Don Quixote Comes Alive with a Modern Twist at Portland Center Stage

 In its third and final stop on a tour of the West Coast, Portland Center Stage opens an adaptation of the classic 17th century novel by Miguel Cervantes, Don Quixote. Quixote Nuevo is written by playwright Octavio Solis. Author of over 20 plays, Solis is considered by many to be one of the most prominent Latino playwrights in America, and served as one of three cultural consultants, and as a voice actor, in Disney/Pixar’s acclaimed film, Coco. The show runs  from  March 2 – 31. Tickets are on sale now, including sliding scale tickets for BIPOC Affinity Night, also known as  The People’s Party, on Friday, March 15, at 7:30 p.m.  

Quixote Nuevo, unfolds as an enchanting exploration of self-discovery. Aging Cervantes professor Jose Quijano embarks on a whimsical escapade when faced with relocation to an assisted living facility. Riding his valiant tricycle steed, he transforms into Don Quixote, embarking on a fantastical quest through the Texas desert to reunite with his long-lost love. Blurring the lines between reality and fantasy, Solis weaves a tapestry of vibrant Tejano music, puppetry and exhilarating storytelling. Directed by Lisa Portes, this profound and humorous  journey invites audiences to reflect on becoming the hero of their own story. 

“It is a joy and an honor to bring Octavio Solis’s breathtaking voice to PCS,” says Artistic Director Marissa Wolf. “Love, longing and mayhem light up the stage in Lisa Portes’ theatricality; the puppets alone make me gasp and weep as we follow Quijano at the end of his life.” 

The cast of Quixote Nuevo includes entirely fresh faces to the PCS stage: Tony Sancho as Jose Quijano/Don Quixote (joining the cast in the Portland production only); Ernie González Jr. as Manny Diaz/Sancho Panza; Raúl Cardona as Papa Calaca/Cardenio; Laura Crotte as Magdalena/Perla; Viviana Garza as Antonia/Inez; Maya Malan-Gonzalez as Dr. Campos/ Dulcinea; Lakin Valdez as Bruno/Young Quijano; Alicia Coca as Rosario/Juana; and Sol Castillo as Padre Perez.