CYRANO
Program
Welcome to the Cyrano program!
Scroll down to read about the cast, a synopses of the play, a list of supporters, and how to donate.
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VALLEY SHAKESPEARE FESTIVAL PRESENTS
CYRANO
By Edmond Rostand
Adapted by Jo Roetts
Directed by Tom Simonetti
September 3rd-6th, 2020 at 7 PM
Veteran’s Memorial Park
SYNOPSIS
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Cyrano de Bergerac feels self-conscious about his nose, which has been disfigured. He's in love with his cousin Roxane, who has a suitor named, De Guiche (rhymes with quiche)
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Roxane has fallen in love with Christian, a soldier who doesn't know how to seduce her with his words. He enlists Cyrano's help, and Cyrano writes the love letters that Roxane adores. Roxane and Christian marry because of these letters.
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After Christian dies in battle, Roxane joins a convent. Cyrano visits her every week until one day he arrives with a mortal head wound. He recites one of his letters to Roxane from memory, and she realizes that she has loved him all along. He then dies happy.
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CAST
as Cyarno de Bergerac
Eric Bermudez
(He/Him/His)
Eric Bermudez is pumped to be returning to Valley Shakespeare Festival. He is a New York based actor with a BFA in Acting from Marymount Manhattan College. Recent credits include: Oliver in "Quandary in Verse" (The LIC One Act Festival: Best Play and Best Actor, New Thrills Theatre Festival: Best Play), Proteus/Silvia and others in "The Two Gentlemen of Verona" (Valley Shakespeare Festival), Pasquale in "Even If It Gets Us Nowhere" (Access Theatre), Tybalt in "Starcrossed" (FringeNYC, Capital Fringe), Captain Hook in "shadowplay: An Immersive Experience" (Access Theater), Baren in "Sweet Pea" (Hudson Guild Theater), and "Last Minute Adjustments" (Producers Club: Best Play). www.ericbermudez.com @ericbermudezz
as Roxane and Fight Captain
Jessica Breda
(she/her/hers)
Jessica Breda is honored to be returning to VSF where she was most recently seen in "A Midsummer Night's Dream" on Zoom. Other favorites with the company include: Emily in "Our Town"; Viola in "Twelfth Night"; Adriana in "The Comedy of Errors" (VSF2U); Rosalind in "As You Like It" (VSF2U); Rosaline in "Romeo and Juliet: Choose Your Own Ending" (Shakespeare in the Bar); Dorine in "Tartuffe" (Shakespeare in the Bar); Lavinia in "Titus Andronicus" (Shakespeare in the Bar); and four winters as her favorite drunken housewife, Mrs. Cratchit (and others), in "A Christmas Carol." Originally from Hamden, Jessica currently resides in New York City. She holds a BFA in Acting from Marymount Manhattan College. If you have a sharp eye, you can find her in the current Match.com national commercial. www.jessicabreda.com
as Christian DeNeuvillette
Mitchel Kawash
(He/Him/His)
Mitchel Kawash is thrilled to be returning to VSF, where he previously appeared in "Our Town" (George), "The Taming of the Shrew" (Lucentio), several VSF2U tours, the annual reading of "A Christmas Carol," and the recent remote production of "A Midsummer Night’s Dream." Though currently based in New York, Mitchel is no stranger to southern Connecticut: He earned a B.A. in Theater Studies with Distinction from Yale University and sang with the world-famous Whiffenpoofs of Yale—the nation’s oldest collegiate a cappella group. He was also seen in the Elm Shakespeare Company’s "Julius Caesar" (Octavius Caesar; dir. Alvin Epstein) and the Legacy Theatre’s "A Midsummer Night’s Dream" (Demetrius). Other theatre includes productions from New York to London as well as regional credits across the United States. Mitchel has also appeared in television shows, short films, radio plays, and a national commercial. He completed his graduate acting training at the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art.
Understudy
Andie Lerner
(she/her/hers)
Andie Lerner is a New York based actor, director and theater collaborator originally from Denver, Colorado. She is a graduate from Marymount Manhattan College with a BFA in Acting and Directing and a minor in Arts for Communities. She is currently working with The Martin E. Segal Theatre Center as the Next Generation Fellow. Recent acting credits include: "Merchant of Venice" (Valley Shakespeare Festival), "Even If It Gets Us Nowhere" (Social Club Theatre) and "Macbeth" (Stella Adler Outreach Division and the Department of Corrections). She also Directed VSF's production of "A Christmas Carol" and assistant directed "The Two Gentlemen of Verona". She is very excited to be back in Connecticut working with VSF! Check out more at andielerner.com or @ampersand_ie
Understudy
Andrew O'Laughlin
(He/Him/His)
Andrew is so excited to be back working with Valley Shakespeare Festival! Previously Andrew appeared as Valentine/Julia/Others in VSF's production of "The Two Gentlemen of Verona". Other select credits include Classics on the Rocks, The Peoples Improv Theatre, The Tank NYC, UCB, and Dixon Place. BFA Marymount Manhattan College. Huge thanks to Tom and the whole VSF team!
