Lesli Margherita Joins Davis Gaines in MTW's MAN OF LA MANCHA, Feb 10-26

Lesli Margherita, winner of London's Olivier Award for her performance in the West End production of ZORRO, will be joining Davis Gaines in Musical Theatre West's production of MAN OF LA MANCHA, which runs February 10 through February 26, 2012.

Margherita will be playing Aldonza opposite Gaines’ Quixote. In addition to the Oliver, Lesli just won an Ovation Award for her turn as Lilli Vanessi/Kate in KISS ME, KATE at Reprise! She was last seen on the Musical Theatre West stage in ANYTHING GOES.

Davis Gaines will play the role of Don Quixote (Cervantes). Mr. Gaines performed the title role in Andrew Lloyd Webber’s THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA more than 2,000 times for more than five million people during his run on Broadway, in Los Angeles and in San Francisco, where he received the Bay Area Critics’ Award for Best Actor. Mr. Gaines returns to MTW after his role as Richard Henry Lee in MTW’s 2010 production of 1776.

MAN OF LA MANCHA will be under the helm of Ovation Award-winning director Nick DeGruccio (MTW’s 1776, RENT and THE ANDREWS BROTHERS). Musical Director is Matthew Smedal and choreographer is Carlos Mendoza. MAN OF LA MANCHA will run February 10-26, 2012 at the beautiful Carpenter Performing Arts Center.

MAN OF LA MANCHA, one of the all-time great musicals by Mitch Leigh, Joe Darion and Dale Wasserman, opened on Broadway in 1965. This Tony Award Winner for Best Musical features one of Broadway’s great standards, “The Impossible Dream,” and takes place during the height of the Spanish Inquisition. While awaiting a hearing with the Inquisition, Miguel de Cervantes presents a play as his defense in a mock trial for the prisoners. In it, he plays Alonso Quijana, a man who has set his own reality aside and becomes Don Quixote De La Mancha. Assisted by Sancho Panza, Quixote attempts to avoid his mortal enemy, the Enchanter, and woo the serving wench and prostitute, Aldonza, who he takes to be the lady Dulcinea.

The performance schedule for MAN OF LA MANCHA is Thursdays and Fridays at 8 p.m., Saturdays at 2 p.m. and 8 p.m.(no 2p.m. on February 11), Sundays at 2 p.m., with a 7 p.m. performance added on February 19th. Tickets start at $20. There is a $3 service charge per ticket. Prices are subject to change without notice. Group rates are available for 15 or more. Musical Theatre West performs at the Carpenter Performing Arts Center located at 6200 E. Atherton Street, Long Beach, CA 90815.

Tickets for MAN OF LA MANCHA are on sale now and may be purchased online at www.musical.org or by phone at 562-856-1999 x4. Tickets may also be purchased in person at the Musical Theatre West Box Office located at 4350 E. 7th Street, Long Beach, CA 90804 from noon to 6 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday.

For more information on Musical Theatre West’s production of MAN OF LA MANCHA, please visit www.musical.org.