Cyrano de Bergerac at the Ruskin Group Theatre

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Ruskin Group Theatre presents Cyrano de Bergerac by Edmond Rostand, a story of romance and adventure, opening on Saturday, December 4, 2010.

The Ruskin Group Theatre proudly presents an adventure based on the legend of 17^th Century French dramatist and duelist Savinien de Bergerac, now known the world over as Cyrano.  Afflicted with an enormous and bulbous nose, he is convinced that no woman can ever love him, and thus makes himself notorious in Paris for his courage, gallantry, and charm of verse.  Putting aside his own love for the beautiful Roxanne, he offers his powers of expression to his rival, as this hysterical and stirring adventure unfolds.

RAE ALLEN (Director) is a Tony Award winner and a two time Tony Award nominee.  She has appeared in numerous Broadway productions including the original DAMN YANKEES, FIDDLER ON THE ROOF, and THE PAJAMA GAME.  Allen has appeared in feature films such as REIGN OVER ME, BORDERLINE, THE HARD EASY, and on television including several episodes of THE SOPRANOS, and SEINFELD.

MICHAEL MYERS (Producer) has produced more than 50 projects since 2002.  He recently directed FAITHFUL at RGT.  Mike is a co-creator of the Ruskin’s critically acclaimed CAFÉ PLAYS, a monthly offering of one-acts that are done in 10 ½ hours from conception to staging.

RUSKIN GROUP THEATRE has been making an impact on the Los Angeles theatrical scene with an eclectic mix of thought provoking plays and programs.  Their ‘Fostering Imagination‘ program sponsors foster kids in theatre & film classes that produce several original shows each year.  The CAFÉ PLAYS, created by RGT are produced monthly and are the culmination of writers, actors, and directors who meet at 9am, where they are given a theme.  They then write, produce, and perform a show by 7pm the same day.  Recently celebrating their 6^th anniversary, RGT supporters Ed Asner, Dylan McDermott, Chris Mulkey, Olivia d’Abo, and other industry celebrities joined to produce the Best of Café Plays (both shows sold out within hours).  Anthony Hopkins and Anthony Franciosa were some of the Ruskin School of Theatre’s first teachers.

CYRANO DE BERGERAC by Edmond Rostand

runs through January 23, 2011

Fridays and Saturdays at 8pm and Sundays at 2pm

*** NO PERFORMANCES December 20, 2010 – January 7, 2011 ***

Ruskin Group Theatre

3000 Airport Avenue, Santa Monica, CA 90405.

Tickets are $25 ($20 for students, seniors, and guild members) and can be purchased in advance by calling (310) 397-3244.

***Free parking at the theater***

Report by Pauline Adamek

JOHN RUSKIN (Artistic Director) helmed the critically acclaimed production of UNBEATABLE HAROLD, and STRANGE SNOW whichextended its run to accommodate demand from local audiences.  John’s years of experience include his studies at the Yale School of Drama, British American Drama Academy in Oxford, England, and the University of Colorado in Boulder.  In New York, Ruskin joined the acting faculty of the Neighborhood Playhouse at the request of Sanford Meisner (who he apprenticed with) before moving to Los Angeles where he founded his own school of acting and a professional theatre company.  The company’s mission is to expose the community to the enlightening experience that theater can be while providing outreach programs to people in need with our “Healing Through the Arts” program.

THE ENSEMBLE

OLIVIA D’ABO (Roxanne) recently appeared on Broadway with Matthew Broderick and Nathan Lane in THE ODD COUPLE. Selected TV and film appearances include LAW & ORDER (Criminal Intent), ALIAS, THE ASSASSIN, A TEXAS FUNERAL, and WAYNE’S WORLD, and her first major role on THE WONDER YEARS as Karen. Oliviacurrently has two popular CD’s named Turku, and Discography.

