BRATTLEBORO — The Brattleboro Union High School Music Department presents the musical, Man of La Mancha, on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday, Feb. 15, 16, and 17, in the BUHS Auditorium.
Man of La Mancha, written by Dale Wasserman, with music by Mitch Leigh and lyrics by Joe Darion, tells the tale of failed playwright, poet, and tax collector Miguel de Cervantes.
While awaiting a hearing with the Spanish Inquisition, 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 his squire, Sancho Panza, Quixote attempts to avoid his mortal enemy, an evil magician called the Enchanter, and woo the serving wench and prostitute, Aldonza, whom he takes to be the lady Dulcinea.
The original 1965 Broadway production ran for 2,328 performances and won five Tony Awards, including Best Musical. Man of La Mancha has been revived four times on Broadway, becoming one of the most enduring works of musical theater.
The BUHS production is directed by Robert Kramsky with Stephen Rice and Anthony Speranza as co-musical directors, Mary Linney as the costumer, Melanie Zinn as the choreographer, and Michelle Page as the producer.
The production features Aiden Meyer as Miguel de Cervantes, Cassie Dunn as Sancho Panza, and Amelia Graff as Aldonza.
Also featured are the members of the ensemble; Malcolm Toleno, Henry O'Connell, Mycroft Stone, Sarah Gorden-Macey, Hazel Kinnersley, Izabel Estrin, Joslynn Wright, Samantha Mills, and Frida Rosner.
The show's orchestra is composed of BUHS students and local musicians; Payton Lawrence, Mya Petrie, Haley Kuralt, Jordan Roach, Rhys Glennon, Lilia Kocsis, Derrick Harnish, Elyse Wadsworth, Zola von Krusenstiern, Riley Goodemote, Ella Aquadro, Patty Meyer, Ari Essunfeld, and Sebastian Paquette.
Behind the scenes, many students are involved with creating costumes, running the sound board, and working as the backstage crew.
Crew members include Maia McNeill, Jenna Barry-Stoughton, Liam Kennedy, Gale Allen, Samantha Winter, Grellia Winter, Emilia Dick, Honnee McManus-Brock, Katherine Friesen, Katherine Taggard, Marielle Meyer, Marjorie Shriver, Olivia Howe, Pooja Meyer, and Zev Kazati-Morgan