While Broadway is hosting a fresh revival of Man of La Mancha this winter, rehearsals begin in the New Year for Pittsburgh Public Theater's resident staging of the inspirational musical, featuring Broadway talent including Brian Sutherland as Cervantes/Don Quixote, Avery Saltzman as Sancho and Tari Kelly as Aldonza.
PPT artistic director Ted Pappas directs and choreographs the revival of the Dale Wasserman-Mitch Leigh-Joe Darion distillation of Cervantes' novel, "Don Quixote."
Previews begin Jan. 30, 2003, at the O'Reilly Theatre in downtown Pittsburgh. F. Wade Russo is musical director.
"PPT scored a coup by securing the rights to La Mancha before the Broadway production was even announced," Pappas said in a statement. "We've had great success with musicals in the past, including our recent production of By Jeeves, which transferred to Broadway in October 2001. Also, last season's H.M.S. Pinafore was a near sellout for us."
Joining Sutherland, Saltzman and Kelly are Jeffrey Howell as the Innkeeper/Governor; Daniel Krell as Dr. Carrasco; Tim Salamandyk as Padre; Laura Yen Solito as Antonia; Gina Ferrall as the Housekeeper; Larry Daggett as the Barber; Terry Wickline as Maria; Cindy Marchionda as Fermina; and Daniel Conville, Greg Roderick, Erik Nelson, Mark Martino, Todd Kryger, and Howard Kaye as the Muleteers. Sutherland's Broadway credits include The Sound of Music, 1776, Victor/Victoria, Steel Pier, 110 in the Shade, A Change in the Heir, Cats and Dance A Little Closer. He played Sky in the most recent national tour of Guys and Dolls opposite his wife, Diane.
Saltzman and Pappas are teaming up for the seventh time, having worked together in the Public's A Funny Thing Happened On The Way To The Forum (season 23) and in The Pirates of Penzance (season 25).
Kelly, making her PPT debut, appeared in the Broadway production of Show Boat and in national tours of Show Boat and Beauty and the Beast.
PPT's La Mancha design team includes James Noone (scenic), Gabriel Berry (costume), Kirk Bookman (lighting) and Zach Moore (sound).
Opening is Feb. 7, with performances continuing to March 2. Tickets range $29-$53. For tickets and further information, call (412) 316-1600 or visit the Public's box office at the O'Reilly Theater, 621 Penn Avenue. For more information, visit www.ppt.org.
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The Broadway revival of Man of La Mancha, starring Brian Stokes Mitchell, begins peformances at the Martin Beck Theatre Nov. 23, opening Dec. 5.
— By Kenneth Jones
