A Veritable Classic!

The 5th Avenue open their 2016/17 season in style with the Man of La Mancha, which hasn't graced their stage for two decades. Written by Dale Wasserman, this buoyant musical is inspired by Don Quixote, Cervantes' classic tale of the noble knight and his squire Sancho Panza, who travel the land righting wrongs and seeking adventure. The score, written by Mitch Leigh and Joe Darion, includes the stirring 'The Impossible Dream', which has been covered by everyone from Frank Sinatra to Roberta Flack.

Man of La Mancha's original Broadway production debuted in 1965 and won five Tony Awards, including Best Musical. This 5th Avenue production is directed by Allison Narver

What is Man Of La Mancha About?

Written as a play within a play, Man of La Mancha begins with Miguel de Cervantes thrown into jail by the Spanish Inquisition. His fellow prisoners are eager to unburden him of all his possessions, and set up a mock trial - if Cervantes is found 'guilty', he will hand over all his worldly goods. For his defense, Cervantes offers up a story, that of the noble but foolish knight Don Quixote and his down-to-earth manservant Sancho Panza.

Don Quixote finds his head turned by tales of medieval fantasy, where noble knights battle giants and save damsels in distress. He decides to resurrect this chivalrous era, with the help of his sidekick, the dry-witted farmer Sancho Panza. The wonder of Quixote's imagination gets them both into many scrapes and misadventures.