Man of La Mancha, Westport Country Playhouse, Westport, CT, USA

Every year, the Westport Country Playhouse in Westport, Connecticut presents one musical, and for the 2018 season, their big production of the Tony-award winning musical, Man of La Mancha written by Dale Wasserman, with music by Mitch Leigh, lyrics by Joe Darion, and directed by Mark Lamos, was a triumph of a masterpiece, over-the-top wonderful! Starring Philip Hernandez as Cervantes/Don Quixote and a brilliant cast of 14, If you only go to see one play this year, this is the one to see! Man of La Mancha runs until October 14, 2018 at the Westport Country Playhouse.

Philip Hernandez (Cervantes / Don Quixote)
Man of La Mancha

Throughout the years, we have seen many plays directed by Mark Lamos at the Westport Country Playhouse whose genius as a director has been a constant no matter the genre, be it comedy, drama, or a musical. With his 2018 production of Man of La Mancha, Mark Lamos has outdone himself. We saw the play on opening night on Saturday, September 29, 2018, and it shined brightly from the opening line to the close with memorable moments of acting and songs by the inspired dream of a cast. It was a night of theatre magic, one which would do playwright Dale Wasserman proud.

Set in a prison in the city of Seville, Spain, the set design by Wilson Chin was fabulous, the costume design by Fabien Fidel Aguilar was sumptuous, the orchestra was wonderful, and the performance flowed seamlessly.

Westport Country Playhouse - Man of La Mancha - Gisela Adisa - photo by C. Rosegg

Gisela Adisa (Aldonza / Dulcinea)
Man of La Mancha

The 14 actors were extremely well cast with memorable performances given by all, however there were a few exceptional performances that deserve noting including that by Philip Hernandez who delivered an amazing performance in his role of Cervantes / Don Quixote using his extensive Broadway experience to give the role deep humanity, one who sees the world not as it is, but as it should be, he is the quintessential dreamer who dares to dream "the impossible dream."

Westport Country Playhouse - Man of La Mancha - Lulu Picart, Carlos Encinias, Paola Hernandez - photo by C. Rosegg

Lulu Picart (Maria), Carlos Encinias (Padre),
Paola Hernandez (Antonia)
Man of La Mancha

A few of the other notable performances included that by Gisela Adisa who excelled in her roleof Aldonza / Dulcinea where her powerful and lovely voice enriched her performance as the sassy, sultry, and sardonic Aldonza the scullery maid, who becomes the lovely Dulcinea in the imagination of Don Quixote. Tony Manna in the role of Sancho Panza / Prisoner, Cervantes‘ loyal squire and friend had the audience rolling in the aisles with his perfect delivery of his humorous lines. Westport, Connecticut native, Clay Singer, (whom we had previously seen in the 2017 performance of Romeo and Juliet) shined in his role as the Duke / Carrasco / Prisoner, Paola Hernandez was outstanding in her role of Cervantes’ niece, Antonia / Prisoner,and Lulu Picart delivered the goods in her roles of Maria / Housekeeper / Prisoner and played guitar onstage.

Westport Country Playhouse - Man of La Mancha - Gisela Adisa, Tony Manna - photo by C. Rosegg

Gisela Adisa (Aldonza / Delcinea), Tony Manna (Sancho Panza)
Man of La Mancha

From the play’s opening to the company finale, it was a starry night of theatre at its very best, one that deserved, and received, a standing ovation and shouts of bravo! Well done and hats off to Mark Lamos, to the talented cast and the musicians, and to the creative team on bringing the best of the best to the Westport Country Playhouse.

Westport Country Playhouse - Man of La Mancha - Philip Hernandez - photo by C. Rosegg

Philip Hernandez (Don Quixote)
Man of La Mancha

Until next time, keep supporting the arts!

Approximate Run Time: Act 1: 65 minutes, Act 2: 45 minutes

Watch the teaser trailer: Man of La Mancha

Westport Country Playhouse - Man of La Mancha - Tony Manna, Philip Hernandez, Gisela Adisa - photo by C. Rosegg

Tony Manna (Sancho Panza), Philip Hernandez (Dan Quixote)
Gisela Adisa (Dulcinea)
Man of La Mancha

Man of La Mancha Cast:

