Nativity Catholic Church Hosting Production Of 'Man of La Mancha'

Brandon’s Tammy Modica, director of the upcoming local production of “Man of La Mancha,” can’t wait for the curtain to go up Friday, Aug. 19, on her latest show.

“The cast is amazing," Modica said. "They are all anxious to start performing in front of an audience. They are really ready for it. They look and sound amazing.”

The first performance is 7:30 p.m. Friday at Nativity Catholic Church, 705 East Brandon Blvd. The show, a production of the St. Stephen Theater Troupe, draws from all over Eastern Hillsborough.

Modica, a video and digital media director for Good News Ministries in Tampa and a Bloomingdale High graduate, has had a lifelong love for theater.

“I started acting in fifth grade, and then in high school I began doing more backstage work,” said Modica, 28. “It’s more fun for me backstage. I get to design and build sets, set the mood and the ambiance and really set up the entire show.”

“Man of La Mancha” is her second time in the director’s chair. Modica directed the St. Stephen troupe in “Little Women” last year.

Modica recruited some of the area’s top acting and singing talent for the popular musical.

“The cast and crew is pretty much equally divided between actors from St. Stephen, Nativity and local acting groups," Modica said.

Orchestra director Susanne Hathaway, a teacher at , employed the same strategy when picking her team with musicians from both churches.

Stage manager Kristen Lunden, 24, is working to make sure every light, set and microphone is working on opening night.

“It’s all worth when everything comes together in the end," Lunden said.

As it is with most theater productions, there’s been a run to get everything in place for the show, which started rehearsals in June.

“It’s been giant rush at the end, but I have a lot of confidence in the cast and crew," Lunden said.

The show is a “dream come true” for Peter Sanders, who plays Sancho Panza, Don Quixote’s faithful sidekick in the show. Dave Hickie plays Quixote.

“I have seen Dave perform in 10-15 shows over the years and really admired his work," Sanders said. "Getting the chance to work with him is great."

A singer all his life, Sander started acting in community theater five years ago. He has played Curly in “Oklahoma” and took on the lead role in “Sweeny Todd” last year with the Footlights Theatre Productions.

Sanders grew up in a musical family. His dad teaches music at Boyette Springs Elementary School, while his mom plays first violin in the Tampa Bay Symphony Orchestra.

“I just love telling a story and being part of it," Sanders said. "It brings me a fulfillment I have never gotten from anything else in my entire life. I just have to perform."

There are nerves among the cast, but that is only natural Saunders said.

“There’s nervous energy but we can just pour that into our performance," he said. "It will be a great performance.”

ST. STEPHEN THEATER TROUPE - MAN OF LA MANCHA

When/Where: Aug. 19-20 and 26, 7:30 p.m., Aug. 27 at 2 p.m., Nativity Catholic Church, 705 East Brandon Blvd., Brandon.

Cost: Tickets will be available at St. Stephen, 5049 Bell Shoals Rd., Valrico, after Mass and also at the parish office; $10 pre-sale, $12 at door. Call 813-689-4900 for info.