“¡Dulcinea!...” o la reivindicación de un sueño: El <i>Quijote</i> de Ricardo López Aranda, 1973

In 1973, Ricardo López Aranda adapted Don Quijote de la Mancha for production at the Teatro Nacional de Juventudes, a cultural institution dedicated to promoting children's theater under the auspices of the Sección Femenina. Despite its significance during the late Franco era, this adaptation has been largely overlooked by theater critics and scholars of Cervantes. This article delves into its role as a cultural artifact in children's theater and its place in the historiography of Don Quixote’s theatrical performances, representing the first scholarly examination of its impact. Moreover, this study sheds light on a neglected facet of literary and theatrical history, enriching our understanding of the enduring legacy of Cervantes’ masterpiece.