The “Great Performances” taping of the most recent Broadway production of Cyrano de Bergerac — starring Oscar and Tony Award winner Kevin Kline in the title role — will make its debut on PBS stations around the country Jan. 7, 2009.
The production, which co-stars Daniel Sunjata and Jennifer Garner, will air at 8 PM ET; check local listings.
Cyrano de Bergerac was produced for television by Ellen M. Krass with Bonnie Comley, Stewart F. Lane and David Horn as executive producers. Matthew Diamond directed for television, with Gary Bradley as editor.
Edmond Rostand’s 1897 verse classic, featuring an adaptation by the late Anthony Burgess, began previews on Broadway Oct. 12, 2007, and officially opened Nov. 1, 2007. David Leveaux directed the production that also starred Euan Morton as Ligniere, Max Baker as Ragueneau, Chris Sarandon as Comte de Guiche, John Douglas Thompson as Le Bret, Concetta Tomei as Roxane’s Duenna, Tom Bloom as Montfleury, Peter Jay Fernandez as Carbon de Castel-Jaloux, MacIntyre Dixon as Jodelet and Carman Lacivita as Vicomte de Valvert.
The ensemble comprised Nance Williamson, Piter Marek, Baylen Thomas, Daniel Stewart Sherman, Keith Eric Chappelle, Thomas Schall, Davis Duffield, Alexander Sovronsky, Lucas Papaelias, Fred Rose, Stephen Balantzian, Amefika El-Amin, Ginifer King, Kate Guyton and Leenya Rideout.
Cyrano de Bergerac, according to press notes, concerns “the soulful poet/philosopher and brilliant swordsman Cyrano (Kline), a cadet in the French Army, [who] falls for the beautiful, strong-willed Roxane (Garner), but is too ashamed of his large nose to tell her. Instead, when he learns that she loves the handsome Christian de Neuvillette (Sunjata), his dim-witted comrade, he pens poetry and love letters to Roxane on Christian’s behalf. After many years, the truth is revealed. Will love or beauty conquer all?”
The creative team included scenic design by Tom Pye, costume design by Gregory Gale, lighting design by Donald Holder and sound design by David Van Tiegham.
Jennifer Garner has won a restraining order from a man she says has been stalking her for years.
An attorney for the actress appeared in a Los Angeles courtroom Thursday morning and won three years of protection for Garner, husband Ben Affleck and their daughter, Violet.
Garner petitioned for protection earlier this month from Steven R. Burky, 36, who she says has been harassing her since 2002.
Garner wrote in a sworn statement that she believed Burky’s “obsessive, threatening and stalking behavior” posed a threat to her and her family.
The former star of the television series “Alias,” Garner has also appeared in recent films such as “Juno” and “The Kingdom.”
Celebrities could drop their children off at school and visit their doctors without fear of being accosted by paparazzi under a proposal introduced by a city councilman this week.
The proposed law, the latest effort by Councilman Dennis Zine to combat aggressive tabloid photographers, would restrict commercial photography and video recordings within 20 feet of schools, hospitals and medical facilities.
Zine said he crafted the ordinance protecting “sensitive use locations” in response to complaints from celebrities and ordinary citizens about “swarms” of paparazzi. “The goal is to have a safe area where people can conduct themselves … so we don’t have the chaotic circumstances we now encounter,” Zine said.
Earlier this year, the councilman proposed a “personal safety zone” around celebrities, but that effort stalled after the police department called it unnecessary and unenforceable.
Zine said legal scholars have signed off on the constitutionality of his current proposal. The ordinance would not prohibit paparazzi from using long lenses to capture stars coming and going from schools and medical facilities.
“You can make it 200 feet. With a lens, it doesn’t matter,” said Frank Griffin of the Bauer-Griffin photo agency. He said the law would benefit paparazzi by eliminating shot-ruining crowds around targeted celebrities. “It would give [photographers] more space,” he said.
GLENDALE, Calif., Aug 20, 2008 (BUSINESS WIRE) — Baby Einstein has been a mom’s “must have” for the past decade and today, dozens of giggling babies and parents helped celebrate its 10th anniversary at a special event at Walt Disney Concert Hall. Hosted by Baby Einstein founder Julie Clark, and actress and mom, Jennifer Garner, partygoers strolled, crawled and toddled down a colorful caterpillar carpet toward baby-friendly discovery zones where they interacted with music, created art, mingled with nature and explored a pint-sized jungle. Among the guests were 7-year-old Ryan Douglas and 5-year-old Alexa Bradley, two remarkable children from the Make-A-Wish Foundation(R) whose wishes to go behind-the-scenes of their favorite DVDs were granted. The festivities also included a sneak peak at the 10th Anniversary special editions, fall release of Baby Mozart(TM) and Baby Beethoven(TM), a puppet show and a performance by the Glendale Youth Orchestra.
“We love the arts, and Baby Einstein has brought music and nature into our home in such a wonderful, meaningful way,” said Garner. “As a parent, it’s easy to see why Baby Einstein is a mom-favorite around the world.”
Matt Damon, wife Luciana and pals Ben Affleck and Jennifer Garner will appear at a Generation Obama fundraiser at 7:30 p.m. Aug. 2 in Miami Beach, Florida. VIP reception is $1,000 per person; it’s $250 general admission. Info: go.barack obama.com or mattkirkland@bellsouth.net.
