James McAvoy appeared on CBS Mornings to speak with hosts Gayle King, Tony Dokoupil, and Nate Burleson about playing the eponymous lead of Cyrano de Bergerac, which runs Off-Broadway at Brooklyn Academy of Music through May 22. McAvoy talks about the role's physicality, and why this take on the story does not include a nose prosthesis. Watch the appearance above.
McAvoy originally played the role in the Olivier-winning production directed by Jamie Lloyd in 2019. Its U.S. premiere at BAM was slated to start in spring 2020 prior to the pandemic. Martin Crimp adapted the classic by Edmond Rostand into a rap battle-meets-slam-poetry style, and in addition to winning the 2020 Olivier Award for Best Revival, it earned four additional Olivier Award nominations, including Best Actor and Best Director.
READ: James McAvoy-Led Cyrano Adds $10 Onstage Seating
Along with McAvoy as Cyrano, the cast also stars Michele Austin as Ragueneau, Adam Best as Le Bret, Sam Black as Armand, Nari Blair-Mangat as Valvert, Vaneeka Dadhria as Beatboxer, Adrian Der Gregorian as Montfleury, Tom Edden as De Guiche, Eben Figueiredo as Christian, Jon Furlong as Annoying Person, Tazmyn-May Gebbett as Minder, Carla Harrison-Hodge as Denise, Mika Onyx Johnson as Usher, Joseph Langdon as Jean-Paul, Sophie Mercell as Marie-Louise, Evelyn Miller as Roxane, Nima Taleghani as Ligniere, and Brinsley Terence as Theatre Owner.
Featured on the creative team are set and costume designer Soutra Gilmour, lighting designer Jon Clark, associate lighting designer Hector Murray, costume supervisor Anna Josephs, props supervisor Lily Molgaard, associate director Rupert Hands, assistant director Nari Blair-Mangat, and associate designer Rachel Wingate. Sound and compositions are by Ben and Max Ringham, fight movement is by Kate Waters, and additional movement is by Polly Bennett. Casting is by Stuart Burt.
Produced by Ambassador Theater Group Productions, Gavin Kalin Productions, Glass Half Full Productions and Wessex Grove in association with Rupert Gavin/Mallory Factor.
For tickets and more information, visit BAM.org.
