‘Man of La Mancha’ coming a year late
It’s the classic opening from the classic song from Broadway’s classic musical “Man of La Mancha.” And it has been in the thoughts and dreams — really — of everyone in Middlesex Community College’s Theater Department for a year now, ever since the pandemic halted its “La Mancha” production in April 2020.
“The Impossible Dream” includes the memorable refrain “no matter how hopeless, no matter how far.” And the MCC thespians will belt it out with gusto, no doubt, as they finally realize their impossible dream and get to do the show in a virtual format Friday and Saturday, May 7- 8, at 7 p.m., and Sunday, May 9, at 2 p.m.
“A full year later, with incredible perseverance and a determination that the show must go on, director and chair of performing arts, Karen Oster, reworked the creative vision of ‘Man of La Mancha,’” notes the press release. “The cast and crew members of ‘Man of La Mancha’ are not only talented, but unmatched in their dedication. It is with great love we are proud to finally present this show to you virtually.”
“Man of La Mancha” premiered on Broadway in 1965, with a book by Dale Wasserman, music by Mitch Leigh, and lyrics by Joe Darion. It is adapted from Wasserman’s nonmusical
1959 teleplay “I, Don Quixote,” which was, in turn, inspired by Miguel de Cervantes and his 17 th-century novel “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.
A poignant and moving show, it was one of the first to musicalize a piece of historical literature.
To register for tickets and for more information, visit www.middlesex.mass.edu/performingarts.
In the wings
: HUNTINGTON GOES
LIVE: Boston’s Huntington Theatre Company last week announced the return to live, in-person performances after what will be 18 months “in the dark” due to the global pandemic.
The 7-play season begins on Aug. 27 and takes place primarily at the Wimberly Theatre in the Calderwood Pavilion at the Boston Center for the Arts, Tremont Street, in the South End, while its larger Huntington Theatre undergoes a major renovation.
One production takes place at the Emerson Cutler Majestic Theatre. For the safety of patrons, artists and staff, the Huntington has upgraded the air-filtration system,
modified the Calderwood’s ventilation and invested in sanitization equipment to ensure regular, thorough cleaning. The Huntington will also offer a digital recording option of all productions for ticket holders not ready or able to return to live, in-person performances.
The lineup includes the Boston premiere of “Hurricane Diane,” a comedy by Madeleine George, Aug. 27-Sept. 26; the Boston premiere of “Witch,” a funny new play by Jen Silverman, Oct. 15-Nov. 14; the Boston premiere of “Teenage Dick,” a darkly funny, modern-day spin on “Richard III” by Mike Lew, Dec. 3-Jan. 2; “The Bluest Eye,” a theatrical adaptation by Lydia R. Diamond of acclaimed author Toni Morrison’s debut novel, Jan. 28-Feb. 27; “What the Constitution Means to Me,” by Pulitzer Prize finalist Heidi Schreck, Feb. 22-March 20 at Emerson Cutler Majestic; the world premiere of “Our Daughters, Like Pillars” by Kristen Greenidge, April 8-May 8, 2022; and the world premiere of “Common Ground Revisited,” conceived by Melia Bensussen and Kirsten Greenidge and adapted by Greenidge, May 27June 26, 2022. Season tickets to The Huntington’s 2021-2022 season are now on sale. The Huntington has made major changes to its season-ticket packages this year, to simplify and streamline the available options and make subscribing easier and more accessible to all. Sevenplay and three-play packages and other options, including extended payment plans, are available. Call 617-266- 0800 or visit www.huntingtontheatre.org/seasontickets.
: ‘RENT’ OPEN AIR: Firehouse Center for the Arts brings Jonathan Larson’s ground-breaking musical “Rent” to outdoor audiences at the Spencer-Peirce-Little Farm in Newbury in May. Based on the opera “La Boheme,” the musical follows a year in the lives of a group of impoverished young artists and musicians struggling to survive and create in New York.
It’s on May 14-23 and kicks off the Firehouse’s Summer Outdoor Series. Visit www.firehouse.org/ event/rent-live-at-thefarm/all/ for tickets and info.