All things Quixotic

OK, the following events are not really linked, beyond a certain Cervantes familiarity, but we in the blog business are trained to note connections where we find them.

So it goes with a couple of windmill tiltings.

First in progress: A Noise Within's excellent production of the Don Quixote musical "Man of La Mancha" continues in repertory through June 10 out in Glendale. I was a little bit leery of the city's foremost classical repertory company staging a contemporary musical _ an oft produced musical, at that _ but the production was spare, dark, and stirring as is should be. So I recommend it.

For younger viewers, there's a teen adaptation of the Quixote story _ titled "Quixote" and produced by the Showdown Theatre Academy _ opening tonight at the Hub Theatre in North Hollywood. This is a modern adaptation about a teen in New Mexico who wigs out a bit and goes on an honorable quest much in the same way that delusional Don Q. did in the Cervantes version.

Kudos to Showdown who, in addition to having a post show talk back on issues of isolation, teendom and the Viriginia Tech massacre, will be giving out copies of the classic "Don Quixote de La Mancha" to any teens in attendance. It all goes down next Saturday, May 5, at 2 p.m. at 5245 Lankerishim Blvd in NoHo. For more info., call (661) 799 0758 or visit www.showdownstageco.com.