Local talent Merrill High School choir director, Jim Bjorklund, plays the lead role of Don Quixote in Wausau Community Theatre’s upcoming production of MAN OF LA MANCHA. Jim has performed in other WCT productions including 1776 and JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR but says, “Don Quixote is a baritone’s dream role.” The score is a musical delight and contains one of the most moving moments in musical theatre as Don Quixote relates his personal credo in “The Impossible Dream.” Jim’s rich baritone voice is mesmerizing and guaranteed to remain in your thoughts and in your soul well after you see the show. MAN OF LA MANCHA is the story of Miguel de Cervantes. Aging and an utter failure in his varied careers as playwright, poet and tax collector for the government, Cervantes has been thrown into a dungeon in Seville to await trial by the Spanish Inquisition for an offense against the Church. There he appears before a kangaroo court of his fellow prisoners; thieves, cutthroats and trollops who propose to confiscate his meagre possessions one of which is the uncompleted manuscript of a novel called “Don Quixote.” Cervantes, seeking to save it, proposes to offer a novel defense in the form of entertainment. The “court” agrees and before their eyes, donning makeup and costume, Cervantes and his faithful manservant transform themselves into Don Quixote and Sancho Panza. They proceed to play out the story with the participation of the prisoners as other characters. Quixote and Sancho take to the road, on “horses” which dance a lively flamenco, singing “Man of La Mancha.” You will be entertained and moved by the sometimes comic and sometimes dramatic adventures that follow in a campaign to restore the age of chivalry, battle evil, and right all the wrongs of the world. Upon returning home from his quest, the old man who once called himself Don Quixote is dying. Back in Cervantes’ dungeon the prisoners, dregs of humanity though they are, have been deeply affected by his story and restore to him his precious manuscript. Cervantes is summoned to his real trial by the Inquisition. The prisoners unite to sing him on his way with “The Impossible Dream.” A play-within-a-play, MAN OF LA MANCHA, is a remarkable show and one of the great theatre successes of our time. It has won 5 Tony Awards for Musical, Composer and Lyricist, Director, Scenic Designer and Actor and the New York Drama Critics Circle Award for Best Musical. Wausau Community Theatre and sponsor, Roadready Transfer Service, proudly present MAN OF LA MANCHA at Wausau’s Grand Theater November 3-6. Show times are: Thursday, November 3 at 6:30pm, Friday, November 4 and Saturday, November 5 at 7:30pm and Sunday, November 6 at 2:00pm. Tickets can be purchased by calling 715-359-3972. When purchased in advance prices are $21 adult, $17 senior citizen and college student and $13 for high school and younger. MAN OF LA MANCHA is sponsored in part by Associated Bank and Rock 94.7.