Cyrano de Bergerac

This production contains gunshot noises, tinnitus sound effects and strobing lights

In 1897, the tail-end of the 19th Century, and perhaps in response to the rising tide of ‘Realism’ engulfing the international theater scene, Edmond Rostand wrote Cyrano De Bergerac in Alexandrine verse, the classical form of French poetry dating back to the 12 Century. This form reached the height of its popularity with the 17th-century works of Racine, Corneille, and Molière.

Cyrano De Bergerac has been produced in theaters worldwide; it has been translated into English over 16 times. Over 25 films have been made of it or its derivatives, such as Roxanne, starring Steve Martin and Daryl Hannah, and the musical film adaptation Cyrano, starring Peter Dinklage.

The story of someone in love who, insecure in their looks, successfully woos their lover on behalf of someone better looking has brought to tears many an audience over the last two centuries.

A lesser-noted theme of Cyrano de Bergerac is the changing tide in a culture’s form (or forms) of expression. We are thrilled to have been allowed to work with the brilliant Martin Crimp translation of this play, which brings this heroic, egregiously romantic story thrillingly to life while acknowledging that the shores of the culture we all share are facing the currents of its own changing tides.

-Chris McCann

CAST bios:

Devyn Akers hails from the nation’s capital Washington DC! He has played the role of Pozzo in Samuel Beckett’s Waiting for Godot. He is very excited about this production and wants to thank his amazing company, the crew and stage management team. And special thanks to the director Chris McCann for his vision and light in making the actors better everyday and have a lot of gratitude.

Noelle Backman is a fourth year BFA Actor from California. Purchase Reps include Babettes Feast (Martine), Barbecue (Adlean), The Conduct of Life (Olimpia); she will now be playing Marie Louise/Woman sent by Roxanne/Cadet. Many thanks to her family for their continual love and support.

Keymer Cuesta

Max Garfin is a fourth year BFA actor from Manhattan, New York. Purchase Rep. credits include Waiting For Godot (Lucky/Boy) and Man with a Flower in His Mouth (Commuter). He thanks the people for their support.

Sanise Lebron is a fourth year acting major in Purchase’s Theatre Conservatory program. She is from the Bronx, NY and has the pleasure of being Roxane, in Cyrano De Bergerac. Past Purchase credits include: Truth and Reconciliation (Wife), Babette’s Feast (Young Lowenheilm & Leif), Pirandello Party (Lignota), Barbecue (Marie), The Conduct of Life (Nena). Other credits include: The Bennett Academy of Performing Arts, King of the Rodeo (Bobby Lynn). She would like to thank her family and friends for their constant love and support. Much Love to Everyone!

Arielle Moore is a fourth year in the BFA Acting program and hails from Harlem, NY. Purchase Rep credits include: Truth & Reconciliation (Mama/Man), Babette’s Feast (Mrs. Lowenhielm/Lady of the Court/Ensemble), Barbecue (Lillie Anne) and Serious Money (Jacinta Condor/Joanne). She wants to thank her teachers, company members, crew, family and friends for all of the endless support.

Ndeye Daro Niang is a fourth year BFA actor from Harlem, New York. Purchase Rep credits include: Truth and Reconciliation (Daughter/Woman), Babettes Feast (Babette), Barbecue (Alden) and Serious Money (TK, Nigel and Merrison). Other credits include the Stella Adler Studio of Acting, and placing in the National Shakespeare Competition in New York. Many thanks to all her close friends and companions who support and uplift her!

Daija North is a Brooklyn native, in her 4th year at Purchase conservatory of theatre arts. Past Purchase credits include Truth and Reconciliation ( Widow) and Babette’s Feast as Erna and Breadseller, Barbecue as Marie and The Conduct of Life as Leticia. She sends love and hugs for all the support.

Precious Omigie is a fourth year BFA actor from Brooklyn, New York. Purchase Rep credits include: Truth and Reconciliation (Child/Grandma), Babette’s Feast (Astrid),
Barbecue (Barbara), Serious Money (Scilla Todd & Biddulph), Thank you to her family and friends for their love and support!

Katie Parkinson is a fourth year BFA actor from Seattle, Washington. Past credits include: Truth and Reconciliation (Woman), Babette’s Feast (Philippa), Pirandello Party (Ines/Signora Onoria), Barbecue (Lillie Anne), and Serious Money (Marylou Baines/Mrs.Etherington/Dolcie Starr) She sends lots of love to her family back home, especially her dogs.

Justin Parrish is a fourth year BFA actor from Los Angeles, California. His Purchase Reps include: Waiting for Godot (Estragon), Babette’s Feast (Papin), The Pirandello Party (The Late Mattia Pascal). Many thanks to his parents and the fourth year acting company!

Eklan Singh is a senior BFA actor at SUNY Purchase College. He is from Rochester, NY and has been in shows such as Waiting For Godot (Vladimir), Conduct Of Life (Alejo), and Babette’s Feast (Dagfin). He thanks his mentors, friends and family for their unwavering support.

