Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: TUESDAY, July 19, 1994 TAG: 9407190032
SECTION: EXTRA PAGE: 3 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE:
DATELINE: ABINGDON LENGTH: Medium
The play, based on the Cervantes story of ``Don Quixote,'' is opening two weeks before the Virginia Highlands Festival to give local audiences a chance to see it first, said Richard Rose, Barter's artistic director. It is expected to sell out during the July 30-Aug. 14 festival.
``In fact, we're already on our way to selling out the performances scheduled before the festival begins,'' he said. The show includes such songs as ``The Impossible Dream.''
Michael Medeiros, who has appeared in ``Robocop II,'' ``Son of the Morning Star'' and ``Shakedown'' among other credits in theater, film and television, will play Don Quixote and the writer who created him. Medeiros was in Barter's production of ``The Little Foxes'' earlier this season.
Quixote's sidekick, Sancho Panza, will be played by Bill Kocis, who played Hysterium at Barter in last season's ``A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum.'' He appeared last year in ``Shear Madness'' at the Kennedy Center and toured in ``The Rocky Horror Show.''
Adinah Alexander will play Aldonza, also known as Dulcinea, the object of Don Quixote's idealistic love. She appeared on Broadway in ``The New Yorkers'' and off-Broadway in ``Ruthless'' and ``Goose.''
The cast also includes Philip Anthony, who appeared on Broadway in ``London's West End'' and toured as Ritchie Valens in ``The Buddy Holly Story''; Susan Browning, twice nominated for a Tony Award and seen in such films as ``Sister Act'' and ``Sister Act II''; Michael James Leslie, who acted in Broadway's revival of ``Hair'' and ``The Wiz,'' and Rose McGuire, who appeared on Broadway in ``Cyrano: the Musical'' and ``Cats.''
Completing the Barter season's biggest cast are Robert Anglin, Ida B. Beirne, Lee Chew (who started his acting career in Roanoke), Jason Winston George, John Hedges, Will Hines, Kyle Kulish, Letitia Allison Lahta, Mike Stanley, Jeremy S. VanMeter and Stephen Wilson.
The play is being directed by John Hardy, Barter's associate artistic director. Winston Clark is musical director, with choreography by Amanda Aldridge, scenic and lighting design by Dale Jordan, costume design by Vicki R. Davis and sound design by Don Tindall. Connie M. Silver is stage manager.
The play will be presented Tuesday through Saturday evenings and Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday afternoons. For reservations and performance times, call 628-3991 or 1-800-368-3240.
by CNB