Movies - Spamalot

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	Movies - Spamalot

Monty Python's Spamalot is a comedic musical based on the film Monty Python and the Holy Grail
(1975). Like the film, it is a highly irreverent and very silly mockery of Arthurian Legend, but it differs from the film in many other ways, especially its parodies of Broadway theatre. Eric Idle, a member of the Monty Python team, wrote the musical's book and lyrics, and collaborated with John Du Prez on the music. Running since March 17, 2005, it was directed by Mike Nichols, and won the Tony Award for Best Musical of the 2004-2005 season.

Spamalots plot follows King Arthur as he journeys to find the Holy Grail. Arthur, travelling with his servant Patsy, recruits several knights to accompany him on his quest, including Sir Robin, Sir Lancelot and Sir Galahad. Along the way, they meet the Lady of the Lake and a host of other odd characters, including Prince Herbert, The French Taunter, Tim the Enchanter, the Black Knight
and the Knights of Ni
.
Cast
The original cast includes Tim Curry
as King Arthur, Michael McGrath as Patsy, David Hyde Pierce
as Sir Robin, Hank Azaria
as Sir Lancelot and other roles (including the French Taunter and Tim the Enchanter), Christopher Sieber
as Sir Galahad (and two other roles heavily concealed), and Sara Ramirez as the Lady of the Lake. It also includes Christian Borle
as Prince Herbert and John Cleese
as the (recorded) voice of God.

Azaria's roles were taken over by Alan Tudyk
starting June 7, 2005; Azaria returned to the cast on December 2, 2005 after working on a new season of Huff. Ramirez left on December 18, to be replaced by Lauren Kennedy, and Simon Russell Beale took over Curry's role as the king on December 20.

Azaria and Pierce are contractually committed to the show until April 2006.
Production history
Previews of the show began in Chicago's Shubert Theatre on December 21, 2004; the show officially opened there on January 9, 2005 and was practically sold-out. It previewed on Broadway, also at the Shubert Theatre, beginning February 14, 2005, and, after some changes, officially opened on March 17, 2005. The Broadway previews were practically sold out leaving only obstructed view tickets for sale.

Amongst the changes, a musical version of the film's witch-hunting scene was eliminated when it moved to Broadway, as was a sequence featuring a singing cow.

A national tour of the musical will commence on March 7, 2006, at the Colonial Theater in Boston, Massachusetts. Starting in Spring 2007, a production of the musical will reside for ten years at the Wynn Las Vegas Broadway theatre, previously housing a failed production of Avenue Q.

Announced on 20 January 2006, a London production will open at the Palace Theatre on Shaftesbury Avenue, commencing 2 October 2006 (London premiere 16 October) with tickets on sale from 21 February 2006, booking to 30 March 2007. Tim Curry will reprise his Broadway role as King Arthur until December with Simon Russell Beale taking over from January. Hannah Waddingham will play the Lady of the Lake, and further casting is to be announced.
Critical reception and box-office
The original production has been both a financial and critical success. Variety reported advanced tickets sales of $18 million, with ticket prices ranging from $36 to $101. The advance broke Broadway box office history.

Monty Python fans appreciate its many references to the film and other material in the Python canon, including a line from "The Lumberjack Song", nods to the Ministry of Silly Walks, the Election Night Special and Dead Parrot Sketch routines, a rendition of the song "Always Look on the Bright Side of Life" from the film Monty Python's Life of Brian
(1979), and the "Fish Schlapping Song" which is a reference to both "The Fish-Slapping Dance" and the song "Finland". Another reference is actually part of the Playbill of the show; there are several gag pages about a musical entitled "Dik Od Triaanenen Fol (Finns Ain't What They Used To Be)".
[ Visit the complete Wikipedia entry for Spamalot ]

Some related entries: The Blue Lagoon | Goofy and Wilbur | 2000 in home video | Dogtown and Z-Boys | Harry Callahan | Frau im Mond | The Duchess and the Dirtwater Fox | Shakti Samanta | Babylon 5: Thirdspace | Doug Liman | A Tale of Two Cities
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Movies - Spamalot

Cast

Production history

Critical reception and box-office

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