Man of La Mancha - Arizona Musicfest

Man of La Mancha comes to the Herberger Theater Center from October 23 to 25, presented by Arizona Musicfest. It's a fully staged theatrical concert production, meaning the music is front and center on stage rather than tucked away in a pit. The Musicfest Pops Ensemble will be right there with the performers, playing the Spanish-inflected score that builds on flamenco rhythms and classical-influenced anthems.

If you know the story, you know the setup: it's based on Miguel de Cervantes' Don Quixote and his quest for honor, hope, and the pursuit of the impossible. The musical itself was written by Dale Wasserman, with music by Mitch Leigh and lyrics by Joe Darion. It premiered on Broadway in 1965 and won the 1966 Tony Award for Best Musical, and it's the source of some of the most recognizable songs in musical theater—"The Impossible Dream (The Quest)," "Dulcinea," and "I, Don Quixote."

Leading the cast is Paulo Szot, a Tony Award winner known for South Pacific, playing both Cervantes and Don Quixote. Maria Bilbao, from Broadway's Sweeney Todd, takes on Aldonza and Dulcinea, and David Josefsberg plays Sancho Panza. The production is presented by arrangement with Concord Theatricals on behalf of Tams-Witmark LLC, and it continues the collaboration between Arizona Musicfest and the Herberger Theater Center to bring large-scale musicals to the Valley—following Musicfest Theatricals' productions of Carousel in 2025 and Ragtime in 2026.

There are four performances over the weekend: Friday, October 23 at 7:30 PM; Saturday, October 24 at 2:00 PM and 7:30 PM; and Sunday, October 25 at 2:00 PM. Tickets run from $80 to $131. The run time is 2 hours and 15 minutes, including intermission, and it's recommended for ages 13 and up. You'll find the Herberger Theater Center at 222 E. Monroe St. in downtown Phoenix.