ROCK-BAROQUE FARCE "MY CYRANO" TO PLAY TWO NIGHTS ONLY AT THE CENTER AT WEST PARK

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Michael Jorgensen

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE, PLEASE


ROCK-BAROQUE FARCE

“MY CYRANO”

TO PLAY TWO NIGHTS ONLY
AT THE CENTER AT WEST PARK

JUNE 11 & 12

FEATURING MUSIC FROM
HEAVY-ROCK BAND “THE BLACKFIRES”
AND BAROQUE LEGEND JORDI SAVALL

STARRING “THE BLACKFIRES” FRONT-MAN
ANDREY ‘CHEGGI’ CHEGODAEV
AS CYRANO

MODERN ADAPTATION BY TANYA LEBEDINSKAYA
FROM EDMOND ROSTAND’S CLASSIC HEROIC COMEDY “CYRANO DE BERGERAC”

TRAILER, PHOTOS, AND ARTWORK AVAILABLE HERE


New York, NY (April 28, 2021) – New Wave Arts in association with Salon Z announced today the latest installation in their “Inspired by Baroque” Series, a two-night-only premiere of My Cyrano, an improvisation featuring extracts from Edmond Rostand’s classic heroic comedy Cyrano de Bergerac and extracts from the poem “My Cyrano” by Tanya Lebedinskaya. Presented in Russian with English supertitles, My Cyrano blends musical, dance, and theatrical performance in the style of Rock-Baroque.

“Cyrano is an eternal love story that is well known all over the world. This time, we’ve skillfully matched the romantic tale with the hard-rock band The Blackfires, mixed in with classical music prowess from Jordi Savall, all set to a modern poetic Russian adaptation by Tanya Lebedinskaya, creating one unforgettable show we hope you enjoy!” said producer and actress Zeyna Gagne. “We know that all our guests, including English-speaking ones, will find it entertaining, since the story of Cyrano is so universal - full of music, poetry, dance, and theater, which is the same in all the languages of the world!”

My Cyrano will play Friday, June 11, and Saturday, June 12, at 7:30pm at The Center at West Park(165 West 86th Street, entrance on Amsterdam Avenue) in the historic West Park Presbyterian Church. For VIP ticket holders, there will be a pre-show reception featuring the company beginning at 6:00pm at the Russian Arts Theater & Studio’s Pushkin Hall (165 West 86th Street, 2nd Floor). In accordance with New York State guidelines, all activities will accommodate socially distanced seating at a maximum of 100 people, with face coverings required for everyone, as well as a temperature check upon arrival.

Tickets, priced at $65 for show-only tickets and $100 for VIP tickets, are available for purchase by visiting tinyurl.com/2021MyCyrano.

Adapted from Edmond Rostand’s classic comedy by Tanya Lebedinskaya, My Cyrano is directed by Mariya Kotlova, and includes music by hard-rock band The Blackfires. Also included in the production is "Marche Pour La Ceremonie Des Turcs” (J.B. Lully) played by Jordi Savall conducting Le concert Des Nations, from the album ‘Tous les matins du monde’ loaned by Alia Vox records.

The Blackfires’ front man Andrey ‘Cheggi’ Chegodaev leads the cast as Cyrano with Marina Wonder as Roxanne, and also features Leo Grine, Carlo Maria Velardi, Gala Orlovskaya, Zeyna Gagne, Badimir, Lev Grzhonko, Vadim Kroll, Valentina Kvasova, Nina Ros, and Anna Zinenko.

My Cyrano is produced by New Wave Arts, Salon Z, Zeyna Gagne, Lev Grzhonko, and Donya Khaselev. Salon Z has delighted viewers in the past with unique conceptual productions from famous European actors such as Yuri Naumkin and Elena Solovey, as well as director Gary Chernyakhovsky, and more.

For more information, please visit tinyurl.com/2021MyCyrano.


