The dates for the upcoming London production of Monty Python's Spamalothave been rearranged. The madcap musical will now begin previews at the Palace Theatre on September 30th for an opening on October 17th. Tickets are currently on sale through May 26th.
The opening night was previously set for the same day, but previews were to have begun on October 2nd. Tim Curry
will return to the London stage after an absence of over 20 years to
open the London production as King Arthur, reprising the critically
acclaimed role he created on Broadway. In January of 2007 Curry, will hand
over the role of King Arthur to multi award-winning Simon Russell Beale. Among the perfomers will be Hannah Waddingham as
The Lady of the Lake, David Birrellas Patsy, Tom
Goodman-Hill as Sir Lancelot and Robert Hands as Sir Robin.Directed by Mike Nichols, Spamalot
features a book by Eric Idle, "lovingly ripped-off" from the screenplay of
the Pythons' best-loved film, Monty Python and the Holy Grail by Graham Chapman, John Cleese, Terry Gilliam, 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 serfs), flatulent Frenchmen, killer rabbits and a
legless knight," according to pres snotes.
Book and lyrics are by Idle with a Grammy Award-winning score by Idle and John Du Prez.
Other members of the Spamalot creative team include Casey Nicholaw
(choreography), multiple Olivier Award-winners Tim Hatley (sets and
costumes), Hugh Vanstone (lighting) and Acme Sound Partners. Larry Hochman
provided the orchestrations, Glen Kelly the music arrangements, Todd
Ellison the musical supervision and vocal arrangements, and Michael
England the music direction."Winning more Best Musical awards
than any other show in New York last year, including the Drama Desk and
Outer Critics' Circle Awards for Best Musical along with the Tony, Spamalot
has broken house records, playing to standing-room-only audiences since
opening to critical acclaim in March, 2005 at the flagship Shubert
Theatre on Broadway." In addition, Mike Nichols won his eighth Tony Award for direction of the musical. The show is produced by Boyett Ostar Productions.
