Jackson Nickolay of Hovland, a student at Northwestern College in Orange City, Iowa, performed in the college’s February production of Man of La Mancha, a musical based on Cervantes’ classic novel Don Quixote.
The musical comedy was presented in the England Theatre. Northwestern theater professor Jeff Barker directed the production with support from music professor Dr. Tim McGarvey, who conducted the orchestra.
Set in the 16th century in the La Mancha region of Spain, the musical’s main action takes place in a prison where Cervantes has coaxed his fellow prisoners into participating in a drama he has written. Northwestern’s Man of La Mancha production explored the chasm between reality and illusion through the use of stylized projections contrasting what is in Quixote’s head with the scenes unfolding on stage.
During the run of the show, art that explores Man of La Mancha themes such as idealism and madness was exhibited in the DeWitt Theater Arts Center lobby. The third annual Orange City Arts Council Artists’ Showcase will include works by artists from the region.
Nickolay is a senior and is majoring in theater at Northwestern College. He played Don Quixote in the musical. Nickolay is the son of Michele Miller of Hovland.
Nickolay is also a member of the college’s Drama Ministries Ensemble (DME) and performed at the Calvin Symposium on Worship Jan. 30 through Feb. 1 in Grand Rapids, Mich. The nine-member DME performed Scripture from the book of Exodus during symposium worship services and participated in an in-depth seminar and two workshops themed “Story and Worship.”
The current art exhibit is free and open to the public. Tickets for the Man of La Mancha musical are $7 for adults and $4 for students. The DeWitt’s box office opens Feb. 4.
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