Gisela Adisa	Aldonza/Delcinea
Ceasar F. Barajas	Pedro/Prisoner/As Cast
Carlos Encinias	Padre/Prisoner/As Cast
Michael Scott Gomez	Paco/Guard/Horse/Prisoner/As Cast
Philip Hernandez	Cervantes/Don Quixote
Paola Hernandez	Antonia/Prisoner/As Cast
Tony Manna	Sancho Panza/Prisoner/As Cast
Michael Mendez	Innkeeper/Tenorio/Prisoner/As Cast
Ian Paget	Captain/Anselmo/Prisoner/As Cast
Lulu Picart	Maria/Housekeeper/Prisoner/On Stage Guitar Player/As Cast
Jermaine Rowe	Guard/Horse/Prisoner/As Cast
David Sattler	Governor/Prisoner/As Cast
Clay Singer	Duke/Carrasco/Prisoner/As Cast
Esteban Suero	Barber/Jose/Prisoner/As Cast

The Musicians:

Ben Clymer	Trombone
Nicholas DiFabbio	Guitar
Daniel Louis Duncan	Trumpet
Simon Hutchings	Reeds
Joseph Russo	String Bass
Marshall Sealey	French Horn
Arei Sekiguchi	Percussion

The Creative Team:

Dale Wasserman	Book
Mitch Leigh	Music
Joe Darion	Lyrics
Mark Lamos	Director/Artistic Director
Wilson Chin	Set Design
Fabian Fidel Aguilar	Costume Design
Alan Edwards	Lighting Design
Domonic Sack	Sound Designer
Marcos Santana	Choreographer
Michael Rossmy	Fight Director/Intimacy Coach
Andrew David Sotomayor	Music Director
Wayne Barker	Music Supervisor
Samantha Shoffner	Props Supervisor
Tara Rubin Casting	Casting
Ryan Gohsman	Production Stage Manager
Michelle Lauren Tuite	Assistant Stag Manager
Michael Barker	Managing Director

Man of La Mancha performance schedule is Tuesday at 7:00 pm, Wednesday at 2:00 pm and 8:00 pm, Thursday and Friday at 8:00 pm, Saturday at 3:00 pm and 8:00 pm, and Sunday at 3:00 pm. Special series feature Taste of Tuesday, LGBT Night OUT, Opening Night, Sunday Symposium, Open Captions, Thursday Talk Back,Together at the Table Family Dinner, Playhouse Happy Hour, and Backstage Pass.

For information on the play or to purchase tickets, please call the box office at +1-203-227-4177 or call the toll-free number at 1-888-927-7529 or visit them on the website at www.WestportPlayhouse.org.

The Westport Country Playhouse Box Office is open during Performance Days Tuesday through Friday from 12:00 pm until 8:30 pm, Saturday from 11:00 am until 8:30 pm, Sunday from 11:00 am until 3:30 pm, and is closed on Monday. Non-Performance Days, the Box Office is open Tuesday through Friday from 12:00 pm until 6:00 pm and is closed on Monday.

The Westport Country Playhouse named as "Theatre Company of the Year" in December 2013 by The Wall Street Journal, opened in the 1930s in a transformed 1835 cow barn, which has, and continues to attract, a "who’s who" of prominent actors. Looking at the framed posters of past shows that line the lobby walls was like entering an encyclopedia of the arts. A few of the many renowned actors who have appeared on the stage there include Ethyl Barrymore, Dorothy and Lillian Gish, Tallulah Bankhead, Gloria Swanson, Don Ameche, Hume Cronin and Jessica Tandy, Jane Fonda, Danny Aiello, Blythe Danner, Jill Clayburgh, Richard Dreyfus, Whoopi Goldberg, Liza Minnelli, Bernadette Peters, Lynn Redgrave, Gene Wilder, and Westport residents Joanne Woodward and Paul Newman.

"Westport Country Playhouse, a not-for-profit theater, serves as acultural nexus for patrons, artists and students and is a treasured resource for the State of Connecticut. There are no boundaries to the creative thinking for future seasons or the kinds of audiences and excitement for theater that Westport Country Playhouse can build."

For information on upcoming events and other performances, please visit the website: www.WestportPlayhouse.org.

Upcoming Performances – 2018

Plays 2018 Season	Dates Running

Man Of La Mancha	September 25 – October 13, 2018
Thousand Pines	October 30 – November 17, 2018
The Pianist of Willesden Lane	December 5 – 22, 2018

Upcoming Performances – 2019

Plays 2019 Season	Dates Running

Skeleton Crew	June 4-22, 2019
Hershey Felder as Irving Berlin	July 16-August 3, 2019
Mlima’s Tale	October 1 – 19, 2019
Don Juan	November 5 – 23, 2019