The Great Behind

A Miami-set reinvention of Cyrano de Bergerac follows a sharp-tongued librarian whose wit masks a more vulnerable longing to be seen. The Great Behind runs April 1-25 at the Colony Theatre in Miami Beach as part of Miami New Drama’s 2026-2027 season. Written by Miami native Carmen Pelaez, the world premiere marks her fifth work with the company. The play centers on Sylvia, a brilliant librarian who is secretly in love with her best friend. When he falls for Sylvia’s new coworker, she agrees to write the love letters meant to win his heart, giving someone else the words she cannot say for herself. Blending romance, comedy and a distinctly Miami point of view, The Great Behind reframes Cyrano’s story through questions of beauty, desire and self-worth. The production continues Miami New Drama’s focus on new work shaped by the city’s voices, cultures and contradictions.