Camelot Tour, with York, York & Barbour, Plays 5th Avenue

British stage and film legend Michael York (The Three Musketeers, Cabaret, Logan's Run, Austin Powers) kicks off Seattle's spring theater season starring as King Arthur in a new touring production of Lerner & Loewe's Camelot.  Glenn Casale directs this re-staging of the original script, adapted by Michael A.M. Lerner and co-produced by Liza Lerner, Alan Jay Lerner's son and daughter.   It runs March 20th through April 8th, with opening night set for March 22nd.
 
Michael York famously portrayed Brian Roberts in Bob Fosse's Oscar-winning film Cabaret, D'Artagnan in The Three Musketeers, and Basil Exposition in all three wildly successful Austin Powers movies. His Broadway credits include Someone Who'll Watch Over Me, The Little Prince, Bent, The Crucible, and the world premiere of Tennessee Williams' Outcry. Camelot marks York's North American touring debut.

"The musical is set in King Arthur's enchanted kingdom, a place where honor and chivalry reign, where "might for right" is the new creed, and democracy flowers. When Queen Guenevere falls in love with Sir Lancelot, this idyllic land is placed in jeopardy. The splendid score includes the romantic and haunting 'If Ever I Would Leave You,' the captivating 'How To Handle a Woman' and the majestic 'Camelot.' The show originally opened in 1960 at New York's Majestic Theatre and was hailed by critics as the most lavish spectacle ever seen on Broadway, winning 4 Tony Awards. It caught the imagination of the country and its youthful president, John F. Kennedy, and Camelot became forever entwined with the American values of social equality and justice. Last seen at The 5th Avenue Theatre in 1999, Camelot was also presented at The 5th in 1981 with Richard Harris, who starred in the 1967 Warner Brothers film, in the title role," state press materials.
 
Like the original production, this new tour is occurring during a major shift in national politics. Lyricist Alan Jay Lerner's children, Liza and Michael A.M. Lerner, have revised Camelot for today's audiences.
 
"We have told this famous story in a new, very appealing and concise way," Liza Lerner explains. "Our new production of Camelot is a lot grittier and a little sexier. It's darker in texture to make the story more grounded." Lerner will discuss the show's re-staging, as well as her father's life and work, at Spotlight Night: Camelot on Tuesday, March 6 from 7 - 8:30 p.m. at The 5th Avenue Theatre. The event, sponsored by US Bank, is free and open to the public (visit www.5thavenue.org/spotlight).

Joining Michael York in this new production are two of Broadway's leading actors. Rachel York (no relation), best known from Broadway's Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, The Scarlet Pimpernel, and Victor/Victoria , and last seen at The 5th Avenue in the 2002 Kiss Me Kate tour, is torn between two lovers as Guenevere. James Barbour, the leading man of Broadway's Assassins, Jane Eyre, Urinetown, and Beauty and the Beast completes the love triangle as Lancelot. Other cast members include Stuart Ambrose, Eric Anderson, Suzanne Carlton, Venny Carranza, Tavis Danz, Sandi DeGeorge, Daniel Guzman, Sandy Hawker, Joanna Louise, Monica Louwerens, Grant Rosen, Joseph Sark, Leah Seminario, Shannon Stoeke, Megan Swanson, Jill Townsend, Robert J. Townsend, Alan M-L Wager, Shannon Warne, John B. Williford, Time Winters and Vincent Zamora. 
 
The show is directed by Glenn Casale (Peter Pan) and choreographed by Dan Mojica (Beauty and the Beast). The musical director is Craig Barna, the scenic designer is John Iacovelli (Peter Pan, The Twilight of the Golds). The costumes are designed by Marcy Froehlich, the lighting is designed by Tom Ruzika, and the sound is designed by Julie Ferrin. The fight direction, aerial sequences, and wigs are designed by Sean Boyd, Paul Rubin and Mitchell Hale, respectively.

Tickets are priced from $20 to $73. Tickets are available over the phone by calling (206) 625-1900 / toll free (888) 5TH-4TIX, online at www.5thavenue.org or in person at the box office in downtown Seattle. There is no service charge when purchasing tickets in person at The 5th Avenue Theatre Box Office.