For Immediate Release 

Jupiter, FL (February 1, 2007) - The Maltz Jupiter Theatre invites you to enjoy one of the most  popular and romantic musical dramas of all time, Man of La Mancha opening just in time for Valentines Day on February 13^th.

Man of La Mancha is a clever play within a play that first awed audiences and won numerous awards on Broadway in 1965. The play is set during the tumultuous times of the Spanish Inquisition wherein a failed author, soldier and tax collector named Miguel de Cervantes is thrown into prison for crimes against the church.  

While in the dark depths of a dungeon, Miguel does not despair, even though his possessions have been stolen by his cellmates. But the author is desperate to save a manuscript of his latest work; in order to win the prisoners over, he stages, with their assistance, his latest comedy about the delusional knight Don Quixote. Don Quixote, with the help of his loyal manservant Sancho Panza, is determined to battle evil, though he most often finds himself combating windmills he believes to be giants. Don Quixote encounters the beautiful virgin Dulcinea -- personified by a jailed prostitute, Aldonza -- and is certain he has found the love of his life.

Man of La Mancha will have audiences in suspense as Don Quixote and Sancho mount their "horses" and ride forth to the brave music of Man of La Mancha including ." "I, Don Quixote"; "Dulcinea" and "The Impossible Dream". To Sancho this Highway to Glory looks like the road to El Toboso where you can buy chickens cheap, but the Don informs him that, "Like beauty, my friend, `tis all in the eye of the beholder.   

"The sensational singing and incredible design and wonderful cast directed by Peter Flynn will surely make Man of La Mancha one of the best plays of the season and a must see on everyone's list," proclaimed Andrew Kato, Artistic Director at the Maltz Jupiter Theatre.

Man of La Mancha opens with previews on February 13^th and runs through February 28^th with showtimes at 2 pm Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday; 7:30 pm Tuesday through Friday and an 8 pm on Saturday. Tickets range from $27 to $45 and are available at the Maltz Jupiter Theatre Box Office, online at http://www.jupitertheatre.org/ or by phone 561-575-2223 or 800-445-1666. The Maltz Jupiter Theatre opened in February 2004 as a 550-seat, nonprofit community-based regional theater in the former Burt Reynolds Dinner Theatre. The theater is a member of the prestigious League of Resident Theatres. The Maltz Jupiter Theatre is located at 1001 E. Indiantown Road and State Road A1A in Jupiter.

CAST BIOS: 

Neal Benari - (Don Quixote) - Since graduating from the University of Pennsylvania thirty years ago, Neal Benari has appeared in more than fifty stage, film and television productions. He is returning to the Maltz/Jupiter Theatre, having appeared here as Professor Higgins in the theatre's inaugural production of My Fair Lady (Carbonell Award nomination.) Recently, Mr. Benari appeared with the New World Symphony in Miami Beach, where he portrayed the legendary Yiddish actor Boris Thomashevksy in a biographical concert conducted by Thomashevsky's grandson, Michael Tilson Thomas. During the past summer, he appeared as Tevye in a highly acclaimed production of Fiddler on the Roof at Kansas City's New Theatre. Mr. Benari has appeared in eight Broadway productions: Fiddler on the Roof, Disney's Aida, Victor/Victoria with Julie Andrews, Peter Hall's The Merchant of Venice with Dustin Hoffman, Chess (cast recording), Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice's Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat (cast recording), Roza, directed by Hal Prince, and The First. National tours include appearances as the villainous Zoser in Disney's Aida, Captain VonTrapp opposite Marie Osmond in The Sound of Music, Thenardier in Les Miserables, and the piano-playing composer Sidney Cohn in On Your Toes, starring Leslie Caron and directed by the legendary George Abbott. His many regional theater credits include Ragtime (Tateh/Baron Ashkenazy), Sweeney Todd (Sweeney), Candide (Voltaire/Dr. Pangloss), The Threepenny Opera (Macheath), La Boheme starring Linda Ronstadt (Schaunard), Oliver (Fagin), Jesus Christ Superstar (Pilate), and Oklahoma (Ali Hakim). Recent television work includes the highly acclaimed HBO series The Sopranos and Law and Order: Criminal Intent. Other film and television credits include Sea of Love with Al Pacino, HBO's And the Band Played On..., The Equalizer, Mathnet, 100 Centre Street, and episodes of Law and Order, both original and SVU. Additional biographical information about Mr. Benari can be found at www.nealbenari.com.

Michael Babin - (Dr. Carrasco) -  Broadway:  Phantom of the Opera, Marie Christine (starring Audra McDonald) and Jane Eyre.  National Tours:  Les Misérables, Phantom of the Opera, Falsettos and The Who's Tommy.  Regional:  Sunday in the Park with George (George - BATCC and Garland Awards); Passion (Giorgio); Burn This! (Larry); The Secret Garden (Archibald - BATCC nomination); Almost September (Eustace - BATCC Award); Evita (Che); Lend Me A Tenor (Max); and Chess (Arbiter).

