Don Quixote (photo Kevin Sprague)
(PITTSFIELD, Mass.) – Tony Award-winning musical “Man of La Mancha” has opened the mainstage season at Barrington Stage Company to rave reviews. The often underestimated and overlooked show runs through Saturday, July 11, 2015, on the Boyd-Quinson Mainstage.
Inspired by Spanish novelist, poet, and playwright Miguel de Cervantes’ 17th-century masterpiece “Don Quixote,” “Man of La Mancha” tells a story rich in chivalry, romance, idealism, tilting at windmills, and dreaming “The Impossible Dream.”
Facing a mock trial by his fellow prisoners as he awaits his actual trial before the Spanish Inquisition, Cervantes stages as his defense the adventures of the knight-errant Don Quixote and his loyal sidekick, Sancho Panza.
Winner of five 1965 Tony Awards including Best Musical, “Man of La Mancha” has enjoyed four Broadway revivals and is one of the American musical theatre’s most beloved works. 2015 marks the 50th Anniversary of “Man La Mancha” opening on Broadway following a world premiere at the Goodspeed Opera House. The original production starred Richard Kiley and Joan Diener under the direction of Albert Marre.
“Man of La Mancha” features a book by Dale Wasserman, music by Mitch Leigh and lyrics by Joe Darion. Barrington Stage’s production is directed by Julianne Boyd, choreographed by Greg Graham, with music direction by Darren R. Cohen.
Jeff McCarthy (BSC’s Sweeney in Sweeney Todd, All My Sons, Follies) stars as Cervantes/Don Quixote, Felicia Boswell (Motown/Memphis) as Aldonza/Dulcinea and Tom Alan Robbins (The Lion King) as Sancho. |
The cast features Ed Dixon (Judge Turpin in BSC’s Sweeney Todd) as the Governor/Innkeeper, Tony nominee Meg Bussert as the Housekeeper, Todd Horman as the Padre/Capt of Inquisition, Sean MacLaughlin as Dr. Carrasco/Duke, Rosalie Burke as Antonia, Chris Ramirez as Pedro, Lexi Janz as Fermina/Gypsy dancer, Jonathan Spivey as the Barber, and Parker Krug, Waldemar Quinones-Villanueva, Louie Napoleon, Lyonel Reneau and Joseph Torello as the muleteers. The cast also includes Sara Kase, Mathew Krob, Ben Schrager, members of BSC’s Musical Theatre Conservatory.
Man of La Mancha features fight choreography by Ryan Winkles, scenic design by James Kronzer, lighting design by Chris Lee costume design by Olivera Gajic, and sound design by Ed Chapman. The production stage manager is Renee Lutz.
Man of La Mancha (photo Kevin Sprague)
Performances of Man of La Mancha are Tuesday and Wednesday at 7pm, Thursday-Saturday at 8pm, Sunday at 5pm, Wednesday and Friday matinees at 2pm (excluding 6/10, 6/12). Press Opening: Sunday, June 14 at 5pm. Tickets start at $20. Low priced previews June 10-12 are $15/$20. Youth ages 6-18, tickets $15/$20 all performances (subject to availability). For ticket and performance information, call the BSC Box Office at (413) 236-8888 or visit Barrington Stage Company.
About Barrington Stage Company
Barrington Stage Company, a professional award-winning Equity regional theatre located in the heart of the Berkshires, in Pittsfield, MA, was co-founded in 1995 by Artistic Director Julianne Boyd. Barrington Stage’s mission is three-fold: to present top-notch, compelling work; to develop new plays and musicals; and to find fresh, bold ways to bringing new audiences into the theatre—especially young people. Barrington Stage garnered national attention in 2004 when it premiered William Finn and Rachel Sheinkin’s musical hit The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, which later transferred to Broadway, where it won two Tony Awards. In 2009/2010 Barrington Stage produced the world premiere of Mark St. Germain’s Freud’s Last Session, which later moved Off-Broadway and played for two years. St. Germain’s Becoming Dr. Ruth (which premiered at BSC as Dr. Ruth, All the Way in 2012) played Off-Broadway at the Westside Theatre in fall 2013. BSC’s all-time record-breaking musical, On the Town, originally presented in 2013, is currently on Broadway with BSC as a co-producer. Barrington Stage was voted “Best Live Theatre” by The Berkshire Eagle, was named “Best Theatre Company” in Metroland’s Best of the Capital Region, and Best Summer Theater in New England by Yankee Magazine.