Cygnet Theatre Presents MAN OF LA MANCHA Reading

Today's Cygnet Theatre's Concert Staged Reading of the Tony Award-winning musical MAN OF LA MANCHA, with book by Dale Wasserman, music by Mitch Leigh and lyrics by Joe Darion. The TWO NIGHT ONLY performance features an all-star cast headed by Artistic Director Sean Murray as the desperate novelist, Cervantes, and his beloved lead character - the mad and noble knight, Don Quixote. All proceeds will support Cygnet's 2011/2012 Season. The Benefit Concert Staged Reading will be presented today at Cygnet Theatre in Old Town. Both performances beginning at 7:00pm.

MAN OF LA MANCHA tells the story of Miguel de Cervantes, a failed author-actor-soldier and tax collector, who has been thrown into a dungeon and is awaiting trial by the Spanish Inquisition. His desperate attempt to save his novel from attacking fellow prisoners leads to a unique agreement. Cervantes is permitted to act out the story within the novel, and the prisoners will decide if the tale is worthy of saving. What follows is a play within a play of a delusional man who believes himself to be the noble knight, Don Quixote. Quixote's adventures and his quest for chivalry lead, not only the other characters of the play, but the prisoners themselves, to a renewed faith in courage, heroism and salvation.

Considered one of the most enduring works of musical theatre, MAN OF LA MANCHA opened on Broadway in 1965, ran for 2,323 performances and won five Tony Awards, including Best Musical. The principal song "The Impossible Dream" is now a classic of the stage. Recent Broadway revivals have headlined such stars as Raul Julia and Brian Stokes Mitchell as Cervantes/Quixote. The 1972 film of MAN OF LA MANCHA featured Peter O'Toole as Cervantes/Quixote (with singing dubbed by Simon Gilbert) and Sophia Loren as Aldonza.

Cygnet's Concert Staged reading will feature an all-star cast including Artistic Director Sean Murray (Sweeney Todd, A Little Night Music, My Fair Lady) as Cervantes/Quixote and Sandy Campbell (The Norman Conquests, Concert Staged Reading of On the 20th Century, A Little Night Music) as Aldonza. Other cast members include Kurt Norby (Sweeney Todd, Concert Staged Reading of On the 20th Century), Jim Chovick (Our Town, Cabaret, A Christmas Carol), Jacob Caltrider (Little Shop of Horrors, Cabaret, Sweeney Todd), and Ralph Johnson (Our Town). Billy Thompson will serve as Music Director and Artistic Director Sean Murray will direct.

Proceeds from the Benefit Concert Staged Reading of MAN OF LA MANCHA will support Cygnet Theatre's 2011/2012 Season. The two-night only event will be performed at Cygnet Theatre located at 4040 Twiggs Street in Old Town San Diego State Historic Park. Tickets to attend the September 27th performances are $30 each.

For more information visit Cygnet's website at www.cygnettheatre.com or call the box office at (619) 337-1525.

 

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