JOHN COLELLA (Cyrano) was referred to by the Los Angeles times as “the chief pleasure…who makes heartache a lot of fun,” for his memorable role as Aldo in the Ruskin’s critically acclaimed production of ITALIAN AMERICAN RECONCILLIATION.  John played the lead in RGT’s FAITHFUL last season and has been praised for his work in THE COMPLETE WORKS OF SHAKESPEARE and THE CAFÉ PLAYS.  Other LA stage credits include A PRAYER FOR MY DAUGHTER, and ANGEL CITY.  Regionally he is an ADA nominee for Best Actor (DESPERATE CHARACTERS).  Selected TV and FILM credits include Desperate Housewives, CSI: NY, The West Wing, Will & Grace, Malcolm in the Middle, Swear Police (Winner: Best Shortie Short/LA Comedy Shorts Film Festival), and the upcoming films Girl Walks Into A Bar, and The Chicago 8.  Currently John can be seen starring in the new web series Vampire Mob. He is agraduate of the Goodman School of Drama at De Paul University.

SILA AGAVALE (Ligniere) graduated from Carnegie Mellon University and studied acting with Salem Ludwig in New York. Sila last appeared on stage at the Celebration Theater’s original play, Haram Iran.  Sila is currently working on the web series SWITCH which Iran directs. www.switchwebseries.com.

ANNI BLACKHURST (Lise/Orange Girl) began her artistic journey at the Academy of Performing Arts in San Diego, training in classical ballet and musical theatre. She attended the New York University, Tisch School of the Arts for Dance and Theatre.  A graduate of Loyola Marymount University, she now performs professionally in theatre, dance and film in Australia and the USA.  Anni can be seen in the lead role (High Priestess) in Basement Jaxx Raindrops, the number 1 video in Japan.

ZACH BOOK (Pickpocket) received rave reviews in the title role of Robert Mollohan’s JESSE BOY, a world premiere at RGT in 2010.  He has worked extensively in the Washington DC/Baltimore area in on stage and in film.

KELLY GULLET (Brisaille/Cadet) has recently appeared in 24, CSI:NY, MONK, JUSTIFIED, and the critically acclaimed film W.

JULIA McILVAINE (Duenna) was seen in HENRY VIII at the Public Theatre’s NYSF, Pride’s Crossing at Lincoln Center, Marsha Norman’s TRUDY BLUE at the Manhattan Theatre Company and Lyssa Dent Hughes in An American Daughter at USC. Selected TV and film credits include the pilot seasons of NORMAL, OHIO (Fox), DANNY (CBS), JUDGING AMY (CBS) and three TV Movies for Hallmark. She also voiced “June” for 4 seasons of Nickelodeon’s hit KABLAM. Currently, she can be heard on the WB’s new animated series MAD.

TOBY MOORE (Christian) played Phineas in Showtime’s Emmy nominated A SEPARATE PEACE,  AND Tommy Skakel in the USA channels MURDER IN GREENWICH. Toby guest starred On LAW & ORDER (SVU) and CSI: Miami.

JONATHAN REDDING (De Guiche) appeared as Sgt. Hal Taylor in THE WAR CYCLE, with the Los Angeles Theatre Ensemble, where he directs the Shakespeare on the Deck Project.  Recent productions have included A MIDSUMMER NIGHT’S DREAM and MACBETH.  Selected regional credits include RICHARD III (Gloucester), OTHELLO (Iago), ENDGAME (Hamm), David Bridel’s, I GELOSI (Orazio), and MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING with Southern California Lyric Theatre (Benedick).

MARK RIMER (Ragueneau) has appeared on stages across the US and abroad.  Selected OFF BROADWAY credits include OEDIPUS, ARMS AND THE MAN, MERCHANT OF VENICE, and THE CRADLE WILL ROCK at the Jean Cocteau Rep in NY.  Regionally he has worked at Arkansas Rep, Texas Shakespeare Festival, and A Noise Within. He most recently worked on WORK OF GENIUS, a docu-style reality show about fine art painters.  Mark is a graduate of the Guildhall School of Music and Drama, London.

CHAD WOOD (Le Bret) most recently appeared in the Ruskin’s ALL MY SONS and ITALIAN AMERICAN RECOCILLIATION.  Regional credits include WAITING FOR GADOT, ZOO STORY,  and SALTWATER MOON.  Chad been seen in various independent films including: WAKE OF FORGIVENESS, SWAN SONG, and SEEKING FREEDOM.