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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

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
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

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

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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.

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