Manatee Players' MAN OF LA MANCHA Opens Tonight

Get ready to dream the impossible dream in the Manatee Players' production of the Tony award-winning musical MAN OF LA MANCHA opening at the Manatee Performing Arts Center tonight, March 20 and playing through Sunday April 6.

Performances are Tuesday - Thursday at 7:30 p.m., Friday and Saturday at 8 p.m. and Sunday at 2 p.m. Tickets range from $27-$37 including facility fee for adults, $15-$18 including facility fee for teachers and $13-$16 including facility fee for students. Tickets may be reserved by calling 941-748-5875 Monday - Friday from 9-5 and one hour before curtain on performance days or on the Manatee Players' website: www.manateeplayers.com. All performances are at the Manatee Performing Arts Center at 502 3rd Avenue West in downtown Bradenton.

MAN OF LA MANCHA is a musical with a book by Dale Wasserman, lyrics by Joe Darion and music by Mitch Leigh. It is adapted from Wasserman's non- musical 1959 teleplay I, DON QUIXOTE, which was in turn inspired by Miguel de Cervantes's seventeenth century masterpiece "Don Quixote". It tells the story of the "mad" knight, Don Quixote, as a play within a play, performed by Cervantes and his fellow prisoners as he awaits a hearing with the Spanish Inquisition. The beloved score includes 'The Impossible Dream', 'Dulcinea', 'I Really Like Him' and 'Man of La Mancha (I, Don Quixote)'.

The role of 'Don Quixote' is being brought to life by Robert Austin with his man servant 'Sancho' being played by Stephen F. Pustai II. The role of 'Aldonza' is played by Eve Caballero. Rounding out the cast is Rod Rawlings, Charles Craig, Michelle Anaya, Janet Davies, Leah Denton, Betty Robinson, Heath Jorgenson, Philip Alexander, Adam Baker, Peter Apolos, Timothy Polk, Mitcheal Pearl, Rich Pullen, Sarah Baeder and Nancy Brining.

The show is being directed by Bob Trisolini with Phyllis Gessler as musical director.