BIOGRAPHIES – PRODUCTION

MARIYA KOTLOVA (Director) is a renowned actress of musicals, who starred in Russian Musicals such as Nord Ost, Cats, Chicago, and 12 Chairs. She started as a theater actress at the age of 16 while studying theater art at the Russian Academy of Theater. In 2005, while performing on stage every day as an actress in musicals, Mariya received her training as a musical theater director at Stage Entertainment Production (London). After many years of performing in musicals, in 2006 she became an actress and director at drama theater research lab at School or Drama Art in Moscow, Russia, and later in Italy, founded by Anatoliy Vasilyev. She has been working under his apprenticeship since. Mariya served as a Judge at the musical theater contest Musical Heart of Theater (Russia); won Best Director awards at Head Read Festival (Estonia, Europe) three years in a row starting 2016; won Lars Noren Award as Best Actress in 2011 for the part of Kate in the play Cold; served as a Director of an international Dovlatov Festival in Tallin, Estonia, in 2018; directed acknowledged plays in multiple theaters in Europe: Silver Hoop, Russia 2018; Romeo and Juliette Macbeth, Estonia, 2018; A Lost Tram, Estonia, 2017; Sparrow and the Beast, Estonia, 2017; A Swan Zero (Based on Idiot by Dostoyevsky), Russia, 2013 and others. Mariya moved to New York in 2019 and presently is directing the play My Cyrano.

TANYA LEBEDINSKAYA (Playwright) is a poet and songwriting legend of the Russian-American community, known to Russian-speaking audiences all around the world. In 1999, she wrote a poem dedicated to Rostand's play Cyrano the Bergerac. Almost two decades later in 2018, by invitation from Zeyna Gagne, Donya Khaselev, Leo Grzhonko, and director Mariya Kotlova, this poem was converted to a play in the Rock-Baroque style, and was titled My Cyrano. Songs based on her other poems and melodies have been performed by popular Soviet, Russian, and American artists including Mikhail Shufutinsky, Oleg Frish, Philip Kirkorov, the Rose Sisters, and many others. Tanya’s program of musical parodies, The Mighty Handful, which perpetuated the golden age of the third wave of immigration, have become landmark in the history of Russian diaspora culture. She is also a performer and the author of several books, including poetry, epigrams, and parodies. Despite the fact that Tanya has lived in New York for over 40 years, she has retained the beautiful Russian language, sensuality, and humor that permeate her works.

THE BLACKFIRES (Music) are a hard-rock band that thrives on the live stage. The band originated in New York City, but members hail from Russia, Costa Rica, Uruguay, the UK, and exotic New Jersey, which has earned them the nickname “The United Nations of Rock.” After only a few years together, they have managed to perform with some of the biggest names in rock, including Europe, Skid Row, Glenn Hughes, Jason Bonham, Thin Lizzy/Black Star Riders, Whitford/St. Holmes, Dizzy Reed, Frank Ferrer, and most notably some time on the Moscow stadium circuit: with Aerosmith at the Olympic Stadium, and more recently Bon Jovi at the Luzhniki Stadium in front of 90,000. The band is led by Andrey “Cheggi” Chegodaev on vocals, with Englishman Anthony Mullin and Costa Rican Hector Marin on guitars, Uruguayan Grasebo Doe on rock bass, and American Joe Mitch on drums and additional vocals.

JORDI SAVALL (Additional Music) is a Spanish-Catalan viol player and composer. He is one of the major figures in the field of early music since the 1970s, largely responsible for bringing the viol (viola da gamba) back to life on the stage. His repertory ranges from Medieval to Renaissance and Baroque music. Savall's musical training started in the school choir of his native town as well as at the Barcelona Conservatory of Music, and at the Schola Cantorum Basiliensis in Basel, Switzerland. In 1974, he formed the ensemble Hespèrion XX (since 2000 as Hespèrion XXI), together with the soprano Montserrat Figueras (his wife), Lorenzo Alpert and Hopkinson Smith. In 1987, he returned to Barcelona to found La Capella Reial de Catalunya, a vocal ensemble devoted to the interpretation of music prior to the 18th century. Finally, in 1989, Savall created Le Concert des Nations, an orchestra that is generally dedicated to the baroque repertoire, but which sometimes also serves as an outlet for music that hails from the classical/romantic repertoire. Savall's discography includes more than 140 recordings. Since 1998 he has released his records with his own label, Alia Vox. Jordi Savall is also a two-time Grammy nominee, who scored the 1991 Alain Corneau film, Tous les matins du monde (also awarded the César of the French film industry in 1992). The soundtrack, re-released on his own Alia Vox label, has sold more than a million copies worldwide.

