Kentwood’s upcoming drama production of the musical “Man of La Mancha” will feature an unusual literary device — a play within a play.

After exploring the dark, lonely world of blindness in “The Miracle Worker,” Kentwood’s Drama Director Rebecca Lloyd chose a story that addresses an equally somber topic, the Spanish Inquisition.

“I’ve always prided myself on choosing literature for the kids that makes them more aware about the world and not fluff,” she said.

Lloyd said the musical also has other admirable traits that attracted her to it. Not only did she appreciate its optimistic tone, but she liked the dialogue and the music, which proved to be a challenge for the students.

“It has a lot to do with where I think our country’s going and where we need to look at things in a brighter light and not in a negative way,” she said. “As an English teacher, I was really drawn to that (dialogue). The music is just brilliant. The Spanish temps are a challenge for these pups, there’s no doubt about it.”

The musical is based on the book by Dale Wasserman, which in turn is based on the classic Western novel “Don Quixote,” by Spanish soldier and writer Miguel Cervantes.

The musical takes place within the confines of a prison where Cervantes is being held during the Spanish Inquisition. In order to avoid the destruction of a manuscript at the hands of the other prisoners he is forced to put on a play. Cervantes plays the part of Alonso Quijana, an old man who has read too many tales of chivalry and decides to become a knight, calling himself “Don Quixote.”

The musical, Lloyd stated, very much reflects the world through the eyes of individuals like Don Quixote, who perceives everything through a positive light and are unaffected by their circumstances.

“It’s the knight kind of thing,” she said. “He becomes a knight in his mind.”

The parts of Cervantes/Alonso/Don Quixote are all played by KJ Knies, who previously played Helen Keller’s brother in “The Miracle Worker,” Prince Dauntless in “Once Upon a Mattress” and Romeo in “Romeo and Juliet.”

“I just love the story,” Knies said. “I think it’s one of those musicals that are so much larger than the story itself.”

To prepare for the role, Knies read the first four chapters of “Don Quixote,” though he said that the musical is very faithful to the original novel. Playing Don Quixote, he said, was relatively easy, and Alonso is only feature in one scene.

“I had to build upon Cervantes before I could discover how Don Quixote did things,” he said.

Lloyd said Knies has the acting chops for the role.

“With KJ, he’s really good at playing the two parts separately,” Llloyd said. “His voice changes. His physical demeanor changes.”

Cervantes unique perspective of life, channeled through Don Quixote, is manifested in his treatment and perception of Aldonza, a fellow prisoner. In the play within the play, she plays a prostitute whom Don Quixote views as a urbane, well-bred lady named Dulcinea.

Stepping out into her first starring role at Kentwood, freshman Francesca Curry-Edwards said she initially had difficulties with the role, due to an age discrepancy. Aldonza, who is 18, is usually played by actresses in their 30s. Additionally, she has no dialogue as Aldonza, as her only speaking roles are as Ducinea in the play within the play.

To help herself transition in and out of the character, Curry-Edwards said she created her own back story for Aldonza to help explain her personality.

“I had no idea who she was,” she said. “I created the story for her to better comprehend why she ended up in jail. She was probably an intellectual. When she came here (prison) no one else was an intellectual and she was probably raped a lot. I think she really hated herself being in prison.”

Despite the musical’s title, Knies said, he believes Aldonza is the true main character of the story.

“Don Quixote is just a catalyst for what happens to her,” he said. “She goes through the most changes. What comes through the most is that heartfelt message which is see life as it should be not as it is.”

“Man of La Mancha” will premiere at 7 p.m. on May 16 at the KentwoodPerforming Arts Center and will run on May 17-19 and May 24-26.