Clarence Brown Theatre to Present SPAMALOT, 4/24-5/11

Rude Frenchmen, cancan dancers, the Lady of the Lake and her Laker Girls, killer rabbits, and catapulting cows, are just some of the adventures and dangers awaiting King Arthur and his knights of the very, very, very round table in their quest for the holy grail playing on the Clarence Brown Theatre Stage April 24 - May 11, 2014! The production is sponsored by Schaad Companies, Pilot Flying J, the Mildred Haines and William Elijah Morris Lecture Endowment Fund and the Arts & Heritage Fund. Media sponsors are Comcast, WBIR, WUOT, WUTK, B97.5 and East Tennessee PBS.

"Monty Python's Spamalot" is the outrageous musical comedy lovingly ripped off from the cult classic motion picture "Monty Python and the Holy Grail." With music and lyrics by the Grammy Award-winning team of Eric Idle and John Du Prez and book by Mr. Idle, Spamalot tells the story of King Arthur and his Knights of the Round Table as they embark on their quest for the Holy Grail. Winner of three 2005 Tony Awards including Best Musical, this hysterically irreverent musical features a chorus line of dancing divas and several show-stopping musical numbers including "Always Look on the Bright Side of Life" and "The Song That Goes Like This".

During its initial run, the production was seen by more than two million people. In addition to its run on Broadway and UK's West End along with three North American tours, "Spamalot" has played to enthusiastic audiences in Australia, Switzerland, Canada, New Zealand, Spain, Germany, Hungary, Sweden, Belgium, Czech Republic, France, Ireland, Italy, Netherlands, Mexico, Japan, South Korea, Norway, and Poland.

Bill Jenkins (Director) has previously directed two versions of "It's A Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play" and "Violet" at the CBT. He also has directed in Chicago at Drury Lane Oakbrook Theatre, Noble Fool Theatricals and Famous Door Theatre Company and regionally at the Actor's Theatre of Indiana, Illinois Shakespeare Festival, Summer Studio Theatre Company at the Krannert Center and Nebraska Repertory Theatre. He is the Chair of Ball State University's Department of Theatre and Dance where he serves as a Professor of Musical Theatre, Directing, and Acting. He received his Master of Fine Arts degree in directing from Illinois State University, and also holds a Master and a Bachelor's degree from Ball State University in Speech Communications and Acting.

"I have so enjoyed working with the extraordinary team assembled at the CBT on this simply joyful and hilarious play. I love comedy and NOTHING is as funny as this show. This cast is one of the best I have ever worked with," Jenkins said.

The cast is comprised of visiting guest artists, UT faculty, graduate and undergraduate students and community actors.

Visiting guest artist, Katie Cunningham (Lady of the Lake), is from Georgia and lives in NYC. Most recently, she was seen at the CBT in "Noises Off." She also has performed at the Arkansas Rep, Asolo Rep, NY International Fringe, PlayMakers Rep, Northern Stage and the American Place Theatre. David Kortemeier (King Arthur) has appeared on numerous occasions at the CBT. His credits include: "A Christmas Carol" for three seasons; "Noises Off"; "Sweeney Todd"; and "The Music Man" to name a few. His work as also been seen at The Repertory Theatre of St. Louis, The Great Lakes Theatre Festival in Cleveland, Drury Lane Theatre and Fox Valley Repertory in Chicago, the Indiana Festival Theatre in Bloomington, IN and in13 seasons with the Illinois Shakespeare Festival in Bloomington, IL.

UT faculty and graduate actors include: Neil Friedman (Sir Bedevere, Herbert's Father, Galahad's Mother); CBT Production Artistic Director Calvin MacLean (French Taunter, Historian, Knight of "Ni!"); Micah-Shane Brewer (Sir Robin/Guard 2/Brother Maynard); Brian Gligor (Dennis/Galahad, Black Knight, Concorde); Steve Sherman (Patsy, Mayor, Guard 1); and Tramell Tillman (Sir Lancelot, Tim the Enchanter).

UT undergraduate students include: Catherine Joy Davis (Ensemble); Alexandra Disterdick (Ensemble); Robert Parker Jenkins (Ensemble); Leo LaCamera (Ensemble); Shea Madison (Ensemble); McKinley Merritt (Ensemble); Ethan Roeder (Ensemble); Eric Sorrels (Prince Herbert, Not Dead Fred); and Alex Ward (Ensemble). The cast also will include the following community actors: Robert Stephan (Ensemble); Pedro Tomás (Ensemble and Dance Captain) and Kathryn E. Wright (Ensemble).

The artistic team includes: Terry Silver-Alford (Musical Director); Christie Zimmerman (Choreographer); Christopher Pickart (Scenic Designer); Tim Hatley (Costume Designer); Yael Lubetzky (Lighting Designer); Joe Court (Sound Designer); Joe Payne (Projection Designer); Erica Tobolski (Voice & Dialect Coach) and Alex Dearmin (Stage Manager).

With a dual mission to train the next generation of theatre artists and to provide top quality professional theatre, the Clarence Brown Theatre at the University of Tennessee Knoxville is one of only 12 academic LORT (League of Resident Theatre) institutions in the nation. Under the artistic direction of Calvin MacLean, the CBT season runs from August through May and features eight productions ranging from musicals to drama. For more information or tickets, call the CBT Box Office at 865-974-5161 or visit us online at clarencebrowntheatre.com.

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