New Orleans, LA– This spring, The NOLA Project and NOMA have once again partnered to bring a new and hilarious adaptation to Miguel de Cervantes’ classic tale, “Don Quixote”. Pete McElligott, a Big Easy Award-winning playwright, helps bring this classic novel to life in the Sydney and Walda Besthoff Sculpture Garden.
Directed by Jessica Podewell, this adventurous tale follows the insanely idealistic knight and the utterly practical Sancho Panza as they encounter the world. Throughout the 90 minute play, Quixote instructs the audience on how life should be lived. He discovers life might be safer when approached realistically, but it is so much richer when the craziest of dreams are followed. In this comedic retelling of old adventures joined with new ones, our fantastical knight tackles everything from bandits to romance to grade school math. Although he rarely succeeds, he always remains optimistic.
“Our partners at The NOLA Project always transport audiences during the outdoor productions to experience NOMA’s iconic Sculpture Garden in unique and exciting ways,” said Susan M. Taylor, NOMA’s Montine McDaniel Freeman Director.
“400 years following the original publication of ‘Don Quixote’, I am thrilled for our audiences to be able to experience this classic and lovable literary hero in a brand new way,” says NOLA Project Artistic Director, AJ Allegra. “Pete’s script is both hilarious and touching, and a perfect addition to the growing cannon of literary classics The NOLA Project has adapted for NOMA’s beautiful Besthoff Sculpture Garden.”
This production is supported in part by a grant from the New Orleans Theatre Association (NOTA).
WHAT: NOMA and The NOLA Project present “Don Quixote”
WHO: Jessica Podewell directs Ian Hoch, Mike Spara, AshleyRose Bailey, Joshua Sienkiewicz, Natalie Boyd, Janie Heckm Leslie Claverie, Becca Chapman, Alex Smith, Alex Martinez Wallace, Alec Barnes, Joshua Smith, and Ann Glaviano.
WHEN: May 4, 5, 8, 11, 12, 13, 15, 18, 19, 20, 22 at 7:00 p.m. (Doors open at 6:00 p.m. with food and drinks available for purchase)
WHERE: The Sydney and Walda Besthoff Sculpture Garden, New Orleans Museum of Art; 1 Collins Diboll Circle, New Orleans, LA 70124
TICKETS: $24 for adults; $18 for NOMA members and Backstage Pass members (The NOLA Project), and children 7 to 17 (children 6 and under will not be permitted).
- Purchase Online at www.nolaproject.com or www.noma.org
- Phone box office orders and questions can be directed to The NOLA Project at 504-302-9117.
- Tickets will no longer be sold at the NOMA Admissions desk. Guests can purchase tickets online or through The NOLA Project box office.
Rain Information: If a production is called off due to inclement weather, attendees will be notified no later than 5 p.m. via email with instructions on selecting another date or requesting a refund.
About NOMA and the Besthoff Sculpture Garden
The New Orleans Museum of Art, founded in 1910 by Isaac Delgado, houses nearly 40,000 art objects encompassing 5,000 years of world art. Works from the permanent collection, along with continuously changing special exhibitions, are on view in the museum’s 46 galleries Fridays from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.; Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.; and Saturdays 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sundays from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. The adjoining Sydney and Walda Besthoff Sculpture Garden features work by over 60 artists, including several of the 20th century’s master sculptors. The Sculpture Garden is open seven days a week: 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. The New Orleans Museum of Art and the Besthoff Sculpture Garden are fully accessible to handicapped visitors and wheelchairs are available from the front desk. For more information about NOMA, call (504) 658-4100 or visit www.noma.org. Wednesdays are free admission days for Louisiana residents, courtesy of The Helis Foundation. (May not include special exhibitions.) Teenagers (ages 13-19) receive free admission every day through the end of the year, courtesy of The Helis Foundation.
About The NOLA Project
The NOLA Project is an ensemble-driven theatre company that strives to challenge, entertain, and engage diverse New Orleans audiences through high-quality and innovative performances of relevant great works, the development and production of new plays, and comprehensive educational opportunities for aspiring theatre artists.
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