Man Of La Mancha – BROADWAY CAST*****

Overture/Man Of La Mancha/Its All The Same/I’m Only Thinking Of Him/I Really Like Him/What Do You Want Of Me/The Barber’s Song-Golden Helmet/To Each His Dulcinea/The Impossible Dream/Little Bird Little Bird/The Dubbing/The Abduction/Aldonza/A Little Gossip/Finale

The Broadway musical Man Of La Mancha starred Richard Kiley and Joan Diener. It opened at the Greenwich Village Washington Square Theatre in November 1965 and ran for 2328 performances. Based on the Cervantes classic story of the Spanish knight Don Quixote. Music by Mitch Leigh. Lyrics by Joe Darion. (US:31)

"The score, with music by Mitch Leigh and lyrics by Joe Darion, was revolutionary in its time. The orchestra had no violins - just brass, woodwinds, percussion and flamenco guitars. Man Of La Mancha is one of Broadway's most inspiring musicals and it well deserves its high reputation."

"This is a powerful musical, surprisingly adult in its treatment of the characters and the subject matter: Joan Diener's Aldonza is powerfully brutal in its depiction of her wretched life. Richard Kiley singing The Impossible Dream is obviously a sixties Broadway standard, but there are other memorable songs as well: Quixote's Dulcinea, the Muleteers Little Bird Little Bird and the funny/beautiful harmonious medley The Barber's Song/Golden Helmet."

"This brilliant stage musical was a vibrant, brutal, confrontational, experimental piece of theatre when it first debuted in the middle of the turbulent 1960s, acknowledging the ceaseless brutality of the world, but suggesting that by living a courageous, engaged, aggressive life, we can stand up to the darkness we encounter."

"Man Of La Mancha accomplishes the impossible. Turning Cervantes classic into a musical that works has to be a near miracle. It is one of the greatest American musicals that perfectly incorporates Cervantes story into musical form. The score is breathtaking, with Dulcinea and, of course, The Impossible Dream becoming two of the most beautiful songs written for the theatre. Every word and every note work and further the story. Richard Kiley and Joan Diener's performances are now legendary, others in revivals come close, but no one can beat their original performances."