Theater artists Sean Anderson and Tess Burgler are carrying the torch by mounting the epic musical “Man of La Mancha” now, nearly three decades after their parents did the classic fantasy together.
Anderson, 48, is the son of late opera singer Alfred Anderson, who made the eternal Don Quixote character his signature role a handful of times throughout his career. It was by far his favorite role.
That included serving as the leading man in Porthouse Theatre’s production of “Man of La Mancha” in 1997, where Tess Burgler’s father, Terry Burgler, first directed Alfred. Alfred saved the day that season after Broadway actor Ken Howard had to back out of the role.
That was the beginning of nearly two decades of collaboration between Terry and Alfred, who became a lifelong family friend to the Burglers. Alfred Anderson, who starred in international opera productions, spent his later career working locally, teaching opera at the University of Akron. He died in 2016.
Tess Burgler, who was 11 when her father directed “Man of La Mancha” at Porthouse, remembers doing dinners with the Andersons and hanging out with their kids, including Sean’s sister Sara (now Ragon), as a child.
Tess Burgler went on to work full time in theater with her parents, including mother Nancy Cates, with Ohio Shakespeare Festival in Akron. Sean Anderson, an operatic baritone born in New York, followed in his father’s footsteps after graduating from Firestone High School in Akron, studying vocal performance at the College Conservatory of Music at the University of Cincinnati, where he also received a master’s degree in opera.
Baritone son inherits love for role
Sean Anderson’s love of “Man of La Mancha” and the Don Quixote character is deep-rooted, thanks to his father’s influence. He remembers being just 7 when he watched his dad practice the role for his first time as Quixote in Mississippi, when Alfred taught at the University of Southern Mississippi.
“I learned it by osmosis” watching his father in 1984, Sean Anderson said of the role.
The youngster became so enamored of Don Quixote, he dressed as the character for Halloween that year. Young Sean made armor out of cardboard, a helmet out of tinfoil and created a shield and spear.
“If you’re exposed to that world of theater at that age, it will become a part of your life,” he said. “It’s inevitable, the world of fantasy make-believe that you can do throughout your entire life. What couldn’t be more potent for a child of that age?”
In this story, based on the 17th-century novel “Don Quixote” by Miguel de Cervantes, Cervantes is in prison during the Spanish Inquisition. To save both his sanity and his manuscript, Cervantes and his fellow prisoners perform a play-within-a-play that tells the story of the elderly Don Quixote, who goes on a quest to right the wrongs in the world.
In Northeast Ohio, Alfred Anderson played Quixote in a UA production that happened at the Akron Civic Theatre. Sean played a guard in that show with his father.
In the last three decades, Sean Anderson has performed in Baz Luhrman’s production of “La Boheme” in Los Angeles and has performed with the New York City Opera, Santa Fe Opera, Sarasota Opera and throughout the world. He now lives with his wife and daughter in Tamasse, South Carolina.
Since he’s reached his 40s, he’s been working full time in online fantasy gaming, running games, creating worlds and doing character voices.
Younger generation reconnects
During COVID-19, Sean Anderson reconnected with Tess Burgler and her husband, Ryan Zarecki, through a weekly Dungeons and Dragons game that he ran. He also visited Ohio Shakespeare during the Christmas season in 2024, when he returned to the Akron area to visit his mother, Sally Ann, and sister, Sara Ragon.
He talked to Tess Burgler that Christmas about his dream of playing Quixote. Now, he’s doing that role for the first time, at Ohio Shakespeare Festival.
“Man of La Mancha” had long been on Ohio Shakespeare’s bucket list and knowing they had the perfect Quixote clinched the deal, Tess Burgler said.
“It’s a really lovely full circle moment to have me (Terry’s daughter) directing Sean (Alfred’s son) in what promises to be a really special play,” she said by email last summer.
Suiting up for ‘La Mancha’
Sean, who wears leather armor as Don Quixote, received it as a gift from his Dungeons and Dragons live action role-playing friends. The leather vest will be “dirtied up” for the show to make it look like it’s been in a church basement for centuries.
He also wears a golden helmet and special leather boots that fasten up the sides.
Sean also borrowed a number of Quixote accessories, including a long lance, from a friend in Knoxville, Tennessee.
Working on “Man of La Mancha” has been emotional for Sean Anderson. The actor said lots of repetition preparing on his own has helped him control his emotions.
“I call it the dad factor,” he said. “Sure, you want to be emotional. But it’s the actor’s job to make the audience feel emotional. You indulge too much in your own (emotion), you really are not doing your job.”
Messages in musical
Both Tess Burgler and Sean Anderson love the show because it shows people discovering the magic of theater. Cervantes’ Don Quixote’s world is a fantasy world of goodness, knights, ladies and chivalry. Through story, Cervantes is able to change his fellow prisoners’ minds.
The show’s most famous song, “The Impossible Dream,” speaks to just that, “the idea that a story maybe has more value and more inherent worth, even if it’s not true, than reality,” Tess Burgler said.
Fear of failure never stops Don Quixote on his seemingly impossible quest.
“The whole central message of the show is very uplifting. Just because something is difficult and you may not succeed does not mean that you shouldn’t try. There’s nobility in the attempt. Even if you know the result of what you’re doing, you have to be true to yourself, you have to make that effort. Because in the end … it will mean as much as if you had actually succeeded in what you attempted to do,” Sean said.
Arts and restaurant writer Kerry Clawson may be reached at 330-996-3527 or kclawson@thebeaconjournal.com.
Details
Musical: “Man of La Mancha”
When: Opens March 5, continuing through March 20, 8 p.m. Thursday-Saturdays, 2 p.m. Sundays, additional 2 p.m. matinee March 21
Where: Ohio Shakespeare Festival, Greystone Hall, 103 S. High St., Akron
Onstage: Sean Anderson, Trey Gilpin, Kate Michalski, Cody Swanson, Brian Johnson, Mikaela Ray, Stephanie Cargill, James Newton, Sydney Noelle Warren, Ryan Zarecki, Peter Seidl, Jon Fancher, Lysander Mills, Anthony Nunez, Rachel Fichter, Derrick Winger
Offstage: Dale Wasserman, book; Mitch Leigh, music; Joe Darion, lyrics; Tess Burgler, director; Ken Lear, music director; Ryan Zarecki, fight director; Natalie Steen, set design; Marty LaConte, costume design; Buddy Taylor, lighting design; Brian Pedaci, sound mixing
Cost: $5-$50
Information: ohioshakespearefestival.com, 330-574-2537
This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: ‘Man of La Mancha’ director, actor continue fathers’ passions in Akron show
Reporting by Kerry Clawson, Akron Beacon Journal / Akron Beacon Journal
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
