A Noise Within (ANW), the acclaimed classical repertory theatre presents critical and audience favorite Man of La Mancha by Dale Wasserman, music by Mitch Leigh and lyrics by Joe Darion, original production staged by Albert Marre, originally produced by Albert W. Selden and Hal James, and based on Cervantes' Don Quixote. ANW Artistic Director Julia Rodriguez-Elliott directs. La Mancha performs August 16 - September 9, 2018 (Press Opening August 18).
With sold-out houses, standing ovations, and extensions added, Man of La Mancha earned A Noise Within's 25th anniversary season a host of accolades and inspired renewed faith in the impossible dream. Chosen as a 2017 Critic's Choice by the LA Times, the production's previous stagings won rave reviews from critics whose praise include "a stunning, modernistic, most entertaining take...Run, don't walk to see this" (Broadway World); "Uplifting...one of the best shows in town" (Hollywood Progressive); "An extraordinary piece of theater that is beyond compare" (Tin Pan LA); "edgy, contemporary rethinking...stunningly staged and strikingly redesigned" (StageSceneLA); and "Daring...a crackling re-imagining" (South Pasadenan). "Though many often associate Man of La Mancha with elaborate set pieces and fanciful costumes," says Rodriguez Elliott, "Its earliest stagings were sparse, encompassing the spirit of a rag-tag band of prisoners putting on a play with found objects. The play celebrates the power of make believe, and I want to go back to those roots. This production is fueled by an almost childlike sense of 'play' - where an ordinary object can seamlessly become a horse simply because we endow it as such."Scenic Design by Fred Kinney, Costume Design by Angela Balogh Calin†, Lighting Design by Ken Booth, Music Direction by Dr. Melissa Sky-Eagle, Sound Design by Martín Carillo, Sound Engineer Christopher Bosco, Make-Up Design by Klint Flowers. Props Master is Erin Walley, Fight Choreographer is Kenneth R. Merckx, and Additional Casting is Amy Lieberman. †Designer is represented by United Scenic Artists Local USA-829 of the IATSE
About Wasserman, Leigh, and DarionDale Wasserman, born in 1914 in Wisconsin and after riding the rails as a hobo in his youth, wrote for theater, television and film for more than 50 years and is best known for the musical Man of La Mancha, a multiple Tony Award winner. He also wrote the stage play One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest, based on Ken Kesey's novel, which has won several Tony Awards. Both shows continue to be produced nationally and internationally with an estimated 300 productions a year. In 2008, Dale Wasserman passed away at age 94 at his home in Paradise Valley, Arizona. Mitch Leigh (born Irwin Michnick in 1928 - died 2014) was an American musical theatre composer and theatrical producer best known for the musical Man of La Mancha. He was the composer of several popular commercial jingles as well as the ill-fated musical Halloween. Joe Darion (1911-2004) wrote lyrics for several shows besides Man of La Mancha, including Shinbone Alley and Illya Darling, as well as some early 1950s pop hits. Symposium, Conversations, Pay What You Can The run of Man of La Mancha includes a Pay What You Can performance on Thursday, August 16 at 7:30 pm and a Post-Show Conversation on August 24, August 31, and September 7. LET ME IN - MAN OF LA MANCHA Man of La Mancha is the first show announced for ANW's 2018-19 Season, themed Let Me In. "All of our 2018-19 offerings feature characters who are outliers - people who have blazed their own trail but nevertheless struggle for acknowledgement and acceptance," says Geoff Elliott. "Let Me In isn't about a physical space, it's about the deeply human passion to be understood for who we are." ABOUT A NOISE WITHIN A Noise Within, which celebrated its 25th Anniversary in the 2016-17 Season, was called "an oasis for those who love classic stories" by The Los Angeles Times, and is a leading regional producer based in Pasadena, CA. ANW's award-winning resident company practices a rotating repertory model at their state-of-the-art, 283-seat performing space. This venue, established in 2011, has allowed ANW to expand its audience, surpassing its previous box office, subscription, and attendance records each year. In addition to producing world-class performances of classical theatre, the organization runs robust education programs committed to inspiring diverse audiences of all ages. Helmed by Producing Artistic Directors Geoff Elliott and Julia Rodriguez-Elliott, who hold MFAs from San Francisco's American Conservatory Theatre, A Noise Within truly delivers CLASSIC THEATRE, MODERN MAGIC. http://www.anoisewithin.org.Videos