Photo Flash: Marlee Matlin Visits Deaf West and The Fountain's CYRANO Opening Night

The excitement of last weekend's opening night performance of Cyrano by Stephen Sachs, a co-production between The Fountain Theatre and Deaf West Theatre, was given an added thrill by the attendance of film/TV actress Marlee Matlin. Matlin is a longtime supporter and patron of Deaf West, and she starred in the CBS television movie version of Sachs' 1997 play Sweet Nothing in my Ear, which also premiered at the Fountain. See photos of Matlin with the cast below!

What is the true language of love? The Fountain Theatre and Deaf West Theatre collaborate on the world premiere of "Cyrano," a modern day, re-imagined signed/spoken version of the classic "Cyrano de Bergerac" is performed in ASL and English, now thru June 10.

Cyrano is a brilliant deaf poet hopelessly in love with Roxy, a beautiful hearing woman. But she doesn't understand sign language and instead loves Chris, his hearing brother. Can Cyrano express his love to Roxy with his hands? Or must he teach Chris to woo her, to "speak his words" for him? American Sign Language (ASL) becomes the language of love in this new spin on a classic love story.

Written by Stephen Sachs,inspired by the play "Cyrano de Bergerac" by Edmond Rostand, and directed by Simon Levy, the show stars Erinn Anova, James Babbin, Al Bernstein, Eddie Buck, Maleni Chaitoo, Martica De Cardenas, Daniel Durant, James Royce Edwards, Bob Hiltermann, Troy Kotsur, Ipek D. Mehlum, Paul Raci and Victor Warren.

ASL masters are Tyrone Giordano and Shoshanna Stern. The creative team is led by set designer Jeff McLaughlin, lighting designer Jeremy Pivnick, sound designer Peter Bayne, video designer Jeff Teeter, multimedia tech by Media Fabricators, Inc, costume designer Naila Aladdin Sanders, Prop designer Misty Carlisle, fight choreography by Brian Danner, with production stage manager Sue Karutz, assistant stage manager Terri Roberts. The show is produced by David Kurs, Laura Hill and Deborah Lawlor, and presented by The Fountain Theatre and Deaf West Theatre.

For more information, visit www.fountaintheatre.com.