Westport Country Playhouse Presents Spanish Open-Caption Performance Of MAN OF LA MANCHA

Westport Country Playhouse will present an open-caption performance in Spanish of the Tony Award-winning musical "Man of La Mancha," on Saturday, October 13, at 3 p.m. This is the first time in the Playhouse's history that an open-caption performance in a language other than English will be offered. An open-caption screen with the Spanish translation in real time will be located at the side of the stage and visible by all members of the audience.

"'Man of La Mancha' is based on the greatest work of Spanish language literature, and our production features a majority Latinx cast and creative team," said Michael Barker, Playhouse managing director. "This performance provides a unique way for the Playhouse to welcome the many Fairfield County residents who are Spanish speakers."

Special thanks to Lucinda Knuth for underwriting the Spanish language open-caption performance.

"Man of La Mancha," the story of Don Quixote's quest for "The Impossible Dream," will run from September 25 through October 14, directed by Mark Lamos, Playhouse artistic director. Quixote and his squire Sancho Panza set out on an imaginative journey to restore the age of chivalry, to battle evil, and to right all wrongs. Their adventure leads them to Aldonza, a prostitute, to whom Quixote is the first to show respect as his lady "Dulcinea." The 1965 Broadway treasure is the winner of five Tony Awards, including Best Musical, with an enchanting score most famous for Quixote's credo, "The Impossible Dream."

Cast members are Philip Hernandez as Cervantes/Don Quixote (only actor in Broadway history to play both Jean Valjean and Inspector Javert in "Les Misérables"; original Broadway casts of "Kiss of the Spider Woman" and Paul Simon's "The Capeman"); Gisela Adisa as Aldonza/Dulcinea (Broadway's "Beautiful," First National Tour of "Sister Act," regional theater's "Lights Out: Nat King Cole" - 2018 Barrymore Award nomination); and Tony Manna as Sancho Panza (Off-Broadway's "These Paper Bullets," "Timon of Athens," "The Hasty Heart"; Netflix' "Maniac").

Also, Ceasar F. Barajas as Pedro (regional theater's "Man of La Mancha" as Pedro---Helen Hayes Award nominee, "In The Heights"); Carlos Encinias as Padre (Broadway's "Mamma Mia," "Good Vibrations," "Les Misérables"; Off-Broadway's "Altar Boyz"); Michael Scott Gomez as Paco/Guard/Horse (regionals theater's "La Cage aux Folles," "Mary Poppins," "Gypsy," "A Chorus Line"); Paola Hernandez as Antonia (National Tour of "Rent"; regional theater's "Spring Awakening," "Legally Blonde," "Hairspray"); Michael Mendez as Innkeeper/Tenorio (Broadway's "Chaplin"; New York City Center Encores'! "Hey Look My Over!"); Ian Paget as Captain/Anselmo (Broadway's "Mamma Mia"; West End's "West Side Story"---Olivier Award nomination); Lulu Picart as Maria/Housekeeper (First National Tour of "Rodgers & Hammerstein's Cinderella"; Off-Broadway's "Disenchanted"---Lortel nomination); Jermaine Rowe as Juan/Guard/Horse (Broadway's "The Lion King," "Fela!"; Dance Theatre of Harlem, National Dance Theatre Company of Jamaica); David Sattler as Governor (European Tour of "Grease"; regional theater's "Kiss Me Kate" "Evita," "Chicago," "Carousel"); Clay Singer as Duke/Carrasco (Westport Country Playhouse's "Romeo and Juliet"; Off-Broadway's "Single Rider"); and Esteban Suero as Barber/José ("Big Fish" as Will Bloom, "Evita" as Che, "Rent" as Angel; National Tour of "Rockin' Road to Dublin").

The creative staff includes Andrew David Sotomayor, music director; Wayne Barker, music supervisor; Marcos Santana, musical staging and choreography; Wilson Chin, scenic design; Fabian Fidel Aguilar, costume design; Alan C. Edwards, lighting design; Domonic Sack, sound design; and Michael Rossmy, fight director/intimacy coach.

"Man of La Mancha" received special funding by Maureen and Edwin Schloss. Production Sponsors are Barbara and John Samuelson, and Barbara and John Streicker. Production Partners are Carol and Peter Seldin. Corporate Production Sponsor is Bank of America. Corporate Production Partner is Cohen and Wolf. Educations Sponsors are The Graham Foundation of Connecticut, and The David and Geri Epstein Private Foundation.

Performance schedule is Tuesday at 7 p.m., Wednesday at 2 and 8 p.m., Thursday and Friday at 8 p.m., Saturday at 3 and 8 p.m. and Sunday at 3 p.m. Special series feature Taste of Tuesday (September 25), LGBT Night OUT (September 27), Opening Night (September 29), Sunday Symposium (September 30), Together at the Table Family Dinner (October 2), Sitter Sunday, sponsored by the Westport/Weston YMCA (October 7), Open Captions in English (October 7), Backstage Pass (October 10), Playhouse Happy Hour (October 11), Thursday TalkBack (October 11), and Open Captions in Spanish (October 13).

Single tickets start at $30; buy early for best prices.

Upcoming productions at Westport Country Playhouse include the world-premiere drama, "Thousand Pines," October 30 - November 17, written by Matthew Greene and directed by Austin Pendleton, from WCP's New Works Circle Initiative, a story of common humanity as families struggle with grief, healing, and forgiveness in the wake of a shooting at Thousand Pines Junior High School; and "The Pianist of Willesden Lane," December 5 - 22, directed by Hershey Felder, a musical memoir starring Mona Golabek, about a young Jewish piano prodigy who escapes the Holocaust via Kindertransport to England. All play titles, artists, and dates are subject to change.

For more information and to buy tickets, visit www.westportplayhouse.org, or call the box office at (203) 227-4177, toll-free at 1-888-927-7529, or visit Westport Country Playhouse, 25 Powers Court, off Route 1, Westport. Stay connected to the Playhouse on Facebook (Westport Country Playhouse), follow on Twitter (@WCPlayhouse), and on YouTube (WestportPlayhouse).

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