Washington, DC - GALita, a program for the entire family, is proud to celebrate the legacy of the Spanish writer Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra with the world premiere of Nuevas aventuras de Don Quijote by Patricia Suárez and Cornelia Cody. Commissioned by GALA Hispanic Theatre and directed by Ms. Cody, this world premiere bilingual adaptation will be presented at GALA Theatre, 3333 14th Street NW, Washington, DC 20010 from October 20 through October 31, 2015. The theater is located one block north of the Columbia Heights Metro station on the Green/Yellow lines. Parking is available at the Giant garage on Park Road NW. 

Based on Don Quijote de La Mancha, considered the first modern novel and a classic of Western literature by Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra, this adaptation is a sequel to Las aventuras de Don Quijjote de La Mancha, which GALA commissioned and produced in 2012. This new bilingual version with lively music stages more misadventures of the gentleman from La Mancha and his loyal squire Sancho Panza.  The idealistic dreamer again takes up his lance and sword to defend the helpless and to fight injustice as he as roams the Spanish countryside with his sidekick battling windmills and embroiling themselves in hilarious episodes of mistaken identities.

“I hope,” states director Cody, “that through the chivalry of this Spanish nobleman, children and young adults will see the importance of following their dreams and believing in the goodness of humanity, in spite of obstacles they may face in their lives.”

Student matinees for Nuevas aventuras de Don Quijote are scheduled week days on October 20-23 and October 26–October 30, 2015 at 10:30 am.  Performances for the general public are  on Saturday, October 24 and Saturday, October 31 at 3 pm.  The duration of the show is approximately 70 minutes and the content is appropriate for the entire family, but in particular for ages 5 through 9. Tickets are $10 each (children), Adults $12 (general public performances). For more information call 202-234-7174 or visit www.galatheatre.org.

Patricia Suárez is a writer, poet and playwright from Argentina who is a part of a new generation of Argentine playwrights who are experimenting with form and content. Among her children’s plays are Las aventuras de Don Quijote de La Mancha, which GALA commissioned; Herr Klement; and Leones, osos y

perdices, among others. She is also a published author of children’s books and a regular contributor to newspapers and publications in Argentina and Uruguay.

 Cornelia Cody is a poet, playwright, and the author of children's books, textbooks, and academic papers on humor. She has written and/or adapted bilingual scripts for GALA, Discovery Theatre at the Smithsonian, Theatre Hopkins, and Children's Theatre Association.

Nuevas aventuras de Don Quijote features Roberto Colmenares as Don Quijote, and Omar Alexander Iraheta as Sancho Panza. Mr. Colmenares appeared in GALita’s Tum Tica: una historia de música y familia, and Mariela en el desierto and Los empeños de una casa at GALA last season. Mr. Iraheta reprises the role he played in a previous production of Las aventuras. Other cast members are Lucrecia Basualdo, who also appeared in Las aventuras de Don Quijote de La Mancha, and Mike Thomas, Thais Menendez, and José Antonio Gonzalez Alva, who are appearing in their first GALita production.

The production is made possible with the generous support of Target, the City Fund, and the Inter-American Development Bank.