Set in the context of the Spanish Inquisition, Man of La Mancha is presented as a play-within-a-play. We encounter historical author Miguel de Cervantes in prison, awaiting trial by the Inquisition. When his fellow prisoners try to take Cervantes’ belongings from him, including his manuscript, Cervantes proposes a trial in which he proves the merit of the manuscript through a reenactment, enlisting his fellow prisoners as characters in his play. Together, they tell the story of the aged Alonso Quijana who believes himself to be a knight errant, names himself Don Quixote, and pursues an obsessive quest to attain an impossible dream.
Against all odds, Quixote and his trusty squire Sancho Panza take to the road in a quest to chivalry, and seek out the good and innocent in a world filled with darkness and despair. Through the story, all the prisoners- at least for the moment- are transformed. The mad Don Quixote may think a windmill to be a giant and a tavern to be a castle, but along the way he also transforms a wretched woman into a beautiful lady- and proves that an old man’s belief can truly make him a knight. Man of La Mancha features such stirring songs as “Dulcinea” and the now-famous standard, “Quest”-more famously known as “The Impossible Dream”. (Synopsis retrieved from https://stageagent.com/shows/musical/773/man-of-la-mancha)
Cast
- Captain of the Inquisition: Dave Paul
- Don Quixote/Cervantes: Richard Harte
- Sancho Panza: Dave Marcil
- The Governor/The Innkeeper: Allan Foster
- The Duke/Dr. Sanson Carrasco: Paul Sweet
- The Horses: Kristy Ruocco, Nicole Shiro
- The Muleteers: Scott W. Fields (Pedro, Head Muleteer), Peter Darling (Paco), Rick Darling (Jose), Joe Malone (Anselmo), Michael O’Brien (Juan), John O’Donoghue (Tenorio)
- Aldonza: Carol Burke Butler
- Maria, The Innkeeper’s Wife: Carol Charniga
- Antonia: Suzane Talarico
- The Housekeeper: Debbie Paul
- The Padre: William Harrison
- The Barber: Alan Angelo
- Fermina: Jessica Leigh Brown
- Moorish Dancer: Lorraine Benton
Production Team
- Producer: Susan Culver
- Director: Ted Peck
- Music Director: Valerie A. Lord
- Choreographer: Donna Cerniglia Panzl
- Asst Director/Stage Manager: Matthew Teichner
- Costumes: Molly Wright
- Set Design/Master Carpenter: Ted Vickery
- Lighting Design and Execution: George Cain
- Properties: Juanita Borwn
- Makeup: Ted Rucinski
- Sound: Chuck LaMafla and Paul Croteau
