About The Show

Man of La Mancha is one of the world’s most popular musicals. Inspired by Miguel de Cervantes’ 17th-century masterwork Don Quixote and set during the Spanish Inquisition, the original 1965 production won five Tony Awards, including Best Musical.

Cervantes is in prison awaiting trial during the Spanish Inquisition. He and his fellow prisoners perform a play-within-a-play, telling the story of the elderly Alonso Quijana, who renames himself “Don Quixote” and goes on a quest to right all wrongs in the world.

 

 

***This will be a very physical production. The ensemble will not only sing and dance but will help create the world of the show through movement—becoming scenery, objects, characters and sometimes part of the environment itself. You should be comfortable working in close quarters, with physical contact, and

being an active part of the storytelling throughout the show. It should be a fun, creative playground for performers who like to move, invent and try things.***

 

Team:

Director: Ted Tobin

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Auditions (Open Call Either Day): 

• Saturday Oct 24th 10am to 3pm

• Sunday Oct 25th 1pm to 5pm

* Auditions will be on a first come, first served basis. You will not need to stay the entire duration of the auditions. After your audition is complete, you will be dismissed.*

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Where: 

• Canyon Theatre Guild (White Building/Studio)

• 24238 Main Street, Newhall, CA 91321

 

Rehearsals: 

• Nov. 2nd - Jan. 22nd

• 7PM - 10PM

• Location TBD

• No rehearsal Dec. 22nd - Jan. 2nd

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The Audition: 

• Please prepare a one-minute song in the style of the show.

• Bring a Bluetooth device with your backing track ready to go.

• You’ll also be taught a short dance combination at the audition.

 

The Characters:

 

CERVANTES / DON QUIXOTE / ALONSO QUIJANA —Tenor/High Baritone

Male 30-50 Open to other ages

The center of the entire evening. He begins as Cervantes: intelligent, theatrical, persuasive He believes that stories and story tellers can change the world. He transforms into Quixote—the ridiculous old knight who somehow becomes the wisest person in the room. He is both fragile and inspiring.

Needs: versatile actor, commanding storyteller, warmth, humor, vulnerability and a very strong voice.

 

ALDONZA / DULCINEA — Mezzo-Soprano / strong belt

Female 25-35 Open to other ages

The emotional journey of the show. Tough, angry, defensive and accustomed to being treated badly. Quixote insists on seeing something beautiful in her that she cannot see herself. She fights that idea until ultimately, she chooses to be the person Quixote sees.

Needs: powerhouse actress, powerhouse singer.

 

SANCHO PANZA / CERVANTES'; MANSERVANT — Tenor

Male 30-50 Open to other ages

Loyal, practical, funny and deeply loving. Sees Quixote as the mad man he is and doesn’t care. He is loyal and heartfelt.

Needs: exceptional comic timing warmth and believability.

 

GOVERNOR / INNKEEPER — Baritone

Male 25-40 Open to other ages

The leader of the prisoners who becomes the Innkeeper. Powerful, authoritative, but not necessarily threatening. One of the first prisoners to really participate in Cervantes' world and story.

Needs: presence, maturity and humor.

 

DUKE / DR. SANSON CARRASCO / KNIGHT OF THE MIRRORS — Baritone/Tenor

Male 25-40 Open to other ages

The intellectual antagonist. The Duke challenges Cervantes in prison; Carrasco challenges Quixote in the story. He is not the villain, but the voice of reality. He represents the argument that reality matters more than dreams.

 

PADRE — Tenor/High Baritone

Male 30-50 open to other ages

Compassionate and thoughtful. He sees that there may be something valuable in Quixote's madness. Always stuck in the middle of what is and what could be.

Needs: beautiful voice, sincerity and stillness.

 

ANTONIA — Soprano

Female 25-35 Open to other ages

Quixote's niece and Carrasco's fiancée. She claims to be terribly concerned about her uncle—but “I'm Only Thinking of Him” reveals that much of that concern is actually about embarrassment and social appearances.

Needs: excellent legit soprano with comic instincts.

 

HOUSEKEEPER — Alto with upper extension

Female open to all ages

Another seemingly concerned relative whose motives aren't entirely selfless.

Needs: character actress who can sing and understands irony. She and Antonia can be very funny without turning the number into shtick.

 

PEDRO — Head Muleteer

The most dangerous of the muleteers. Aggressive, sexual and brutal. His treatment of Aldonza represents the world as she actually knows it—the direct opposite of Quixote's vision of her.

 

ANSELMO — Muleteer — Tenor/Falsetto

Male open to all ages

Featured heavily in “Little Bird.” Needs a distinctive voice and strong character presence.

 

BARBER — Tenor

Male or female Open to all ages

Comic character with the famous shaving basin that Quixote transforms into the Golden Helmet of Mambrino. Fun comedic character role.

 

MARIA — Innkeeper's Wife

Female open to all ages

Featured supporting woman. Can have a strong personality and presence within the inn.

 

FERMINA — Moorish Girl / Dancer

Females open to all ages

Primarily a movement/dance role.

 

Ensemble / Prisoners /Muleteers

These characters will be on stage the entire show. There are some lines and solos TBD. Integral part of the story telling process. Needs: Strong voices and strong movers and dancers

 

​Any questions please send an email to ted.tobin@gmail.com