MITCH LEIGH Composer of MAN OF LA MANCHA Passes at 86
Born Jan. 30, 1928 in Brooklyn, NY, Leigh first penned incidental music for the Broadway productions of Too True to Be Good in 1963 andNever Live Over a Pretzel Factory in 1964. Following a premiere at the Goodspeed Opera House, Leigh’s musical Man of La Manchaopened on Broadway in 1965 and went on to win five Tony Awards, including Best Musical.
Man of La Mancha, which features lyrics by Joe Darion and a book by Dale Wasserman, ran for 2,328 performances on Broadway and spawned productions across the world. The production’s rousing anthem “The Impossible Dream” became an enduring classic.
Leigh’s other Broadway scores included Cry for Us All, Sarava, Chu Chem and Ain’t Broadway Grand. In addition to his scores, Leigh also staged Yul Brynner’s farewell appearance inThe King and I in 1985.