Bertilla Baker Thompson - (Maria) - Bertilla has had a long and successful career as an actor and singer in New York and around the country.  She was in the New York company of the Broadway smash hit, Titanic.  She has also performed in the National Touring Companies of the Broadway hits, Jekyll and Hyde, Tommy, Les Miserables, and Jesus Christ Super Star.  Ms. Baker is also well known in off-Broadway circles, and has worked on many new and innovative projects with such notable directors as Tom O'Horgan (Hair, Jesus Christ Super Star, and Lenny), Charles Strouse (Annie, and Ragtime), George Faison (The Wiz), and Murray Horowitz (Ain't Misbehavin).  Most recently, she played opposite Phylicia Rashad at Lincoln Center, finishing out the run of the new Michael John LaChiusa musical adaptation, Bernarda Alba, in the role of Poncia. 

Regionally, she worked at Jupiter Theatre in City of Angels for which she received the Carbonell Award for her performance.  She also had the privilege of playing opposite Anthony Newley in the new musical Once Upon A Son at the Coconut Grove Playhouse. As an actor, Ms. Baker has also performed roles as diverse as Mistress Quickly in Shakespeare's The Merry Wives of Windsor.  She holds a Master of Fine Arts degree in Acting from Temple University.  She will tour the country with the pre-Broadway National Tour of If This Hat Could Talk, playing the role of Eleanore Roosevelt, directed by Tony award winner, George Faison. The one-woman tour de force, Dorothy Parker is Forty, is a play with songs on which she is currently collaborating with composer Lawrence Rosen.   

John Paul Almon - (Padre/Captain) - John comes to Jupiter directly from Toronto where he starred as Santa in The Radio City Christmas Spectacular. He has performed on Broadway and in First National Tours of Side Show, The Scarlet Pimpernel (Kennedy Center debut) Phantom, Candide (Lincoln Center debut),Parade, Abby's Song (City Center) and  Funny Girl : in concert with Whoopi Goldberg ,directed by Peter Flynn. John Paul won the Carbonell Award for his comic tour de force in Romeo and Bernadette at the Coconut Grove Playhouse. He has recently been starring opposite Lanie Kazan in workshops of the new comedy, The Dutchess of Chutzpah by A.E. Hotchner. He is thrilled to take part in Paul Newman's annual benefit for his Hole in the Wall Gang Camp to raise funds for children with life threatening illness's.

Ryan Swearingen - (Jose) - Regional: Urinetown (Bobby) at Barnstormers, Bat Boy (Bat Boy) at Stage One, Tommy (Tommy) at Surflight, Footloose (Ren) at Trump Plaza, A.C., Dames at Sea (Dick) at Helen Hayes/QTIP/Stage One, You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown (Charlie) at Media Theatre, Babes in Arms and Call Me Madam at Goodspeed Opera House.  Tours: 42^nd Street 1^st Nat., Titanic (Radioman Bride), and Footloose (also Las Vegas).

Tommy Labanaris- (Tenorio) - Tommy is a proud graduate of The University of New Hampshire.  National/International Tours: RENT Japan, The Full Monty, Barry Manilow's Copacabana (Rico) and I Get a Kick Out of Cole.  NYC credits include Granola! The Musical (2004 NYC Fringe Festival), Babes in Toyland (Lincoln Center's Avery Fisher Hall), Lucky Stiff and Is There Life After High School? (Astoria Performing Arts Center), and Little Orchestra Society's Lolli-Pops Concerts (Buzz the Bee).  Some regional credits include Fiddler on the Roof (Motel), A Chorus Line (Paul),  john & jen (John), Blood Brothers (Eddie), Tommy (Cousin Kevin), and Brigadoon (Charlie).   

Dante A. Sciarra - (Pedro/Dance Capt./Fight Capt.) - Man Of La Mancha marks Dante's debut with the Maltz Jupiter Theatre.  Broadway, National, International Tour and New York Theatre Credits:  Chicago (Jury, performed Amos Hart, Mary Sunshine), Sunset Boulevard w/Petula Clark, Hello Dolly! w/Michele Lee, The Radio City Christmas Spectacular and Bonnie & Clyde:  A Folktale; Regional Theatres:  productions at The York Theatre, Goodspeed, Papermill, Walnut Street, North Shore, Kansas City Starlight, The Arvada Center, Downtown Cabaret Theatre, Pittsburgh CLO and Carousel Dinner Theatre; TV/Film:  Outside Providence, The Sopranos, America's Millennium.  Dante is also on the teaching faculty at Steps NYC.  

