Based on the 17th century novel, "Don Quixote,” this is one of the most enduring works of musical theater.  The original 1965 Broadway production ran for 2,328 performances and won five Tony Awards, including Best Musical, and has been revived four times on Broadway.  

“This joint venture is an excellent example of the increased benefits realized when sharing the missions and resources of Heartwood and LA,” notes Heartwood’s ED, Joy Braley.  “These students are living out opportunities which far exceed the norm, in a student production.”

Nineteen performers are engaged in a two-month rehearsal process with a professional group of directors: vocals (Beth Preston), acting (Griff Braley), Broadway dance (Michelle Bruckner) and stage combat (Mark Bedell). 

Roles were cast in June, and principal singers Jonah Daiute, May Halm, Kayleigh Tolley, Rachael Schuster and Andrew Lyndaker, honed their musical numbers during the summer months, with Ms. Preston.

Resident LA student, Kai-Lin Shen is working with Braley to design the light plot (the first LA student to undertake this in quite some time), and a small band of student technicians will take full responsibility for running lights and sound.  Kai-Lin recently spent a day with Tish Munson, former Heartwood tech director, gaining deeper insights into the technology of LED lighting.

Sequoia Patton, an LA student hoping to continue education in theatrical costuming, is learning more fully what this process entails: period costuming, designing the look and color palette, pulling pieces from stock, fitting, adjusting and maintaining costumes throughout. 

Mary Boothby, a local artist and long-time set painter at Heartwood, is teaching students (actors and technicians, alike) basic skills and some nuances of set painting.

Four LA musicians, Christopher Burrow, Lucas Steinberger, Riley Stevenson and Aidan McCullen, will play alongside adult musicians, under the exceptional direction of Sean Fleming.

Set construction is an education unto itself, as students learn carpentry basics, painting, visual arts techniques and problem solving.

Participating in a production of this scope is consuming – and often life changing.  It is team building, extraordinaire.  Every element, every person is essential, and timing is everything.  The goal: to meld the lighting, music, singing and acting, set changes, costume changes, backstage coordination of props, costumes, crosses … into a fluid and seamless performance which draws the audience into a shared space and time.

The intimacy of the Poe Theater heightens this experience, as the cycling energy between audience and performers becomes electric.  The total experience is a gift these students will take with them, with increased confidence and an enormous sense of shared and individual accomplishment.

Performances, at 7 p.m. are scheduled for Oct. 26-27, Nov. 1-3; with two Sunday 3 p.m. matinees on Oct. 28 and Nov. 4 in the Poe Theater, 82 Academy Hill Rd., at Lincoln Academy in Newcastle.  Tickets: $16.  Student tickets, held at a low, low price for the entire season by sponsors Peapod Jewelry and HM Payson, are $5.

Performances typically sell out; early reservations are strongly encouraged. Reservations available through Heartwood: info@heartwoodtheater.org or 563-1373 (please do not contact Lincoln Academy for tickets).  Seating is unreserved, unless specifically requested in advance.   For more details visit www.heartwoodtheater.org.