SAN DIEGO–Cygnet Theatre will present a concert staged reading of the Tony Award-winning musical Man of La Mancha.
The two-night only performance will feature an all-star cast headed by Artistic Director Sean Murray as the desperate novelist, Cervantes, and his beloved lead character – the mad and noble knight, Don Quixote. All proceeds will support Cygnet’s 2011/2012 Season. The Benefit Concert Staged Reading will be presented on Monday, September 26, and Tuesday, September 27 at Cygnet Theatre in Old Town. Both performances begin at 7 pm.
Man of La Mancha tells the story of Miguel de Cervantes, a failed author-actor-soldier and tax collector, who has been thrown into a dungeon and is awaiting trial by the Spanish Inquisition. His desperate attempt to save his novel from attacking fellow prisoners leads to a unique agreement. Cervantes is permitted to act out the story within the novel, and the prisoners will decide if the tale is worthy of saving. What follows is a play within a play of a delusional man who believes himself to be the noble knight, Don Quixote. Quixote’s adventures and his quest for chivalry lead, not only the other characters of the play, but the prisoners themselves, to a renewed faith in courage, heroism and salvation.
Cygnet’s Concert Staged reading will feature an all-star cast including Artistic Director Sean Murray (Sweeney Todd, A Little Night Music, My Fair Lady) as Cervantes/Quixote and Sandy Campbell (The Norman Conquests, Concert Staged Reading of On the 20th Century, A Little Night Music) as Aldonza. Other cast members include Kurt Norby (Sweeney Todd, Concert Staged Reading of On the 20th Century), Jim Chovick (Our Town, Cabaret, A Christmas Carol), Jacob Caltrider (Little Shop of Horrors, Cabaret, Sweeney Todd), and Ralph Johnson (Our Town). Billy Thompson will serve as Music Director and Artistic Director Sean Murray will direct.
Cygnet Theatre is located at 4040 Twiggs Street in Old Town San Diego State Historic Park. Tickets for the September 26 and 27 performances are $30 each.
For more information visit Cygnet’s website at www.cygnettheatre.com, or call the box office at (619) 337-1525 .