CREW
Stage Manager
Sarah Hooper
(she/her/hers)
Sarah Hooper (Stage Manager) is a graduate of Western Connecticut State University with a BA in Theatre Arts: Technology/Design. Recent credits include: The Bodyguard (stage manager), Henry VIII (assistant stage manager) and Twelfth Night (assistant stage manager). Other credits include: stage manager for Downtown Cabaret’s Main Stage 2018-2019 season (Legally Blonde, Annie, George Orwell’s: 1984, Sister Act, and The Full Monty). She trained with Shakespeare on the Sound as a stage management apprentice in 2016 and is a member of the EMC program.
Company Manager
Kristen Kingsley
(she/her/hers)
Kristen has been involved in Theatre both on and off stage in many different ways for the last 20 years, starting as a young child. It is only fitting to add yet another feather to her cap as CM. Previously she has received training from multiple mentors and supporters, Kelly Nelsen, Tom Simonetti, and Theresa S. Carroll for: acting, stage management, set carpentry, and foley artistry, to name a few. Kristen joined Actor's Equity Association through her work as Stage Manager on Valley Shakespeare Festival's Merchant of Venice. Other credits include but not limited to: Greenwich Theatre Company 7 Easy Pieces (PSM), VSF Henry VIII (SM), Narrator in Charlotte's Web, Foley artist and ensemble in Our Town, and Maria in Twelfth Night. Ms. Kingsley is excited to help Valley Shakespeare Festival bring Cyrano to the park safely, because there is no replacement for Live theatre!
Fight Cooriographer
Carlo Rivieccio
(He/Him/His)
Carlo has been creating violence for 20 years. He has served as Fight Director on Productions of Romeo and Juliet, Cabaret, Treasure Island, The Mask of Zorro, Jekyll and Hyde and As You Like It, as well as numerous short plays and horror festivals throughout the United States. As an actor He has performed Off-Broadway in Tony & Tina's Wedding and in regional theatres (including Seven Angels in CT). He is thrilled to be working with this wonderful cast and company.
Founder & Executive Director
Tom Simonetti
(He/Him/His)
Tom Simonetti is the Founder and Executive Director of Valley Shakespeare Festival in Shelton, Connecticut. He has held the position of Executive Director since 2013 and works as Producing Artistic Director. During the past 9 years, Tom has started programs such as Free Shakespeare in the Park, a touring company that goes into homeless shelters, schools, libraries, and other community centers, and the very popular Shakespeare in the Bar series. Tom has worked in literary departments at theaters across the nation.
THANK YOU
Lighting -- Spence Sound and Stage
Sound -- Horizon Sound
Set Construction -- Anthony Simonetti
Associate Producer -- Theresa Carroll
Costume Designer - Ivy Swinski
Front of House Operations -- Erin Bennedum
Program & Website Design -- Kayleigh Mihalko
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Live Streaming (Fri only) by
Board Of Directors:
Chair: Kayleigh Mihalko
Vice Chair/Treasurer: Erin Bennedum
Secretary: Emily Carveth
Board Members:
Arthur Brennan
Karel Julian
Stephanie McNew-Musleh
Robert Palmer
Becca Toms
Want to make a donation?
Tap the Donate button
(Suggested donation is $10, but you can pick any amount. Thank you for your support!)
VALLEY SHAKESPEARE FESTIVAL SOCIAL DISTANCING POLICY
In order to present our 8th year of Free Theater in the Park, it is important that everyone do their part in helping us practice Social Distancing and mitigate the transmission of the COVID-19 virus. Valley Shakespeare Festival has come up with these policies that align with the State of CT and CDC guidelines for outdoor gatherings, to help keep audience members safe and enjoy their experience in the Park.
We ask that you please respect people's comfort levels when it comes to mask-wearing and physical social distancing. While we do not like having to say this: any violation of these rules or guidelines will result in removal from the Park and Program.
If you are not feeling well, please refrain from coming to the Park, there will be many more years of performances to come if we all do our part.
VALLEY SHAKESPEARE FESTIVAL SOCIAL DISTANCING GUIDELINES
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We will provide digital programs that you can view on your smartphone to minimize person-to-person transactions
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Please use handwashing stations as often as you feel is necessary
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We appreciate your support, but please make your suggested donation on-line
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Audience members will be sectioned 6 feet apart in circles painted on the grass.
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The stage will be marked 15 feet away from the audience
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Signage will be provided with helpful Social Distancing Guidelines reminders
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VSF staff, volunteers, and board members will be wearing PPE to keep you safe
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Extra PPE will be on hand for audience members
AUDIENCE GUIDELINES REGARDING FACE MASKS
FACEMASKS MUST BE WORN WHEN:
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Going to the bathroom
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Going to get food from food trucks
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Going to move your car out of the Inline Plastics Parking Lot
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Going back to your car because you forgot the Gourmet Truffle Potato Salad you made
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Speaking with a VSF Staff Member or Volunteer
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Anytime social distancing is not an option
FACEMASKS MAY BE TAKEN OFF WHEN:
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Sitting within your 122-inch circle and enjoying Cyrano
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Eating or drinking
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When you are safely socially distant (6-ft apart)
SPONSORS
DONORS
Rebecca Toms
Erin Bennedum
Kelly Nelsen
Belinda Pagliaro
Shannon Kirwan
James J Capinera
Jason Holmes
Michele LaCrosse
Kayleigh Mihalko