Production staff bios: 

Peter Flynn - (Director) - Peter most recently directed the hit off-Broadway show Henry & Mudge for Theatreworks USA, choreographed by Devanand Janki. Broadway credits include the Broadway concert of On the 20th Century starring Douglas Sills, Marin Mazzie, & Joanne Worley, the sold out concert of Chess starring pop recording star Josh Groban, and Funny Girl with sixteen Fanny Brices including Whoopi Goldberg, Bebe Neuwirth, and Jane Krakowski (all produced by Andrew Kato). Off-Broadway credits include Junie B. Jones at the Lucille Lortel Theater, nominated for two Lucille Lortel Awards including Best Musical (choreographed by Devanand Janki). the critically acclaimed one-man show Rhapsody in Seth at the Actors' Playhouse, and Jim Walton and Carolee Carmello in the Cooper-Union concert of God Bless You, Mr. Rosewater.  Other New York credits include Babes in Toyland at Avery Fisher Hall, Up in the Air, by Kenny Finkle at the Playwrights Horizons' New Works Series (and at the Williamstown Theatre Festival), Purple Hearts at the McGinn-Cazale Theatre, and A Wedding Album at the Lambs' Theater.  Peter's regional credits include Gypsy at the St. Louis MUNY starring Karen Mason. Children of Eden for the Arvada Center in Denver, The Piano Lesson and The Crucible for the Tampa Performing Arts Center, The Santaland Diaries for the Pittsburgh City Theatre, A Child's Christmas in Wales for the National Theatre of the Deaf, and a workshop production of his own musical, Lily, based on Edith Wharton's The House of Mirth, written with composer/lyricist Brooks Ashmanskas, at the Huntington Theater.  Peter is a graduate of Northwestern University and married to actress Andréa Burns.

Michael Bottari & Ronald Case - (Set and Costume Design) - Currently nominated for the Drama Desk Award for Fanny Hill they won the 2003 Lucille Lortel Award, and nominated for the Drama Desk for their costumes for Charles Bush's Shanghai Moon and their critically acclaimed film Die Mommy Die won a Sundance Award as well as "Best Costumes of 2003" in various Film Awards.  They have been a design team for over thirty-six years, having designed both Sets and Costumes for Broadway: Rodgers & Hammerstein's much loved State Fair (Producer David Merrick's last Broadway show), the ill-fated Prince of Central Park.  Off-Broadway: The York Theatre's After the Fair, Little Me and Carnival!, Ed Dixon's Richard Cory, Opal, Man Who Shot Lincoln, etc.  National Tours: I Do! I Do! (Lucie Arnaz), Camelot (Richard Harris), Shenandoah(Ed Ames), Man of La Mancha (Richard Kiley, John Raitt, Jack Jones) the World tour of My Fair Lady (Noel Harrison), the 25^th Anniversary of The King and I (Yule Brynner),  Funny Thing...Forum (Mickey Rooney), Showboat (Shirley Jones), Al Jolson Tonight (Larry Kert) to mention a few.  They were nominated twice for the National Broadway Theatre Awards (designs for Fiddler & La Mancha tours).  They have done costumes for many years at the Burt Reynolds' Theatre (Carbonell Award). 

Helen Gregory - (Musical Director) - Helen returns for her second show at the Maltz Jupiter ("Guys and Dolls" was her first). She has performed Off-Broadway (NY Theatre Workshop, WPA, The Vineyard, Public Theatre, LaMama E.T.C.), in regional houses, (Goodman Theatre, Indiana Repertory, Birmingham Theatre, Papermill Playhouse, Riverside Theatre, The Hangar), on national tours (GREASE, JOSEPH...), for educational institutions, summer stock, dinner theatre, and has played for more weddings than she can count. Her original works and arrangements have been featured at several regional theatres (Hudson Guild, Hanger Theatre, Gaslight Theatre, Top Hat Theatre Club, Cornell University, Ithaca College, Diamond Circle Melodrama) and industrials (American Movie Classics, Stardust Hotel, Las Vegas), and she is currently writing a book of poetry.  

Devanand Janki- (Choreographer) - Devanand directed and choreographed the hit Off-Broadway musical Zanna, Don't! (winner of Lucille Lortel, Callaway and GLAAD Media awards).  Other credits include Junie B. Jones (Lortel Nomination), Henry & Mudge, Cupid & Psyche, Judy Speaks, The Broadway concerts of Hair (Grammy Nomination), Funny Girl and Dreamgirls. He conceived and directed the 25^th anniv. Original cast reunion of A Chorus Line at the Palace Theatre; created the opening number for Nothing Like a Dame VI featuring Chita Rivera and 24 other Anitas; Served 9 years as Artistic Associate for Broadway Bares benefiting BC/EFA. Also, At Lincoln Center the operas Amahl and the Night Visitors and Babes and Toyland and Anything Goes in concert (choreo. assistant). Regionally; The Scarlet Pimpernel, The Full Monty, the new musical Lily (workshop),  Andrew Lippa's Asphalt Beach at AMTP; One Man's Dream II for Tokyo Disney. As a performer, Dev has appeared on Broadway in Miss Saigon, Cats, The King and I and Side Show and tours of A Chorus Line and West Side Story.  

Luis Lojo - (Lighting Designer) - Luis has been working in the audio industry for the past eighteen years with a long background in the live performance field.  His first project as a Sound Designer was the Mexican Production of Disney's Beauty and the Beast in 1998.  Other credits in Mexico include Rent and Saturday Night Fever.  He moved his residence to New York in 2004 along with his actress-singer wife to pursue a career on Broadway.  For the past two years he's been working at Jazz at Lincoln Center as part of the audio crew.  Luis is proud and excited to join this production.

Media Contact:
Terri Neil
561-641-0658
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