Globe Opens Summer Rep Series

Opening this weekend, the Old Globe presents two works of Shakespeare productions, Twelfth Night and Coriolanus, along with Edmond Rostand’s celebrated classic, Cyrano de Bergerac. The three productions will be performed in nightly rotation in the Globe’s outdoor Lowell Davies Festival Theatre June 13 through Sept. 27. Globe Resident Artistic Director Darko Tresnjak will once again oversee the Festival and direct Coriolanus and Cyrano de Bergerac, while Festival favorite Paul Mullins (The Merry Wives of Windsor, Measure for Measure) will direct Twelfth Night.

• Cyrano de Bergerac opens the Festival, with previews beginning June 13 with the final performance on Sept. 27.
• Twelfth Night begins previews on June 17 with the final performance on Sept 26.
• Coriolanus begins previews on June 20 with the final performance on Sept 25.

“In this sixth season after reinstituting the repertory format, as the Shakespeare Festival nears its 75th anniversary in 2010, we have chosen to break with recent practice and, as do many other major Shakespeare Festivals, again produce classical works, important revivals and sometimes contemporary plays in repertory with the works of Shakespeare as part of the Festival. Cyrano is a play that fits this mission perfectly; and along with Twelfth Night and Coriolanus performed by a company of nearly thirty …summer 2009 is going to be one joyous time for both our audiences and artists,” said Lou Spisto, Globe Executive Producer.

Set in Paris in 1640, Cyrano de Bergerac is a classic tale of romance and tragedy. Talented poet, swordsman and Cadet in the French army, Cyrano falls in love with the beautiful Roxane but lacks the confidence to reveal his true feelings due to his abnormally large nose. Resigned to his loss, Cyrano offers to help his fellow soldier Christian win her affections by writing love letters on his behalf. Roxane falls in love with author of the letters not realizng it is Cyrano. His tender verse gives voice to the inarticulate, dashing Christian, gaining him her heart just before both men depart for war. This classic romantic story is laced with swagger, gallantry and sacrifice, and some of the most beautiful verse ever written.

One of the Bard’s most beloved comedies, Twelfth Night centers on the beautiful heroine Viola, shipwrecked in a strange land. She disguises herself as the boy “Cesario” and works her way into the court of Duke Orsino. Impressed by this articulate and handsome young man, Orsino sends Cesario to woo Lady Olivia on the Duke’s behalf, but Cesario speaks so eloquently that Olivia is soon smitten – not with the Duke, but with Cesario. Meanwhile Viola has fallen in love with Orsino and finds herself, along with an entire comic entourage, entangled in a web of disguises, mistaken identities and misplaced affections. Shakespeare’s final tragedy is also considered one of his greatest. This powerful political drama tells the story of the great Roman general whose arrogance leads to his own downfall.

One of Shakespeare’s most provocative plays, Coriolanus is a mesmerizing tale that unfolds as both personal tragedy and political thriller. From exalted war hero – to heavy handed politician to finally, exile – Coriolanus is manipulated by his power hungry mother Volumnia (one of Shakespeare’s great female roles) and his unwillingness to compromise his principles as his world spirals out of control in his crusade for vengeance.

Cyrano de Bergerac
Twelfth Night
Coriolanus
Presented by the Old Globe
June 13 – Sept. 27

Old Globe Theatre, Lowell Davies Festival Theatre (in Balboa Park)
Box office: (619) 23-GLOBE (234-5623)
Online: oldglobe.org