William Michals, left, and Ben Dicke, who play Don Quixote and Sancho Panza, strike their pre-show poses.
By John Moore
April 1, 2013
Welcome to my ongoing, 2013 labor-of-love photo series bringing you iconic snapshots from behind the scenes on opening nights in Colorado theater. All photos by John Moore for www.CultureWest.Org.
Opening No. 53: Arvada Center’s “The Man of La Mancha”: The Arvada Center’s powerhouse new production, especially its vocals and set design, make for one of its strongest big musical efforts of the past several seasons. Directed by Rod Lansberry. Starring William Michals as Quixote, the operatic Jennifer DeDominici as the beguiling and beaten Aldonza/Dulcinea and Ben Dicke as Sancho. Featuring a cast filled with familiar local names including Mark Rubald, Craig Lundquist, Markus Warren, Rob Costigan, Robert Michael Sanders, Mercedes Perez, Jessica Hindsley, Daniel Langhoff, Jeremy Sortore, Kitty Hilsabeck, Sue Leiser, Tim Howard, Burke Walton, Andrew Diessner, Scott Severtson, Brett Ambler, Joanie Brosseau and Angela Mendez, as well as visiting actors Danielle Porcellini, Chris LeBeau, Lucas Coleman and Sidney Erik. The Arvada Center has scaled way back on its runs, and so this staging lasts only through April 14, with no transfer to the Lone Tree Arts Center as it has with several of its recent big musicals. Showtimes 7:30 p.m. Tuesdays through Saturdays; also matinees 1 p.m. Wednesdays; 2 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays at 6901 Wadsworth Blvd., 720-898-7200 or the arvada center’s home page. Thanks to Lisa A. Kurtz, Lisa Cook, Cynthia DeLarber and Melanie Mayner.
This photo gallery is part of my ongoing, 2013 labor-of-love photo series called “It’s Opening Night in Colorado Theatre,” bringing you iconic snapshots from behind the scenes all over Colorado theater. All photos by John Moore for www.CultureWest.Org. To see the actual, official photo series featuring one intimate, iconic snapshot from 51 Colorado opening nights (and counting), click here.
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Visiting lead actor William Michals offers a backstage sneak peek of the form if not the face of Don Quixote/Alonso Quijano/Miguel de Cervantes before Saturday’s performance of “The Man of La Mancha” at the Arvada Center.
Who is that masked, tongued man behind the “Lancome” magazine? …
Why that’s none other than William Michals (Don Quixote), having some fun before the Saturday night show.
Opera singer/actor Jennifer DeDominici makes for a lovely Aldonza/Dulcinea.
Two-show Saturdays will take it out of a cast.
Robert Michael Sanders (Pedro) is a much nicer guy backstage than he is on.
Quixote’s infamous trunk of tricks.
The Arvada Center employs some beautifully detailed, “War Horse”-like equines for Quixote’s mirror-delusion breakdown scene.
(Please click “Page 2” below to go to the next page of our photos from our visit to “The Man of La Mancha”)
