Casting Announced for Australian Production of Spamalot

Today at Melbourne's Federation Square, the Australian cast of Monty Python's Spamalot, was announced under a massive inflatable recreation of Monty Python's iconic "Foot of God".

The cast of the smash hit musical will include legend of stage and screen, Bille Brown (productions at RSC, Howard Katz at Sydney Theatre Company, "Young Indiana Jones") as King Arthur, newcomer Lucinda Shaw (We Will Rock You) as The Lady of the Lake, Stephen Hall (Fiddler on the Roof, The Pajama Game, "Neighbours," "Pheonix and Janus") as Sir Lancelot and Derek Metzger (42nd Street at Theatre Royal Drury Lane, Green Room Award for Me and My Girl) as King Arthur's faithful servant and coconut keeper, Patsy.  It wil also feature Ben Lewis (Priscilla, Queen of the Desert) as Sir Galahad, Jason Langley (Merrily We Roll Along at Sydney Theatre Company) as Sir Robin, Mark Conaghan (many productions at Queensland Theatre Company) as Prince Herbert and David Whitney (Summer Rain at the Sydney Theatre Company, many productions at the Melbourne Theatre Company) as Sir Bedevere.

Monty Python's Spamalot commences performances at Her Majesty's Theatre, Melbourne on November 20 ahead of the Australian Premiere set for December 1.

Tickets will go on sale to the general public in September. But for today only, anyone who visits the Spamalot ticket booth at Federation Square will be able to buy tickets to the show "that sets musical theatre back 1,000 years." At the stroke of 8.00pm tonight the booth will close forever… or at least until September.

Directed by Mike Nichols, Monty Python's Spamalot features a book and lyrics by Eric Idle, music by John Du Prez and Idle, and choreography by Casey Nicholaw. The show is "lovingly ripped-off" from the classic film, Monty Python and the Holy Grail by Monty Python creators Graham Chapman, John Cleese, Terry Gilliam, Eric Idle, Terry Jones and Michael Palin. 

"Telling the legendary tale of King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table, and their quest for the Holy Grail, Spamalot features a chorus line of dancing divas and knights, flatulent Frenchmen, a killer rabbit and one legless knight," state press materials.

Winner of the 2005 Tony Award for Best Musical, Spamalot was the most lauded show of the 2004-2005 Broadway season. In addition to Best Musical, legendary film and stage director Mike Nichols received his eighth Tony Award for his direction.

The musical has shattered box office records at Broadway's Shubert Theatre, at the Palace Theatre in London's West End, and on tour throughout North America. 

Spamalot is lead produced in Australia by Boyett Ostar Productions, and Michael Coppel.

Visit www.montypythonsspamalot.com for more information.