The show opens in Spain in the late 16th Century. Miguel de Cervantes has been thrown into prison after the Spanish Inquisition with his manservant. The other inmates threaten them and take their possessions, but they decide to set up a mock trial. If found guilty they will have to give over all of their possessions. Cervantes agrees to this except for a manuscript that he wants to preserve. He decides to deliver his defence in the form of a play, and pulls out a make up trunk to transform himself into Alonso Quijana, a Knight. He renames himself Don Quixote and sets out to find adventure with his trusty squire Sancho Panza. The pair are always in danger and under attack from Quixote’s enemy the evil Enchanter. This puts them on edge and they mistakenly attack a windmill and are defeated by it. Quixote thinks it is because he hasn’t properly been made a knight, so as he spots a castle he tells Panza to announce their arrival. The castle is really an inn, and Cervantes makes the other prisoners play the parts of serving wenchs, as well as part time prostitute Aldonza. As Quixote enters the inn, he mistakes Aldonza as the lady Dulcinea whom he swore everlasting loyalty to and serenades her.

Antonia, Quixote’s niece seeks advice from a local priest who realises that the girls are concerned with the knight’s madness and the shame it will bring the family. Antonio’s fiance is a bitter and cynical man who is upset at the prospect of having a madman in his extended family. Antonia convinces him that it would be a welcome challenge to cure him, so they decide to look after Quixote and bring him home.

Aldonza continues to be taunted by the male shepherds and is upset at her position. She questions why Sancho follows his master, and he admits to really liking him. Quixote is determined to be made a knight and asks the innkeeper to knight him. He agrees to do so if Quixote stands guard all night. That night he explains to Aldonza why he behaves the way he does, with the main song from the show, ‘The Impossible Dream’. Aldonza’s customer Pedro is furious she is late for their meeting and hits her, prompting a fight between the shepherds and Quixote who is later asked to leave the inn, but not before he is knighted by the Innkeeper. With his new title, he is determined to help the shepherds, who capture and rape Aldonza whilst Quixote remains unaware.

Don Quixote and Sancho leave the inn to join a troupe of Gypsies who steal everything from them, including their horse and donkey. They return to the inn and Quixote swears to avenge Aldonza, but she begs him to leave her alone. His mortal enemy the Enchanter arrives prompting combat. He forces him to see himself how everyone else sees him – as a fool and a madman. Cervantes tells the prisoners that his story has come to an end, but everyone is dissatisfied with the ending and force him to tell a final scene.

Quixote is lying in a coma surrounded by his friends and a priest is called as he believes himself to be dying. Aldonza rushes in to see him, but he fails to recognise her. She sings Dulcinea to him to jog his memory and he rises, asking once again to be the Man of La Mancha. Mid song, he breaks down and dies.

Cervantes is brought from the prison to face trial as the prisoners sing a reprise of ‘The Impossible Dream’ to wave him off.

Act I 

• Overture
• Man Of La Mancha (I, Don Quixote)
• The Windmill
• It’s All The Same
• Dulcinea
• I’m Only Thinking Of Him
• I’m Only Thinking Of Him (Reprise)
• I Really Like Him
• What Does He Want
• The Barber’s Song
• Golden Helmet Of Mambrino
• To Each His Dulcinea (To Every Man His Dream)
• The Impossible Dream (The Quest)

• The Combat
• Little Bird, Little Bird
• The Dubbing
• Knight Of The Woeful Countenanc
• The Abduction
• Moorish Dance
• Aldonza
• The Knight Of The Mirrors
• A Little Gossip
• Dulcinea Reprise
• Impossible Dream (Reprise)/Man Of La Mancha (Reprise)
• The Psalm
• Finale (The Impossible Dream)
• Bows
• Exit Music

1966 Tony Awards: Best Musical, Best Performance by a Leading Actor, Best Direction, Best Original Score, Best Scenic Design.