Dream the Impossible Dream at this Year's Mountain Play
One of Marin County's most beloved unique events is the famous Mountain Play—an outdoor theater experience on the slopes of Mt. Tamalpais that's been going strong for 96 years. 2009's Mountain Play production is the Tony Award-winning Man of La Mancha, a musical loosely based on both the 16th-century novel Don Quixote and the life of its author, Miguel de Cervantes.
Man of La Mancha features some of Broadways most unforgettable songs, including The Impossible Dream, Dulcinea, and I Don Quixote. It's directed by Mountain Play veteran and long time College of Marin drama professor James Dunn.
Shows take place at 1 pm in Mt. Tam's Cushing Memorial Amphitheater on May 24 and 31, and June 7, 13, 14, and 21. There's pre-show entertainment beginning at 11 am, consisting of Spanish, European, and Latin American music performed by local talent, in keeping with the play's Spanish setting. There will also be family entertainment before each of the six performances, including puppet shows by Randel Metz and face painting by the Tam High drama department.
Ticket prices range from $23–$40, and children 3 and under are free. Needless to say, tickets to this year's performance would make great Mother's Day gifts!
You can also buy premium packages (up to $165) that include parking, seating in the shade, and a catered lunch. It's a time-honored tradition, however, to pack your own picnic lunch and take the shuttle bus to the theater. Bonus points awarded if you decide to hike back down the mountain after the play into Mill Valley (shuttle buses at the Depot will take you back to the park-and-ride lot near the Buckeye).
The Mountain Play strives to be an eco-friendly event: the shuttle buses run on biodiesel, reusable stainless steel water bottles will be provided by the Marin Municipal Water District, and increased bike parking will be provided by the Marin County Bicycle Coalition.
To order tickets or for more information on this year's production and the Mountain Play experience, visit www.mountainplay.org or call (415) 383-1100.
