Orange County Register

Star Trek: TNG fans will remember the struggles of Data, the oh-so-human android, to experience what it means to be a fallible member of the homo sapiens species. It’ll be interesting to see Brent Spiner, who played Data, tackling one of theater’s most delightfully fallible characters: Don Quixote in “Man of La Mancha.” The Reprise production opens in February. Few would probably say that Spiner was a perfect match for the part (although he’s got quite an impressive theater resume).

The Reprise production opens in February. Details from Reprise after the break.

The 2008-2009 Reprise Theatre Company season continues with the classic international hit “Man of La Mancha,” starring Brent Spiner, written by Dale Wasserman with music by Mitch Leigh and lyrics by Joe Darion.  The production will be directed by Michael Michetti, co-artistic director of The Theatre at Boston Cout.

“La Mancha” will play at the Freud Playhouse from February 14-March 1. Thanks to a partnership grant from The Sheri and Les Biller Family Foundation, more than 3,300 underserved youth will attend an additional week of free student performances.

Single tickets are available for “Man of LA Mancha” beginning December 9.  Subscription tickets are now available.  Both  are available on line at www.reprise.org or the UCLA Central Ticket Office at 310/825-2101.

Spiner is most identified for Data the android on Star Trek: The Next Generation, and in four Star Trek feature films - “Generations,” “First Contact,” “Insurrection and “Nemesis.”   Early in his career, Spiner appeared on and off-Broadway in “A History of the American Film,” “Sunday in the Park with George,” “Big River,” “The Three Musketeers,” and “The Seagull” at the New York Shakespeare Festival.   Later he returned to Broadway playing the role of John Adams in the Roundabout revival of “1776” (nomination for Drama Desk Award for Best Actor in a Musical), and later co-starred in Yasmina Reza’s play “Life x 3” at Cirque in the Square theatre.

Michael Michetti, co-artistic director of The Theatre at Boston Court, has directed The Theatre @ Boston Court’s productions of “dark play or stories for boys” (L.A. Drama Critics Circle nominations for Production, Direction), “Paradise Lost: Shadows and Wings” (Ovation Nominations for Musical, Director of a Musical), “A Picture of Dorian Gray” (LADCC Award for Direction), “Pera Palas” (LADCC Awards for Production, Direction), “Summertime,” and its inaugural production of “Romeo and Juliet: Antebellum New Orleans, 1836.”

A director of plays and musicals, new works and classics, his diverse credits include: the celebrated production of Stephen Sondheim and Arthur Laurents’ “Anyone Can Whistle” (incorporating revisions made by Michetti and approved by the authors) at the Matrix Theatre; David Hare’s “Amy’s View” starring Carol Lawrence at Florida Rep; David Mamet’s “A Life in the Theatre” starring Hal Holbrook at the Pasadena Playhouse; the world premiere of “Ouroboros” by The Theatre @ Boston Court’s literary manager Tom Jacobson (LA Weekly Award - Production of the Year); acclaimed productions of Brecht’s rarely staged “Edward II” and Aphra Behn’s restoration comedy “The Rover,” both for Circle X at the Actors’ Gang Theatre; the world premiere of Sheila Callaghan’s “Crawl, Fade to White” at Theatre of NOTE; the Ovation-nominated productions of “Titanic” for Civic Light Opera of South Bay Cities and “Sweeney Todd” starring Amanda McBroom and George Ball; “As You Like It” and Moliere’s “Don Juan” for A Noise Within; and the recent Reprise! production of the musical “Li’l Abner” starring Cathy Rigby and Fred Willard.

He is a double Ovation Award winner (as director and co-producer, with Eileen T’Kaye) for his production of “A Midsummer Night’s Dream,” set in British colonized India.  Michetti has received numerous theatre honors including Ovation, Los Angeles Drama Critics Circle, L.A. Weekly, Back Stage West Garland, and Drama-Logue Awards, among others.

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