Monty Python had it wrong - somebody does expect the Spanish Inquisition, namely audiences for Man of La Mancha. And those who come to The Human Race Theatre Company's production at The Loft will find themselves in the same dungeon as those awaiting their fate before the inquisitors.
Designer David A. Centers and Technical Director Scott Kimmins and crew have turned the entire Loft into the prison where
Miguel de Cervantes is put on mock trial by fellow inmates. In his defense, Cervantes tells them the stirring tales of Don Quixote de La Mancha, tales that became the second best-selling book of all time. Theatregoers will be spared gruel, bedbugs, the prospect of burning at the stake or any other actual participation, but, says director Scott Stoney, "We want them to feel part of the group as Cervantes tells his story to the prisoners, to get them feeling connected with the residents of the dungeon."
Turning The Loft into a dungeon wasn't easy - it even involved knocking out part of a wall - but it does bring Man of La Mancha back to its roots. The acclaimed musical, written by
Dale Wasserman, with lyrics by
Joe Darion and music by
Mitch Leigh, began it's path to five Tony Awards with a limited set that allows audiences to follow along as Cervantes' tale expands, in the process turning the narrow confines of the dungeon into the vastness of all Spain.
The Human Race production not only doesn't spare walls, it doesn't spare cast, either. The 18 members of the ensemble represent the largest cast in The Loft in at least a decade.
The group is headed by Human Race Executive Director Kevin Moore as Cervantes and Don Quixote, in only his second return to the stage this millennium (Big River was the other). David C. Maxwell portrays the faithful Sancho Panza, and Aldonza/Dulcinea will be played by former area resident
Melissa D'Amico. Other visiting artists include
Kristoffer Lowe as The Padre and David Tillistrand as the The Innkeeper.
Many members of the cast are local favorites, including Jamie Cordes, Renee Franck-Reed, Mike Kennedy, Jake Lockwood, J.J. Tiemeyer and
Aaron Vega. Two other members of The Human Race cast of Shenandoah return - Jerome Doerger and
Eric Ulloa. Katherine De Boer,
Jason Roberts, Matthew Natale Rush,
Joseph Spieldenner and Liz Wheeler round out the cast.
The wondrous music of La Mancha, from the lightness of I Really Like Him to the gentle beauty of Dulcinea to the majesty of The Impossible Dream, will be directed by
Scot Woolley. Woolley and his four-man orchestra will be hidden backstage, watching the action on a monitor.
Heather Jackson is Production Stage Manager for La Mancha, John Rensel the Lighting Designer, Laine June Marr the Costume Coordinator, Nathan D. Dean the Sound Designer and Peter Fitzkee the Fight Director.
The Human Race will present a preview of Man of La Mancha October 29, with official opening night October 30 and performances through November 15. Tickets are available via
www.humanracetheatre.org or by calling Ticket Center Stage at (937) 228-3630 or toll-free (888) 228-3630.
Production sponsors are The Muse Machine, DP&L Foundation, Tim & Char Scroggins, Emerson Climate Technologies, Unibilt Industries, The Roberts Foundation, App Architecture, Taft, Stettinius and Hollister LLP and Clarksville Stave & Lumber Company.
Photos by Scott J. Kimmins
