TUTS Announces MAN OF LA MANCHA, 2/26-3/10

Theatre Under The Stars (TUTS) will produce five-time Tony Award winning masterpiece Man of La Mancha, running Feb. 26 – March 10 at the Hobby Center for The Performing Arts. Man of La Mancha is an epic story of swashbuckling imagination, romance and adventure. Set amid the Spanish Inquisition, the show follows knight-errant Don Quixote in his quest for "The Impossible Dream," along with his servant Sancho and the lovely Dulcinea, as he attempts to right all wrongs and win the heart of a good woman. Written by Dale Wasserman with music by Mitch Leigh and lyrics by Joe Darion, the show is hailed as one of the all-time great musicals of the American stage. The production features memorable songs such as "To Each His Dulcinea," "I Really Like Him," and "Man of La Mancha".

Directing the show is TUTS' newly minted Artistic Director Bruce Lumpkin. "Man of La Mancha is really a tale about hope, dreams, and imagination. It's a moving piece of theatre people will fall in love with," said Lumpkin. "My goal is to make this production as authentic and truthful to the storyline as possible. Ultimately, these creative choices will highlight the emotional and creative story arch of the characters and the reality they face."

In keeping with the authenticity of the story, Lumpkin is opting for a creative departure from other versions of the show. In respect to the production's setting – a jail in the basement of a church – all props and costumes used in the show will be items that might realistically be found inside the jail or items found in the main character's only possession: a trunk full of actor's improvisational props. Additionally, the cast and orchestra will never exit the stage for the duration of the show in continuity of the storyline that they are detained in a holding unit.

Man of La Mancha is inspired by Miguel de Cervantes' 17th-century masterpiece Don Quixote. Published in two volumes a decade apart, in 1605 and 1615, the book is considered the most influential work of literature from the Spanish Golden Age and the entire Spanish literary canon. As a founding work of modern Western literature and one of the earliest canonical novels, it regularly appears high on lists of the greatest works of fiction ever published.

The show's most well-known song is the rousing number "The Impossible Dream," which earned the Contemporary Classics Award from the Songwriter's Hall of Fame. The song has been recorded by hundreds of artists and has earned a spot in pop culture for its use by sports teams and politicians as well as in television shows and films.

To celebrate Man of La Mancha and provide an unforgettable musical theatre experience, TUTS will offer special events in conjunction with the show including special offers for children, dinner-and-a-show packages, post-show parties, and VIP experiences. Visit TUTS.com/Events for more information.

Tickets (starting at only $24) are available on-line at TUTS.com, by phone at (713) 558-TUTS (8887), outside the Houston area at (888) 558-3882, or in person at the Theatre Under The Stars Box Office, located at 800 Bagby at Walker, Monday - Friday 10 a.m. - 6 p.m., and Saturday - Sunday 11 a.m. - 4 p.m. An audio described performance is available Sunday, March 10 at 2 p.m.; open captioning is available Sunday, March 10 at 7:30 p.m. The Hobby Center is wheelchair accessible. Discounts are available for groups of 15 or more. Group tickets may be purchased by calling (713) 558-8888 or via email at groupsales@tuts.com.

More Articles by This Author...