John Davidson Is the Man of La Mancha Beginning June 19 in New Jersey

By Michael Gioia
19 Jun 2012

John Davidson
John Davidson

Ocean Professional Theatre Company presents Man of La Mancha, starring The Fantasticks' John Davidson, beginning June 19 at the Bengal Theatre.

Directed by Andrew Glant Linden, the limited engagement continues through July 8 in Barnegat, NJ. Man of La Mancha features music by Mitch Leigh and lyrics by Joe Darion with a book by Dale Wasserman.

Davidson, who has been seen on Broadway in State Fair and Foxy, stars as Don Quixote. He is joined by Broadway producer and actress Heather Provost as Aldonza.

The cast also includes George Platis as the Barber, Barbi McGuire as Maria, Brittany Jeffery as Antonia, Dale Given as Captain of the Inquisition, Rick Grossman as Sancho, Steve Steiner as The Governor, Andrew Ryan Rix as The Duke, Roy Richardson as Pedro, Sam Sherwood as Jose, Keith Potts as Tenorio, Kenny Francoeur as Paco, John E. Elliott as Juan, Mark Alpert as Anselmo, Brittany Santos as Fermina, Christina Skleros as the Housekeeper, Chance Blakely as Padre and Sophia Swannell as the Moorish Girl. Rounding out the cast are Ashlie Roberson, Brandy Kostick, Andrew Troum, Catalina Gaglioti, Nathaniel Burich and Joe Connolly. 

Here's how Ocean Professional bills the show: "Inspired by Miguel de Cervantes' seventeenth century masterpiece 'Don Quixote,' this play within a play performed by Cervantes and his fellow prisoners tells the passionate and poignant tale of a noble knight who lives in a world of madness and cannot see that chivalry has died. His holy quest is a mission of salvation to find compassion not for himself but for others. The score is a musical delight, and contains one of the most moving moments in musical theatre as Don Quixote relates his personal credo in 'The Impossible Dream.'"

Other members of the creative team include musical director Michael McAssey, set designer David Esler, lighting designer Jeff Greenberg, assistant director Beverly Brennan, sound designer Andrew Jacobson and properties desiger Gina Beswenger. 

The Bengal Theatre is located at 180 Bengal Blvd in Barnegat, NJ. For more information and tickets, call (609) 312-8306 or visit OceanTheatre.org.