 In the early 1960s, David Merrick had announced plans to produce a musical entitled "Cyrano" with a score by Leslie Bricusse and Anthony Newley, but nothing came of the project.Burgess had translated the Rostand play for the Guthrie in Minneapolis, and director Michael Langham suggested he adapt it for a musical version.Burgess joined forces with film composer Lewis, replacing dialogue in his play with musical numbers, and the completed work was staged at the Guthrie, again with Langham at the helm.