Theatre in the Park to Open 48th Season with SPAMALOT

The zany antics of Monty Python and the Holy Grail play out in the hysterical musical SPAMALOT, the season opener for Theatre in the Park opening Friday night, June 2.

The musical runs through Sunday, June 4, and then continues its run Wednesday, June 7 through Saturday, June 10. The box office opens at 6 p.m. and the gates to the seating bowl open at 6:30 p.m.; the show begins at 8:30 p.m. Monty Python's "SPAMALOT" is rated PG-16.

Veteran TTIP Director Barb Nichols has assembled a talented cast of local performers to bring this zany musical to life. TTIP's SPAMALOT creative team also includes Martha Risser as music director/conductor and Mindy Mortiz as choreographer. SPAMALOT features a book and lyrics by Eric Idle and music by John Du Prez featuring such songs as "Always Look on the Bright Side of Live" and "The Song That Goes Like This".

This Tony-Award winning show is a whacky send up of King Arthur and his Knights of the Roundtable as they search for the Holy Grail. A bit irreverent but loads of fun, SPAMALOT was inspired by the film classic, "Monty Python and The Holy Grail". During his quest King Arthur, with the help of his servant Patsy, encounters the Lady of the Lake complete with beautiful dancing Laker girls, killer rabbits and a farting Frenchman. Regardless, Arthur is not deterred in his mission to find the Holy Grail, entertaining audiences along the way with his crazy compatriots.

"What deep, underlying messages can we take from SPAMALOT? I'm not sure there are any, but the show and humor from the 'Flying Circus' provided years of laughs for generations," said Nichols of the musical. "We are happy to continue the tradition."

This is Theatre in the Park's (TTIP) 48th season of musical entertainment featuring talent from all over the Kansas City metropolitan area. In addition to SPAMALOT, TTIP will present its first production at its new Indoor Black Box theatre - GREASE - at the Johnson County Arts + Heritage Center, located at 8788 Metcalf in Overland Park. GREASE opens on Friday, June 9.

Father and son, Matt and Wyatt Walberg are performing in this production together. Wyatt will leave the University of Hartford in the fall. Director Barb Nichols and Matt Walberg worked together at TTIP in its 1988 production of "West Side Story".

Lyndsey Agron is reprising her role of Lady of the Lake that she performed several years ago in "Spamalot" at the White Theatre of the Jewish Community Center-she loves that Lady!

Curt Crespino, who portrays Maynard, is the Vice Chancellor of Advancement at the University of Missouri-Kansas City

Jake Leet, who portrays Herbert, several years ago suffered a heart attack at the age of 20 while performing in "Shrek" at another area theater. Fast thinking helped Jake survive and now he is in good health and performing again.

James Azeltine, a member of the ensemble, is the Ward #4 City Councilman in Leawood.

Cast of "SPAMALOT":

(Character Name, Performer)

King Arthur: Brian Larios, Kansas City, MO
Lancelot: Guy Gardner, Overland Park
Patsy: Wyatt Walberg, Olathe
Galahad: Ken Koval, Lenexa
Robin/French Taunt: Kipp Simmons, Kansas City, KS
Bedevere: Russ Barker, Olathe
Lady of the Lake: Lyndsey Agron, Overland Park
Maynard/Ensemble: Curt Crespino, Olathe
Historian/Minstrel/Ensemble: Alec Bridges, Lee's Summit
Herbert: Jake Leet, Lawrence, KS
Not Dead Fred/Ensemble: Noah Kahn
Black Knight/Ensemble: Tyler Armer, Prairie Village

Dancing Female Ensemble

Emily Bridges, Lee's Summit
Rosemarie Maddock
Kara Mason, Shawnee
Sienna Radice, Shawnee
Danielle Johnson, Shawnee
Katherine Ruprecht

Dancing Male Ensemble

Carson Tate, Overland Park
Sam Wise, Overland Park
Dalton Homolka, Overland Park
Steven Scheffe, Lee's Summit

Vocal Female Ensemble

Ezri Killeen, Lenexa
Rachel Adcock, Lenexa
Laura Irwin, Kansas City, MO
Jeannette Bonjour, Overland Park

Vocal Male Ensemble

Tony Francisco, Overland Park
Matt Walberg, Olathe
James Azeltine, Leawood
Langston Hemenway

In addition to SPAMALOT, the 2017 TTIP season includes:

GREASE (June 9, 10, 11, 15, 16, 17, 18, 22, 23, 24, 25; directed by Tim Bair; Indoors)

CRAZY FOR YOU (June 16, 17, 18, 21, 22, 23, 24; directed by Kevin Bogan)

Disney's CAMP ROCK (June 30, July 1, 2, 5, 6, 7, 8; directed by Mark Swezey)

BACK TO THE 80s (July 14, 15, 16, 19, 20, 21, 22; directed by David Hastings)

Disney's BEAUTY AND THE BEAST (TTIP dates: July 28, 29 & 30, Aug. 2, 3, 4 & 5; White Theatre dates: July 8, 13, 15, 20 & 22 at 7:30 p.m. July 9, 16 & 23 at 2 p.m.; Directed by Steven Eubank)

Show times for the five outdoor 2017 TTIP outdoor productions is 8:30 p.m. TTIP Indoors evening productions are at 7:30 p.m.; matinee times vary slightly.

TTIP is holding the line on prices for the 2017 season with general admission only $8, youth $6, and children three and under may attend for free (but require a ticket for entrance). Limited reserve seating and parking is available. Tickets may be purchased online at www.theatreinthepark.org or at the theatre box office the nights of performance.

TTIP Indoor ticket prices are $20 for adults, $18 for seniors (60+) and $15 for Youth (up to 10 years of age). All seats for GREASE indoor at the Arts & Heritage Center are reserved seats and may be purchased online prior to opening.

MOVIES IN THE PARK are back for only one buck! Sponsored by Shawnee Mission Health, four movie nights are set for the summer: June 6- Disney's "Moana," June 20-"Sing," July 18- "Pitch Perfect" and Aug. 1- Disney/Pixar's "Finding Dory. Movie night details are available at the TTIP website, www.theatreinthepark.org/movies. On movie nights, gates open at 7:30 p.m. with movies starting at 8:30-8:45 p.m., depending on sunset.

The Theatre in the Park is located in Shawnee Mission Park at 7710 Renner Road, in Shawnee, KS, and is a program of the Johnson County Park & Recreation District. TTIP is the largest outdoor community theater in the country, and has been providing quality theatre entertainment in the community for more than four decades. Sponsors of the 2017 season include First National Bank and Shawnee Mission Health.

For more information including entire show synopses for all 2017 TTIP productions, visit www.theatreinthepark.org.

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