The Man of La Mancha, based on Cervantes' 17th-century epic novel (Don Quixote), is a musical remarkable, moving and disturbing at the same time, being one of the first shows to highlight a literary work of such magnitude.

The original production, written by Dale Wasserman, with music by Mitch Leigh and lyrics by Joe Darion, ran on Broadway from 1965 for over 2,300 performances and won five Tony Awards, including Best Musical. It has since been revived four more times on Broadway, making it one of the longest-running productions of its kind.

2015 is an important year in the history of this musical, as it marks the 50th anniversary of the first performance of the show. It has been adapted and performed in countries such as France, Japan, Spain, Germany, Chile, Russia, Hungary, etc., but also in Romania – in the production of the National Theatre Bucharest (in 2001, directed by Ion Cojar) and at the National Theatre "Marin Sorescu" in Craiova (in 2008, with Tudor Gheorghe in the role of Don Quixote).

We will all become part of the story of the old Alonso Quijana, who believes himself to be a knight-errant, by his name Don Quixote de la Mancha, a man in search of a dream to fulfill. Despite all the hardships, Don Quixote and his faithful squire, Sancho Panza, set out on a journey that will lead them in search of chivalry, truth and purity in a world that seems dominated by despair and sin.

Distribution:

Miguel de Cervantes/Don Quixote: Richard Balint
Sancho Panza: Alexandru Rusu
Aldonza/Dulcinea: Ioana Dragoș Gajdo
Innkeeper: Daniel Vulcu
Father: Emil Sauciuc
Dr. Carrasco: Ciprian Ciuciu
Antonia: Alina Leonte
The Barber: Pavel Sîrghi
Pedro: Andrian Locovei
Anselmo: Andrei Sabău
Housekeeper: Corina Cernea
Jose: Alin Stanciu
Juan: Eugen Neag
Paco: Sorin Ionescu
Tenor: George Dometi
Maria, the innkeeper's wife: Mihaela Gherdan
Fermina, slave: Angela Tanko
Captain of the Inquisition: George Voinese
Women in prison: Denisa Vlad, Anca Sigmirean, Georgia Căprărin, Anda Tămășanu, Adela Lazar

Orchestra: Kása Tamás, Florian Chelu, Marius Bulzan, Ion Pîntea, Gáti Sándor, Martyin György, Szávuly Albert, Henrietta Varady, Eva Nagy, Ovidiu Iloc

Art direction: Korcsmáros György (Hungary)
Set design: Paul Salzberger (Israel)
Costumes: Amalia Judea
Choreography: Bakó Gábor (Hungary)
Orchestration: Ari Nagy Sándor
Musical direction: Ovidiu Iloc
Assistant director: Meleg Vilmos

Translation and adaptation: Ioana Ștef

Premiere date: September 27, 2015

Duration: 2 hours 30 minutes with an intermission

Festivals:

• Oradea International Theatre Festival, 3rd edition – Regina Maria Theatre, Oradea – September 2015
• "Theatre on the Salt Road" Festival – 4th edition – "Aureliu Manea" Theatre, Turda, October 2015
• Arad International Classical Theatre Festival, 21st edition – „Ioan Slavici” Classical Theatre Arad – November 2015
• Galați National Comedy Festival, XXVIII edition – „Fani Tardini” Dramatic Theatre Galați – November 2016
• "The Myths of the Fortress" International Festival, 2nd edition – Constanta State Theatre – June 2017

Awards and nominations: 

• Decoration Award: PAUL SALZBERGER – Galați National Comedy Festival, XXVIII edition, November 2016
• Costume Award: AMALIA JUDEA – Galați National Comedy Festival, XXVIII edition, November 2016
• Audience Award – Galați National Comedy Festival, XXVIII edition, November 2016