William Michals Replaces Robert Cuccioli in The Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey's MAN OF LA MANCHA

William Michals will play the title role in Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey's upcoming production of Man of La Mancha. Performances begin October 17th at the Shakespeare Theatre's Main Stage, the F.M. Kirby Shakespeare Theatre, 36 Madison Ave. (at Lancaster Road) in Madison. Tickets are now on sale and can be purchased by calling the box office at 973-408-5600 or by visiting www.ShakespeareNJ.org.

William Michals makes his Shakespeare Theatre debut as the writer Miguel de Cervantes who invents the iconic character of Don Quixote. Michals appeared as Emile de Becque in the Tony Award-winning South Pacific at Lincoln Center. He made his Broadway debut as the Beast in Beauty and the Beast and later returned to the production to play Gaston. He has also played lead roles in productions across the country including Javert in Les Misérables, Billy Flynn in Chicago, Henry Hill in The Music Man, the title role in Phantom, and Captain Von Trapp in The Sound of Music.

He is the recipient of the Anselmo Award, and both a Chicago "Jeff" Award and the National STAR award for his portrayal of Chauvelin in the national tour of The Scarlet Pimpernel.

Michals has also appeared at concert halls throughout the country including Carnegie Hall, The Ahmanson in Los Angeles, and the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, DC.

He has the rare distinction of performing for the joint leadership of the House of Representative and the Senate in the U.S. Capitol. Mayor Rudy Giuliani called upon Michals to open the December 11, 2001 memorial service at Ground Zero with a solo, a cappella rendition of Let There Be Peace on Earth which has been rebroadcast world-wide.

Michals has appeared with some of the country's leading orchestras including the San Francisco, San Diego, Utah, Colorado and Hartford Symphonies, The New York Pops and Peter Nero and the Philly Pops. He has appeared in operas in New York and Boston and in concert at Aspen and Tanglewood Music Festival. His opera credits include Mozart's Le nozze di Figaro, Carmen, La Bohème and The Merry Widow. He has appeared at the Rainbow Room, The Four Season, The Plaza, and Foxwoods Resort. Michals recorded a live CD entitled William Michals broadway in concert and he has sung the national anthem for major league sporting events across the nation.

Robert Cuccioli, who had been announced as playing the role of Don Quixote, withdrew from the production to take the role of The Green Goblin in Spider Man: Turn Off the Dark on Broadway.

Featuring a well-known score including one of Broadway's most famous songs – To Dream the Impossible Dream – Man of La Mancha, winner of five Tony Awards, has become one of the most beloved and popular American musicals throughout the world. Performances are Tuesday, Wednesday and Sunday at 7:30pm; Thursday through Saturday at 8pm; and Saturday and Sunday at 2 pm. Tickets start at $42; student rush tickets are available 15 minutes prior to curtain for $10. For tickets, call the box office at 973-408-5600, visit www.ShakespeareNJ.org or email boxoffice@shakespearenj.org.

The Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey's Main Stage, the 308-seat F.M. Kirby Shakespeare Theatre, is conveniently located in Madison at 36 Madison Avenue (Route 124) at Lancaster Road (on the Drew University campus), just minutes from routes 287, 78 and 10. Parking is free.

The F.M. Kirby Shakespeare Theatre is barrier free with access into the Theatre via a ramp and elevator access to all floors. Wheelchair seating and transfer seating is available. Braille and large print programs are available. Infrared listening devices are available free of charge. Some performances are audio described. Contact the theatre for more information. For more information, or to purchase tickets, call 973-408-5600 or visit www.ShakespeareNJ.org.

The acclaimed Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey is an independent, professional theatre company located on the Drew University campus. One of the leading Shakespeare theatres in the nation, serving 100,000 adults and children annually, it is New Jersey's only professional theatre company dedicated solely to Shakespeare's canon and other world classics. Through its distinguished productions and education programs, the company strives to illuminate the universal and lasting relevance of the classics for contemporary audiences.

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