Asolo Repertory Theatre's production of Man of La Mancha, the 1966 Tony winner for Best Musical, began previews May 10. Directed by Peter Rothstein with choreography by Cat Brindisi, the limited engagement will officially open May 13 in the Mertz Theatre, located in the FSU Center for the Performing Arts.
The cast is led by Mauricio Martínez (On Your Feet!) as Miguel de Cervantes/Don Quixote, Aaron De Jesus (Jersey Boys) as Sancho, and Janely Rodriguez as Aldonza with Reese Britts as Anselmo/The Barber, Sydney Chow as Antonia/Fermina, Javier Ignacio as Pedro, C. Mingo Long as The Governor/The Innkeeper, Brian Kim McCormick as Paco/The Padre, Cathy Newman as Maria/The Housekeeper, Rodolfo Nieto as The Duke/Jose/Dr. Carrasco, Edward Staudenmayer as The Captain/Tenorio, Peter S. Raimondo as The Custodian/Juan, Sydney Story as Summoned Person, and Jerald Wheat as The Guard.
The understudies are Bevin Bell-Hall, Christian Douglass, Pedro Ka’Awaloa, Celena Vera Morgan, and Robert Quiles.
Check out photos from the production below:
Man of La Mancha, which features music by Mitch Leigh, lyrics by Joe Darion, and a book by Dale Wasserman, immerses audiences in Miguel de Cervantes’ retelling of Don Quixote and his quest.
“Man of La Mancha is a celebration of the transformative power of storytelling and the transformative power of theatre,” said director Rothstein in an earlier statement. “The central character Miguel de Cervantes brings hope to a group of people who are hopeless and elevates them from a place of deep despair to a place of radical optimism. I hope our production pays homage to the lasting potency of Cervantes' epic novel and inspires us all ‘to see life not as it is but as it ought to be.’”
The creative team also includes scenic designer Michael Hoover, costume designer Fabian Fidel Aguilar, lighting designer Marcus Dilliard, sound designer Justin Stasiw, projection designer Greg Emetaz, music director and additional arranger Jenny Kim-Godfrey, hair/wig and makeup designer Michelle Hart, and puppet designer Frank J. Paul.
Performances continue in Sarasota, Florida, through June 11.
Visit AsoloRep.org.