• News

• All

Feb 09, 2018 The National By Christopher Roberts

The National are working on a new musical adaptation of Cyrano de Bergerac, Edmond Rostand’s 1897 play. As Playbill reports, The National are collaborating with Erica Schmidt (writer/director of Off-Broadway’s All the Fine Boys) on the musical, which will feature music by Aaron and Bryce Dessner of The National with lyrics by Matt Berninger of The National and his wife, writer Carin Besser. Schmidt is directing. The musical will run from August 3-September 2 at Goodspeed’s Terris Theatre in Chester, Connecticut.

Cyrano de Bergerac is about a 17th century duelist in the French army who is self conscious about his large nose when pursing the woman he loves, Roxane. It’s been adapted into many films, including the 1987 film Roxanne starring Steve Martin and Daryl Hannah and set in then contemporary America.

The National released their excellent new album, Sleep Well Beast, last September via 4AD. It was our Album of the Week and #7 on our Top 100 Albums of 2017 list.

In December The National announced the inaugural music festival “Homecoming in Association with MusicNOW,” which is curated by the band and will take place in the band’s hometown of Cincinnati on April 28 and 29, 2018 (but will start the night of April 27). The National will perform two unique shows on different nights. Joining them will be Father John Misty, Julien Baker, Future Islands, Feist, The Breeders, Alvvays, Moses Sumney, Big Thief, Lord Huron, Mouse on Mars, and more, with others to still be announced. The event will be centered at two stages in the city’s Smale Park, but will also encompass venues throughout the city. The National will perform each night, alongside 20 other artists. The festival will also feature “special guests, city-wide exhibitions, surprises and more.” MusicNow was founded by The National’s Bryce Dessner and has been going for 13 years.

Read our recent interview with The National on Sleep Well Beast.

Previously the band shared videos for various tracks from the album: “The System Only Dreams in Total Darkness,” “Guilty Party,” “Carin at the Liquor Store,” “I’ll Still Destroy You,” “Day I Die,” “Sleep Well Beast,” “Dark Side of the Gym,” and “Walk It Back.”

Read our rave 9/10 review of Sleep Well Beast.

The National Tour Dates:

Feb 21 - Sydney, Australia - Sydney Opera House Forecourt (SOLD OUT)
Feb 22 - Sydney, Australia - Sydney Opera House Forecourt
Feb 25 - Auckland, New Zealand - Villa Maria Winery
Feb 27 - Brisbane, Australia - Riverstage
March 1 - Melbourne, Australia - Sidney Myer Music Bowl
March 16 - Santiago, Chile - Lollapalooza Chile
March 18 - Buenos Aires, Argentina - Lollapalooza Argentina
March 22 - Rio De Janeiro, Brazil - Circo Voador
March 24 - São Paulo, Brazil - Lollapalooza Brazil
March 25 - Bogotá, Colombia - Festival Estereo Picnic
April 28 - Cincinnati, OH - Homecoming - Smale Park
April 29 - Cincinnati, OH - Homecoming - Smale Park
April 30 - Charlottesville, VA - Sprint Pavilion
May 1 - Raleigh, NC - Red Hat Amphitheater
May 3 - Nashville, TN - Ascend Amphitheater
May 4 - Asheville, NC - Exploreasheville Arena
May 5 - St. Augustine, FL - St. Augustine Amphitheatre
May 4-6 - Atlanta, GA - Shaky Knees Festival
May 25 - Boston, MA - Boston Calling Music Festival
June 2 - London, UK - Victoria Park
June 8 - Aarhus, Denmark - Northside Festival
June 9 - Hilvarenbeek, The Netherlands - Best Kept Secret Festival
June 10 - Helsinki, Finland - Sideways Festival
June 15 - Dublin, Ireland - Donnybrook Stadium
June 16 - Dublin, Ireland - Donnybrook Stadium
July 13 - Lisbon, Portugal - Nos Alive
Sept 24 - Berkeley, CA - Greek Theatre
Sept 25 - Berkeley, CA - Greek Theatre

Support Under the Radar on Patreon.