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NEWS RELEASE

For immediate release: For further information contact: January 29, 2013 Christi Courian Jim Beaver [email protected] [email protected] 541-552-6347 541-552-6093 Photos available on Feb. 6, 2013

Southern Oregon University Department of Performing Arts presents “The Cyrano Project”

(Ashland, Ore.) – The Theatre Arts program of the Department of Performing Arts at Southern Oregon University presents “The Cyrano Project” adapted by Jo Roet from the Edmond Rostand play with additional material by Hilary Tate. Performances are at 7 p.m. on Friday-Saturday, Feb. 22-23, March 1-2 and March 8-9 and at 2 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 23, March 2 and March 9 and Sunday, March 3 and March 10 in the Center Square Theatre on the SOU campus.

This classic tale comes to life in an informal format complete with sword play, comic relationships, expressions of compassion and heroic love. In Paris, in the year 1640, a brilliant poet and swordsman named Cyrano de Bergerac finds himself deeply in love with his beautiful, intellectual cousin Roxane. Despite Cyrano’s brilliance and charisma, a shockingly large nose afflicts his appearance, and he considers himself too ugly even to risk telling Roxane his feelings. Circumstances surrounding this relationship include mistaken identities, comedic road bumps and general merriment.

The production is the SOU Theatre Arts annual young audience offering. “It applies to young people because it’s a play about a person against society and against himself/herself,” said guest director James Edmondson. “Cyrano is a complicated guy. He has plenty of friends who stick by him. Even in this short, stylized version, the audience will experience tolerance, learning to value people beyond the packaging. It tells about coming to grips with how we look and coming to know our deeper self. It’s also incredibly romantic. The play values intelligence, compassion and acceptance.”

SOU professor Deborah Rosenberg, who designed the costumes, said “We will be employing imagination and whimsy to tell the story rather than using ornate sets and costumes. In particular, I’m most looking forward to the pastry scene, the sword fight, the parasol with letters, and the costume for De Ligniere, played by Lucas Caldwell.” James Edmondson is an Associate Artist at the Oregon Shakespeare Festival and has been an actor and director there for over 37 seasons. This is his seventh directorial production for SOU. He recently directed “All My Sons” at PCPA in Santa Maria, Calif and “King Lear” at the Great River Shakespeare Festival in Winona, Mich., where he will return next summer to direct “Henry V.”

Scott Key plays Cyrano, Sazi Bhakti plays Roxanne and Michael Hays plays Christian. The cast includes Elizabeth Boulay, Lucas Caldwell, Jimmy Dix, Kameron Fort, Nolan Kenmonth, Delaney Kentzell, Laurel Livezey, Stephanie Neuerberg, Rachel Seeley, Jillian Short, Devin White and Kevin Young.

Scenic design is by Amelia Burke-Holt, costumes are designed by Deborah Rosenberg, lighting design is by Kelsey Meyer and sound design is by Henry Korlin. Mario Cambern is the stage manager.

Tickets are $21 regular, $18 senior, and $6 for students. Subscribers to three or more plays receive a discounted price of $17 regular and $15 senior. The Performing Arts Box Office is located in the Theatre Arts Building lobby. Box office hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday and two hours prior to each performance. Tickets can be purchased with a credit card over the phone by calling 541-552-6348 or online at sou.edu/performingarts. For more information, visit sou.edu/theatre.

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