My Shows
News on your favorite shows, specials & more!

Manatee Players' MAN OF LA MANCHA Opens Tonight

By:

Get ready to dream the impossible dream in the Manatee Players' production of the Tony award-winning musical MAN OF LA MANCHA opening at the Manatee Performing Arts Center tonight, March 20 and playing through Sunday April 6.

Performances are Tuesday - Thursday at 7:30 p.m., Friday and Saturday at 8 p.m. and Sunday at 2 p.m. Tickets range from $27-$37 including facility fee for adults, $15-$18 including facility fee for teachers and $13-$16 including facility fee for students. Tickets may be reserved by calling 941-748-5875 Monday - Friday from 9-5 and one hour before curtain on performance days or on the Manatee Players' website: www.manateeplayers.com. All performances are at the Manatee Performing Arts Center at 502 3rd Avenue West in downtown Bradenton.

MAN OF LA MANCHA is a musical with a book by Dale Wasserman, lyrics by Joe Darion and music by Mitch Leigh. It is adapted from Wasserman's non- musical 1959 teleplay I, DON QUIXOTE, which was in turn inspired by Miguel de Cervantes's seventeenth century masterpiece "Don Quixote". It tells the story of the "mad" knight, Don Quixote, as a play within a play, performed by Cervantes and his fellow prisoners as he awaits a hearing with the Spanish Inquisition. The beloved score includes 'The Impossible Dream', 'Dulcinea', 'I Really Like Him' and 'Man of La Mancha (I, Don Quixote)'.

The role of 'Don Quixote' is being brought to life by Robert Austin with his man servant 'Sancho' being played by Stephen F. Pustai II. The role of 'Aldonza' is played by Eve Caballero. Rounding out the cast is Rod Rawlings, Charles Craig, Michelle Anaya, Janet Davies, Leah Denton, Betty Robinson, Heath Jorgenson, Philip Alexander, Adam Baker, Peter Apolos, Timothy Polk, Mitcheal Pearl, Rich Pullen, Sarah Baeder and Nancy Brining.

The show is being directed by Bob Trisolini with Phyllis Gessler as musical director.

Theater Fans' Choice Awards
2026 Theater Fans' Choice Awards - Live Stats
Best Lead Performer in a Musical - Top 3
1. LJ Benet - The Lost Boys, A New Musical
15.8% of votes
2. Joshua Henry - Ragtime
15.4% of votes
3. Nicholas Christopher - Chess
8.9% of votes

Need more Tampa Theatre News in your life?
Sign up for all the news on the Spring season, discounts & more...

Local Shows
The Cross & The Saber in Tampa The Cross & The Saber
Lab Theater Project Inc. (7/02-7/19)
Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street to Open at Richey Suncoast Theatre  in Tampa Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street to Open at Richey Suncoast Theatre
Richey Suncoast Theatre (6/05-6/14)
Rush at Hard Rock Live in Tampa Rush at Hard Rock Live
Hard Rock Live (11/05-11/06)
Jonathan Van Ness: Hot & Healed Comedy Tour 2026 in Tampa Jonathan Van Ness: Hot & Healed Comedy Tour 2026
Seminole Hard Rock Tampa Event Center (11/19-11/19)
Clean Comedy Powerhouse Rahn Hortman Brings "Good Game" to New Port Richey’s Richey Suncoast Theatre in Tampa Clean Comedy Powerhouse Rahn Hortman Brings "Good Game" to New Port Richey’s Richey Suncoast Theatre
Richey Suncoast Theatre (6/26-6/26)
The Queen of Bingo On 27 May to 14 Jun 2026 in Tampa The Queen of Bingo On 27 May to 14 Jun 2026
Florida Repertory Theatre (5/27-6/14)
Young Performers to Roar onto the Stage at Richey Suncoast Theatre's "The Lion King" Summer Camp  in Tampa Young Performers to Roar onto the Stage at Richey Suncoast Theatre's "The Lion King" Summer Camp
Richey Suncoast Theatre (7/06-7/10)
RENT in Tampa RENT
Carrollwood Players Theatre (6/05-6/27)
O.A.R. at St Augustine Amphitheatre in Tampa O.A.R. at St Augustine Amphitheatre
St Augustine Amphitheatre (11/14-11/14)
The 10th Annual Tampa International Fringe Festival in Tampa The 10th Annual Tampa International Fringe Festival
The Fringe Theatre/The Commodore (6/10-6/21)


Videos