Eli Stiewing is a fourth year BFA actor from Annapolis, Maryland and Brooklyn, New York. Purchase credits include Loewenhielm (Babette’s Feast), James T (Barbecue), and Corman and Grimes (Serious Money). Some outside credits include Adam (DNA) with Piper Theatre and Judas Iscariot (The Last Days of Judas Iscariot) with LaGuardia High School. Eli would like to give special thanks to his family, his friends, his teachers, and everyone who’s supported him along the way!

CREATIVE & PRODUCTION bios:

Isaac Castillo (He/Him) is a fourth year Lighting Designer from Denton, Texas. Purchase credits include Sweat, as well as Purchase Dance Company Fall 2021 and Spring 2022 (Assistant Lighting Designer). Other credits include A Strange Loop and 1776 (Lighting Intern), as well as The Nine Solo Plays and Row (Electrician) at the Williamstown Theatre Festival. Le gustaría agradecer su familia, sus amigos, y su equipo por su amor, apoyó, y esfuerzos! Isaacastil.com 

Nina Schatell is a fourth year Stage Manager from Manhattan. Purchase credits include Make It Play, New Plays Now (Production Stage Manager), Barbecue, Everybody (Stage Manager), Dialogues of the Carmelites, The Colored Museum (Assistant Stage Manager). Other credits include The World Is Not Silent (Stage Management Apprentice) at New York Stage and Film, Emmet Cohen Trio and Friends (Production Assistant) at Jazz at Lincoln Center, and King Lear (Production Assistant) at New York Classical Theatre. Nina is a proud recipient of the Cody Renard Richard Scholarship. She is grateful for her amazing production team and Company 47 for their hard work and dedication. Enjoy the show!

Sabrina Ehrnstein (They/Them) is a Senior BFA Dual Concentration Costume Major in Design & Technology. Past Purchase credits include We Are Proud to Present (Costume Designer) and Purgatorio Wonderland (Costume Design Assistant/Wardrobe Supervisor). Professional credits include Administrative & Wardrobe Apprentice to Santa Fe Opera and Costume Designer for scenes from Suor Angelica and Der Rosenkavalier. Berkshire Theatre Group (Wardrobe/Stitcher/Costume Crafts). Art is how we open our eyes to wonder.

Christopher Bohne

Matilyn Tamplin

Christopher McCann teaches at Purchase College in the Acting Program and the Film Department. He’s acted in theater, film, and television for over 45 years. Among the authors whose plays he’s been privileged to première are Caryl Churchill, Tony Kushner, Sam Shepard, David Rabe, John Guare, Charles Mee, Howard Korder, Beth Henley, Len Jenkins, and Tim Blake Nelson. Also, blessed to have appeared in productions of the works of Shakespeare, Chekov, Ibsen, Ionesco, and Brecht. He’s likewise been privileged to direct the works of Lucy Caldwell, Annie Baker, Lanford Wilson, Shakespeare, Brecht, Churchill, David Mamet, David Lindsay-Abaire, Will Eno, Jose Rivera, Quincy Long, Y. York, Sam Shepard, and Joseph Chaikin.

Caleb Eberhardt (co-director) is a proud Purchase BFA Acting Program Alumni (Company 37).
Off-broadway: Esai’s Table (Cherry Lane Theatre), Is God Is (Soho Rep.), On Sugarland (NYTW, Audelco nomination). Broadway: Choir Boy (MTC). Select film/TV: Judas and the Black Messiah, Black Christmas, The Subject, What We Found, Betty (HBO), and AMC’s highly anticipated sci-fi dramedy, Demascus.

In our teaching and art, the Conservatory values inclusiveness, equality, and excellence. Upholding all of our training is our aim to train and graduate citizen artists: multifaceted people with a strong sense of purpose in approaching an arts education.

What is a citizen artist? Citizen artists seek to discover how their unique voices can contribute to our world. They understand what it means to be an artist, and what they are here on earth to say and do and make.

The Conservatory trains future citizen artists in three degree programs:

+ BFA Actor Training. The BFA is an intensive professional training program offered to a highly select and diverse group of students. The professional training is anchored in four years of study in acting, voice, speech, and movement, complemented by offerings in dramatic literature and analysis, history of the theatre, stage combat, improvisation, mask work, acting for the camera, and the business of acting. As one of five schools in the Consortium of Professional Theatre Training Programs, Purchase is one of a handful of colleges in the world capable of training artists at this level—and of drawing a faculty from the ranks of professional theatre

+ BFA in Theatre Design/Technology. Emphasizing studio and classroom training, our professional training program in theatre design/technology gives students the guidance and support of established and theatre industry professionals. Many of our alumni are recognized at the top of their field, and have received Tony, Emmy, Obie, and Drama Desk Awards, among other honors. Quite literally, Purchase grads are working in or have worked in every theatre on Broadway, in all tristate venues, and with countless touring productions

+ BA program in Theatre and Performance. From traditional theatre to cutting-edge interdisciplinary work, the theatre and performance major encourages creativity, intellectual curiosity, social engagement, and critical thinking. The core requirements combine scholarship and practice to provide students with a strong foundation in theatre history and dramatic literature, with mandatory stagecraft/production courses. Theatre and Performance majors are encouraged to expand the scope of their education by studying abroad, as well as pursuing coursework in other programs of study within the School of Liberal Arts and Sciences at Purchase College