Davis Gaines to Play King Arthur in MTW's SPAMALOT, 6/29-7/15

Paul Garman, Executive Director/Producer and Steven Glaudini, Artistic Director of Musical Theatre West, have announced that Davis Gaines (LA's Phantom of the Opera) will star in the upcoming MTW production of MONTY PYTHON'S SPAMALOT.

MONTY PYTHON'S SPAMALOT will preview on June 29 and run for 14 performances through July 15, 2012. It will be performed with the original Broadway sets and costumes and, as with all Musical Theatre West productions, is created from the ground up at its rehearsal studios in Long Beach using a blend of both professional actors from Broadway, Hollywood and national tours, and the best in local talent.

Davis Gaines returns to MTW after his critically acclaimed portrayal of Don Quixote (Cervantes) in MTW's recent smash-hit production of MAN OF LA MANCHA. Mr. Gaines performed the title role in Andrew Lloyd Webber's The Phantom of the Opera more than 2,000 times for more than five million people during his run on Broadway, in Los Angeles and in San Francisco, where he received the Bay Area Critics' Award for Best Actor. Mr. Gaines will play the role of King Arthur. The full cast is to be announced.

MONTY PYTHON'S SPAMALOT will be directed by MTW artistic director Steven Glaudini (MTW's ANNIE, THE PRODUCERS, LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS), with musical direction under the hand of John Glaudini (Ovation Award Winner MTW's SWEENEY TODD) and choreography by Billy Sprague, Jr.,(Regional: SPAMALOT) and will run June 29-July 15, 2012 at the beautiful Carpenter Performing Arts Center.

A musical "lovingly ripped off" from the internationally famous comedy troupe's classic film comedy "Monty Python and the Holy Grail," MONTY PYTHON'S SPAMALOT is the winner of three 2005 Tony Awards including Best Musical and Best Director, as well as the Drama Desk and Outer Critics Circle awards for Best Musical. MONTY PYTHON'S SPAMALOT features a book by Eric Idle, based on the screenplay of "Monty Python and the Holy Grail" by Monty Python creators Graham Chapman, John Cleese, Terry Gilliam, Eric Idle, Terry Jones and Michael Palin, with music and lyrics by the Grammy Award-winning team of Idle and John Du Prez.

MONTY PYTHON'S SPAMALOT spoofs the legendary tale of King Arthur's quest to find the Holy Grail. However, diverting a bit from the true story, this hilarious musical features such oddities as a line of beautiful dancing girls, flatulent Frenchmen and killer rabbits. Throughout the show King Arthur, traveling with his servant Patsy, recruits severAl Knights to accompany him on his quest, including Sir Bedevere, Sir Robin, Sir Lancelot and Sir Galahad. Besides the rabbits and farting Frenchmen, they meet such iconic Monty Python characters as the Lady of the Lake, Prince Herbert, Tim the Enchanter, Not Dead Fred, the Black Knight and the Knights Who Say Ni.

The performance schedule for MONTY PYTHON'S SPAMALOT is Thursdays and Fridays at 8 p.m., Saturdays at 2 p.m. and 8 p.m. (no 2 p.m. show on June 30), Sundays at 2 p.m., with a 7 p.m. performance added on July 8th. Tickets start at $20. There is a $3 service charge per ticket. Prices are subject to change without notice. Group rates are available for 15 or more. Musical Theatre West performs at the Carpenter Performing Arts Center located at 6200 E. Atherton Street, Long Beach, CA 90815.

Tickets for MONTY PYTHON'S SPAMALOT areon sale now andmay be purchased online at www.musical.org or by phone at 562-856-1999 x4. Tickets may also be purchased in person at the Musical Theatre West Box Office located at 4350 E. 7th Street, Long Beach, CA 90804 from noon to 6 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday.

MONTY PYTHON'S SPAMALOT is the fifth show of Musical Theatre West's 2011-2012 Season and is made possible through the generous contributions of Honorary Producer, Kathy Baker Campbell and Associate Producer, Universal Care.

Entering its 60th season, Musical Theatre West is Southern California's premier musical theatre company. Under the leadership of Executive Director/Producer Paul Garman and Artistic Director/Producer Steven Glaudini, the company has garnered numerous awards and accolades for its work presenting the entire spectrum of musical theatre (including 26 L.A. Stage Alliance Ovation Award nominations over the past three seasons and the LADCC Margaret Harford Award for Sustained Excellence in the Theatre).

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