Emmy award-winning and Tony-nominated actor Kelsey Grammer, best known for playing Dr. Frasier Crane in NBC’s hit series’ Cheers and Frasier, will make his Westend debut in Man of La Mancha.
The producers Michael Linnit and Michael Grade, who brought Chess, Carousel, Sunset Boulevard
Directed by Lonny Price, the musical runs for a limited season at the London Coliseum from Friday 26 April – Saturday 8 June 2019.
He will play Miguel de Cervantes and Don Quixote. The musical will also, star the internationally acclaimed opera star and soprano Danielle de Niese who will play Aldonza and Dulcinea. Described by New York Times magazine as ‘opera’s coolest soprano, de Niese will be performing in 33 performances of Man of La Mancha, with further star casting for this role and the rest of the company to be announced. She has performed to audiences worldwide, from the Metropolitan Opera to Covent Garden as well as performing on stage with LL Cool J.
Man of La Mancha is inspired by Miguel de Cervantes’s masterpiece Don Quixote. It is set at the time of the Spanish Inquisition. The original 1965 production won five Tony Awards including Best Musical. This production will be performed with ENO’s 35 piece orchestra.
It tells the story of Cervantes who whilst in prison awaiting trial performs a play-within-a-play with his fellow prisoners. The play tells the story of the elderly Alonso Quijana, who renames himself Don Quixote and goes on a quest to right all the wrongs in the world.
In a 16th century dungeon, Cervantes and his manservant await trial from the Spanish Inquisition. In his possession, he has a trunk carrying an unfinished novel, Don Quixote. As the prisoners attempt to steal his possessions, Cervantes embarks on acting out his novel as his defense, transforming himself into Alonso Quijano.
Quijano, deluded, believes he is a knight errant, renames himself Don Quixote de la Mancha, and sets off on a fantastical quest with his manservant Sancho Panza. Chivalry abounds in this classic tale of knighthood, love, loyalty and adventure.
The music in Man of La Mancha is by Mitch Leigh, lyrics by Joe Darion and book by Dale Wasserman. It features the iconic song ‘Dream the Impossible Dream’, an internationally-renowned song and was previously performed by Frank Sinatra, Elvis Presley, Andy Williams, Luther Vandross and “The Temptations”, amongst others.
Man of La Mancha will run at London Coliseum from Friday 26 April – Saturday 8 June 2019.
Tickets: Box Office: 020 7845 9300
