The first lead in a musical I ever did was playing Vera Charles in the Caseville (Michigan) Summer Enrichment Program, the summer of 1970. 

I had also found the world of plays – books you could read that had actual plays in them.  I was in heaven.

I was reading a play during a rehearsal.  I finished the play, just before I was needed onstage.  The director found me sobbing my little heart out in the hallway.

He was so concerned and asked what in the world was wrong.

I told him.  Between sobs.

I just finished reading Cyrano de Bergerac.

He asked me if this was the first time I had read Cyrano.  It was.

He was clearly relieved but also totally understood and he told me to just take a few minutes – they’d wait.

This is what theater is to me.  People who just understand.  Who get it.  Who get me.

I don’t know what the new version of Cyrano will be like. I do love the Gerard Depardieu version. But if you have never read the original play; I hope you do.