and his girlfriend found an apartment in the San Fernando Valley, near Studio City.

Eddie Buck

Eddie Buck joins the cast from Pennsylvania. A talented performer who hails from Skippack, PA, Eddie has acted with such schools and theatre companies as National Technical Institute for the Deaf, Bloomsburg Theatre Ensemble and The Growing Stage in New Jersey, in productions ranging from Jack and the Beanstalk to Romeo and Juliet to Hamlet.

Ipek D. Mehlum

The farthest traveler is actress Ipek D. Mehlum, who lives in Oslo, Norway.  Born in Istanbul, Turkey, Ipek moved to the United States at twenty-two to attend Gallaudet University and study acting. Now living and working in Oslo, she is a stage, film and TV actress who also leads workshops in theatre, TV and yoga and has led a theatre project in Uganda and India.

Maleni Chaitoo

Completing the deaf cast are Bob Hiltermann and Maleni Chaitoo, both local and now living in the LA area. Maleni Chaitoo was a longtime resident of New York where her parents emigrated from Trinidad and Tobago, West Indies. Bob is a popular Los Angeles TV and stage actor, musician, and featured in the film documentary, See What I’m Saying.

Bob Hiltermann

Hearing Ensemble cast members who also “voice” for the deaf actors include James Babbin, John Bingham, James Royce Edwards, Victor Warren, and Martica De Cardenas.

Welcome to all our eager and talented travelers! We’re thrilled to have all of you with us in Los Angeles and at the Fountain Theatre with Deaf West, as we voyage forward on this exciting new journey together.

Cyrano April 20 – June 10 (323) 663-1525

Posted in actors, Arts, Fountain Theatre, new plays, performing arts, plays, playwright, theatre

Tagged A Streetcar Named Desire, Big River, Bob Hiltermann, Cyrano, Cyrano de Bergerac, Daniel Durant, deaf, deaf actor, deaf theatre, Deaf West Theatre, Deanne Bray, Eddie Buck, Erinn Anova, Fountain Theatre, Gallaudet University, Ipek D. Mehlum, James Babbin, James Royce Edwards, John Bingham, Los Angeles, Maleni Chaitoo, National Endowment for the Arts, Of Mice and Men, Paul Raci, Pippin, plays, playwriting, See What I’m Saying, Simon Levy, Stephen Sachs, Troy Kotsur, Victor Warren, world premiere