MONTY PYTHON Reunion Sells Out in 43 Seconds; Four Shows Added!

As BWW reported last week, the Monty Python comedy troupe will reunite for the first time in 15 years for a stage show. According to the BBC, The July 1st show went on sale at 10am today in the UK and was in such high demand, that tickets were sold out in a mere 43.5 seconds! Within an hour, organizers announced four additional dates. The show will now run from July 1st-5th at London's O2 Arena.

Troupe members Terry Jones, John Cleese, Eric Idle, Terry Gilliam and Michael Palin will reunite on stage for the special performances. Graham Chapman, who made up the original group of six, passed away of cancer in 1989. The show will be televised on July 1, 2014 in order that a larger audience may have the opportunity to see the legendary comedy performers.

Monty Python Live will be directed by Eric Idle, with choreography from Arlene Phillips. Carol Cleveland, the only major female performer on Monty Python's Flying Circus, will also appear. Following the London events, the show is expected to embark on an international tour.

Last week's special press conference announcing the news was held appropriately at The Playhouse Theater in London's West End, the venue where Idle's musical "Spamalot," based on the film "Monty Python and the Holy Grail," was staged. The original 2005 Broadway production of Spamolot, directed by Mike Nichols, won three Tony Awards, including the Tony Award for Best Musical of the2004-2005 season and received 14 Tony Award nominations. During its initial run of over 1,500 performances it was seen by more than two million people and grossed over $175 million.

Monty Python created Monty Python's Flying Circus, a British television comedy sketch show that first aired on the BBC on 5 October 1969. Forty-five episodes were made over four series. The Python phenomenon developed from the television series into something larger in scope and impact, spawning touring stage shows, films, numerous albums, several books and a stage musical as well as launching the members to individual stardom. The group's influence on comedy has been compared to The Beatles' influence on music.