Man of La Mancha [2002 Broadway Revival Cast]

1	Opening / Brian Stokes Mitchell 2:44
2	Man of la Mancha (I, Don Quixote) / Brian Stokes Mitchell 2:15
3	It's All the Same / Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio 3:19
4	Dulcinea / Muletiers 3:11
5	I'm Only Thinking of Him / Natascia Diaz 3:36
6	We're Only Thinking of Him / Natascia Diaz 1:16
7	I Really Like Him / Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio 2:03
8	What Does He Want of Me? / Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio 2:22
9	Little Bird, Little Bird / Muletiers 1:55
10	Barber's Song / Jamie Torcellini 0:35
11	Golden Helmet of Mambrino / Jamie Torcellini 2:17
12	To Each His Dulcinea (To Every Man His Dream) / Mark Jacoby 2:42
13	The Impossible Dream (The Quest) / Brian Stokes Mitchell 3:53
14	Knight of the Woeful Countenance / Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio 2:04
15	Aldonza / Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio 3:20
16	The Knight of the Mirrors / Brian Stokes Mitchell 2:02
17	I'm Only Thinking of Him (Reprise) / The Orchestra 0:47
18	A Little Gossip / Mark Jacoby 1:29
19	Final Sequence: The Death of Alonso Quijana / Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio 8:22
20	Finale / Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio 1:50

Barnes & Noble

By necessity, any production of Man of La Mancha must depend on the strengths of its leading man. The 2002 Broadway production was therefore lucky indeed to have Brian Stokes Mitchell as its star. Portraying both the noble-hearted but self-deluding Don Quixote and the forthright author Cervantes, this Tony Award winner brings passion and thrilling vigor to these larger-than-life roles. One listen to the showstoppers that feature him -- “I, Don Quixote,” “Dulcinea,” and, of course, “The Impossible Dream” -- will convince you that Stokes Mitchell was born to captain this rousing and affecting musical. Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio, though best known for her film roles, possesses a fine singing voice and does well by the role of Dulcinea; the third lead, Ernie Sabella (as Sancho Panza), also makes a memorable vocal impression. These able performers revel in the strengths of a 1965 score by composer Mitch Leigh and lyricist Joe Darion that has aged remarkably well, making this a cast recording to savor. William Pearl

All Music Guide

Man of la Mancha, a musical retelling of Cervantes' Don Quixote, was a work of its time that echoed the idealism of the 1960s during its first production, which veered back and forth between Broadway and off-Broadway houses from 1965 to 1971. It was also very much a star vehicle for Richard Kiley, who embodied the part of Don Quixote and sang "The Impossible Dream (The Quest)" not only in the original production, but also in Broadway revivals in 1972 and 1977. Another revival was mounted in 1992 with Raul Julia, the reigning male star of Broadway at the time, but it lasted only 108 performances. A decade later, Broadway had a new king, Brian Stokes Mitchell, whose resumé included Ragtime and a celebrated revival of Kiss Me, Kate, and Mitchell was the prime mover behind another Man of la Mancha revival that opened to good reviews and box-office enthusiasm on December 5, 2002. The cast album reveals him to be a less authoritative Don Quixote than Kiley was but still very effective, leading a good supporting cast including Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio and Ernie Sabella. Mitch Leigh's flamenco-influenced music remains appealing (and retains its air of American folk music), though the songs are still very similar to each other. Man of la Mancha is a show that is all heart, as the performers and the audience join together to suspend reality, both in the traditional theatrical manner and also within the story, while Don Quixote pursues his sweet insanity. That inherent theatricality and emotional appeal make Man of la Mancha virtually foolproof, as long as the show is played sincerely, and it is here. This cast album is no replacement for the original Broadway cast album, but it is impressive on its own terms. William Ruhlmann