Actress pursues her own impossible dream to 'La Mancha'

It's been four centuries since the death of Spanish writer Miguel de Cervantes, but his beloved “Don Quixote” lives on through the musical “Man of La Mancha.” And the story is getting a modern-day twist at Lincolnshire's Marriott Theatre — something that has helped actress Danni Smith connect to her character.

Smith plays Aldonza, a prostitute whom Quixote (played by Nathaniel Stampley) sees as his beloved Dulcinea. The musical unfolds as a play within a play staged by prisoners. While Cervantes' story of Don Quixote takes place during the Spanish Inquisition, Marriott director Nick Bowling has set the prison scenes in modern times.

“In Nick's version, we really focus on who these people actually are and how that informs who they're playing in the Don Quixote fairy tale,” Smith said. “That makes it all resonate in a way for me that it hasn't resonated before.”

Audiences may feel the same way.

“We put the story in modern day with the notion that there are inquisitions still going today and there will always be inquisitions,” Bowling said.

While Smith is playing the female lead in “Man of La Mancha,” it wasn't always that way. The Chicago resident started off performing in small black box theaters with tiny roles.

“I worked my day job 8:30 to 5:30, then I would rush up to Rogers Park or wherever it was to make a 6:30 rehearsal and get home at 11,” Smith recalled. “Anytime I was in the car or train, I had headphones in listening to rehearsal recordings.

“You do it because you love it. You do it because you can't not do it or a part of your soul will die,” Smith said. “If that means you're tired or your body is a little bit broken, you still do it because you just have to.”

After working for many years as a non-equity actor, Smith got her big break and was put on the equity track by working with Bowling in Marriott's “City of Angels.”

“Man of La Mancha” will be Smith's first major production as an equity member, and the third time Bowling has cast her in one of his productions.

“I'm constantly astonished by her depth of emotional capabilities and honesty on stage,” Bowling said. “What she's able to bring out of the characters is always surprising and beautiful.”

Smith said “Man of La Mancha” poses thought-provoking questions such as “How can I live my dream within whatever my reality is?” And, “What can I do to leave this world better than I found it?” Smith has found her answer to these questions by co-founding Firebrand Theatre.

Smith and friend Harmony France launched Firebrand this past March. According to their website, Firebrand is a musical theater company “committed to employing and empowering women.”

For a musical to be considered, it has to first pass the Bechtel test: Two women have to be in a scene together and talk about something other than a man. It also has to pass the “the Firebrand test”: Does it have at least as many women as men? Does it lend itself to inclusive diverse casting? Does it empower women?

“What you see on stage needs to represent the world we live in,” said Smith. “We want to break down that barrier of the default for casting to be white actors unless otherwise specified. Diversity literally adds more color to the stage.”

“Man of La Mancha”

<b>Location:</b> Marriott Theatre, 10 Marriott Drive, Lincolnshire, (847) 634-0200 or <a href="http://marriotttheatre.com">marriotttheatre.com</a>

<b>Showtimes:</b> 1 and 8 p.m. Wednesday, 8 p.m. Thursday and Friday, 4:30 and 8 p.m. Saturday, 1 and 5 p.m. Sunday, through Aug. 14

<b>Tickets:</b> $50-$55