DONYA KHASELEV (Producer), musician and singer by education, worked with Salon Z, produced various events, including a show Peculiarities of Love, Wearable Sculpture, and many other theatrical and visual art events for American and International audiences.

ILYA KOZIN (Acting Coach) is an actor, director, teacher, and student of Anatoly Vasiliev since 2002. Education: Saratov State Conservatory, A.A. Vasiliev’s School of Dramatic Art, Moscow School of New Cinema. Acting: Iliad, The Stone Guest or Don Juan is Dead, Medea, All Day Long Under The Trees, and Heiner Müller’s Medeamaterial, all directed or produced by A.A. Vasiliev. Ilya acted in various movies and theatrical stagings in Russia and abroad. In addition to acting, Ilya also teaches young actors and directors in his “theatrical laboratory” by developing a unique method combining the best theatrical theories from director Anatoly Vasiliev with his own approach.


BIOGRAPHIES – CAST

ANDREY ‘CHEGGI’ CHEGODAEV (Cyrano) was born in Moscow, Russia. Graduated from Moscow State University faculty of journalism, worked as TV reporter, director, and a script writer on various TV channels in Russia. In 2010 he moved to New York City to pursue his music career where he established a hard-rock band “The Blackfires.” Gained local recognition, he toured across USA opening for known band such as Europe, Thin Lizzy, Skid Row, Glen Hughes (Deep Purple), Aerosmith, and Bon Jovi. Graduated from New York Film Academy as film director and worked on a several film projects in USA/ Russia. As an actor gained his training in acting studio led by Sergey Puskepalis (Moscow GITIS graduate, Silver Bear Award for Best Male Actor in Berlin International Movie Festival 2010 How I Ended This Summer) and Ilya Kozin acting laboratory. Works as a radio host at Russian New York Radio Freedom FM 104.7FM - Morning Show “Cheggi, Rodos, Rock’n’Roll.”

MARINA WONDER (Roxanne). Born in a military town in Russia’s Nizhny Novgorod region, Marina often participated in school plays and holiday performances starting in middle school, and discovered love for music in college where she picked up a bass guitar and played with a few local rock bands. When life brought Marina to New York she entered the world of modeling, working for print and runway, gracing the covers of several magazines, and also got interested in photography. As an actor, Marina has completed on-camera courses at Kimball's studio and was coached by theater teacher Ilia Kozin of Anatoly Vasiliev school of acting. Marina has done several short films, participated in network TV productions, co-created and starred in a pilot for a TV series, and done some commercials and music videos. A couple years ago Marina was invited to host a morning show at a Russian radio station, where she currently continues to work.

LEO GRINE (DeGuish). Originally from Magadan, Russia, Leo traveled to the US 15 years ago pursuing career in theatre. He has received his education in Anchorage Alaska, then moved to New York City for additional training at The Acting Studio and Matt Farnsworth Voice studio. Regional: Oklahoma! (Curly), Jesus Christ Superstar (Jesus, Judas), Hedwig And The Angry Inch (Hedwig), Rocky Horror Show (Frankenfurter, Riff Raff, Rocky), Goldrush Girls (School boy). Off Broadway: The Final Days of Vincent Van Gogh (Theo Van Gogh), Pentecost (Grigory). Film: Big Miracle, The Frozen Ground, Wildlike. AEA/SAG-AFTRA.

CARLO MARIA VELARDI (Lebre) is a classically trained actor and musician, who graduated from Lee Strasberg Theater and Film Institute. He also obtained a diploma from the world renown Gnesin's Musical Academy in Moscow. Appeared in numerous theater productions in New York, Europe, and Russia.

