Man of La Mancha (Musical) Plot & Characters

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Overview

Synopsis

Man of La Mancha, based on Cervantes’ epic 17th-century novel, Don Quixote, is a remarkable, poignant, moving musical that was one of the first shows to musicalize a piece of historical literature. Set in the context of the Spanish Inquisition, Man of La Mancha is presented as a play-within-a-play. We encounter historical author Miguel de Cervantes in prison, awaiting trial by the Inquisition. When his fellow prisoners try to take Cervantes’ belongings from him, including his manuscript, Cervantes proposes a trial in which he proves the merit of the manuscript through a reenactment, enlisting his fellow prisoners as characters in his play. Together, they tell the story of the aged Alonso Quijana who believes himself to be a knight errant, names himself Don Quixote, and pursues an obsessive quest to attain an impossible dream. Against all odds, Quixote and his trusty squire Sancho Panza take to the road in a quest to chivalry, and seek out the good and innocent in a world filled with darkness and despair. Through the story, all the prisoners – at least for a moment – are transformed. The mad Don Quixote may think a windmill to be a giant and a tavern to be a castle, but along the way he also transforms a wretched woman into a beautiful lady – and proves that an old man’s belief can truly make him a knight. Man of La Mancha features such stirring songs as “Dulcinea” and the now-famous standard, “Quest” – more famously known as “The Impossible Dream.”

Show Information

Book: Dale Wasserman

Music: Mitch Leigh

Lyrics: Joe Darion

Based on the Play/Book/Film: Don Quixote by Miguel De Cervantes

Category: Musical

Age Guidance: Youth (Y)/General Audiences (G)

Number of Acts: 1

First Produced: 1965

Genres: Romance

Settings: Multiple Settings

Time & Place: the late 16th century, a prison in ceville, spain and various places in the imagination of miguel de cervantes

Cast Size: large

Orchestra Size: Large

Dancing: Some Dance

Licensor: Concord Theatricals

Ideal For: College/University, Community Theatre, Diverse Cast, Ensemble Cast, Large Cast, Professional Theatre, Regional Theatre, Star Vehicle Male, Mostly Male Cast, Includes Adult, Mature Adult, Late Teen, Young Adult Characters

Lead Characters

View all characters in Man of La Mancha

Context

Plot

Characters

Name	Part Size	Gender	Vocal Part
Miguel de Cervantes / Don Quixote / Alonso Quijana	Lead	Male	Baritone
Cervantes’ manservant / Sancho Panza	Lead	Male	Tenor
Aldonza (Dulcinea)	Lead	Female	Soprano
Antonia	Supporting	Female	Mezzo-Soprano
Padre	Supporting	Male	Tenor
Dr. Sanson Carrasco (The Knight of the Mirrors)	Supporting	Male	Baritone
Innkeeper	Supporting	Male	Bass
Fermina	Featured	Female
Maria	Featured	Female
Housekeeper	Featured	Female	Mezzo-Soprano
Barber	Featured	Male	Tenor
Captain of the Inquisition	Featured	Male
The Duke	Featured	Male	Spoken
Attendants to the Knights	Featured	Male	Silent
Jose	Featured	Male
Tenorio	Featured	Male
Paco	Featured	Male
Juan	Featured	Male
Anselmo	Featured	Male
Pedro	Featured	Male
Guitar Player	Featured	Male
Ensemble	Ensemble	Either or Both

Songs

*before song when it is a dance number, *before character name that only dances in a song that is sung by other characters

"Overture"
*"Man of La Mancha" – Don Quixote, Sancho
*"Food, Wine, Aldonza!" – Muleteers
*"It's All the Same" – Aldonza
"Dulcinea" – Don Quixote
"I'm Only Thinking of Him" – Antonia, Padre, Housekeeper
"We're Only Thinking of Him" – Antonia, Carasco, Padre, Housekeeper
"The Missive" – Sancho
"I Really Like Him" – Sancho
"What Does He Want of Me?" – Aldonza
"Little Bird, Little Bird" – Muleteers
"Barber's song" – Barber
*"Golden Helmet of Mambrino" – Don Quixote, Sancho & Barber
"To Each His Dulcinea" – Padre
"Quest: The Impossible Dream" – Don Quixote
*"The Combat (instrumental)" – orchestra
"The Dubbing" – Innkeeper, Aldonza & Sancho
"Knight of the Woeful Countenance" - Innkeeper
"Little Bird, Little Bird (reprise)" leading into an instrumental entitled...
*"The Abduction" – Muleteers
"The Impossible Dream (reprise)" – Don Quixote
"Man of La Mancha (reprise)" – Don Quixote
*"Moorish Dance (instrumental)" – Moors
"Aldonza" – Aldonza
"Knight of the Mirrors (choreographed instrumental sequence)" – orchestra
"A Little Gossip" – Sancho
"Dulcinea (reprise)" – Aldonza
"The Impossible Dream (reprise)" – Aldonza & Don Quixote
"Man of La Mancha (reprise)" – Don Quixote, Aldonza & Sancho
"The Psalm" – Padre
"Finale Ultimo: The Impossible Dream (reprise)" – Company

A song with an asterisk (*) before the title indicates a dance number; a character listed in a song with an asterisk (*) by the character's name indicates that the character exclusively serves as a dancer in this song, which is sung by other characters.

Monologues

All monologues are the property and copyright of their owners.. Monologues are presented on StageAgent for educational purposes only. If you would like to give a public performance of this monologue, please obtain authorization from the appropriate licensor.

Scenes

All scenes are the property and copyright of their owners. Scenes are presented on StageAgent for educational purposes only. If you would like to give a public performance of this scene, please obtain authorization from the appropriate licensor.