GALA ORLOVSKAYA (Duenna) graduated from Kiev State University of Theater and Cinematography. She was studying acting with outstanding Artistic Director professor N.N.Rushkovskiy. Before graduating, Gala was invited to play the leading part in the Astrid Lingren's Pippi Long Stockings in the Theater for the Young Audience, for which she received the ‘Debut of the Year’ Award. For years, Gala played various characters in theater and movies, on TV and Radio shows. She received the 1st Prize at the Golden Lion Theater Festival in Lviv for her acting in the show based on the poetry of A. Galich. For her exceptional work of many years, Gala was awarded a title of Honored Artist of Ukranian Republic in 1988. In 1990, Gala emigrated to Israel where she worked as an actress in Jerusalem Short Plays Theater, playing one of the leading roles in the show Island of Shabbat, produced by JDC Israel (Joint), and did voiceovers for several movies on the Channel "Cinema". Recently, Gala lives in New Jersey. You might have seen her performing in NY Steps Theatre and Russian Art Theatre and Studio productions.

ZEYNA GAGNE (Madame Z, Producer). Originally from Russia, Zeyna Gagne studied classical piano, ballet, and acting in both Riga, Latvia, as well as Paris, France. As an actress, she has appeared in the theatrical shows Peculiarities of Love and Inspired by Baroque at Spy Club NYC. Zeyna worked as an assistant producer for the Steve Leber/David Krebs US tour of the Moscow Circus including an engagement at Radio City Music Hall, produced the choreographic fashion show Wearable Sculpture, as well putting on many evenings of Russian theater and art exhibitions in Paris and NYC, including at La Maison de Russie a Paris (Russian Cultural House in Paris). Zeyna participated as an actress in the production of the short feature films including Drolle de Drames and Hors Piste. She is a financial analyst in addition to producing artistic projects in America and Europe (France, Latvia, Georgia).

BADIMIR (Christian) is very excited to be a part of My Cyrano. Originally from Russia, he has always been interested in theater and continued his studies in drama school in Nizhny Novgorod where he started playing supporting roles in Theater of Comedy. After moving to New York City he has mostly been seen as a DJ and music producer, and now Badimir is back to the stage making his debut as Christian.

LEV GRZHONKO (Rostand, Producer). Harvard graduate economist, Lev pursued different creative directions, he directed short films that were featured in the New York Film Festival as well as in France in Les etrange festival, he is a connoisseur of arts and is currently acting/producing in the My Cyrano production as well as in Miami Theater.

VADIM KROLL (Ragno). TV: “The Blacklist,” “Allegiance” (guest star). Film: John Wick: Chapter 2(guest star). Off-Broadway: The Killer. Over 20 productions at The Metropolitan Opera. Performed in numerous off-off-Broadway shows.

VALENTINA KVASOVA (Luisa) is a professional singer and dancer from Rostov on Don, and graduated from the Voronezh State Choreographic School. She worked in the ensemble of Don Cossacks named after Kvasov. For 15 years was choreographer, dancer, and singer in the ensemble Barynya New York. Valentina is the founder of the Kvasova band and Russian Social singing club projects. She starred in films, participated in various theatrical projects in New York, as well as being an improviser and multi-instrumentalist.

NINA ROS (u/s Roxanne) is a New York-based Russian actress, dancer, choreographer, and singer. She graduated from Bordeaux National School of the Theater in France. Nina was born in Saratov, Russia, where she started her acting career. At the age of 18 she moved to France to pursue her study as an actress at the Bordeaux National School of The Theater. She worked in European National Theaters such as Grand Theater of Luxembourg, National Theater of Limoges, National Theater of Bordeaux, National Theater of Liege, Bouffes du Nord, etc. Nina also starred in numerous TV shows and films in Russia and Europe.

ANNA ZINENKO (Koko) has danced in a folk ensemble since childhood. While studying Spanish philology at Kiev University, Anna played in student theater, went to international festivals with a folk group. After moving to New York, Anna worked as a presenter on radio and television, starred in films and TV shows, studied at the Broadway Dance Center, was a guest artist of the Aspen Santa Fe Ballet in The Nutcracker ballet, and attended the Russian Theater Lab.


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