Palo Alto Players presents Monty Python's SPAMALOT

Grab your coconuts and gallop down to Palo Alto Players! From the collaborators behind the hit film, Monty Python and the Holy Grail, comes the Tony Award winning Best MusicAl Monty Python's Spamalot. Join King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table on their quest to find the Holy Grail, April 28 - May 14 at the Lucie Stern Theater, 1305 Middlefield Road, Palo Alto. Monty Python's Spamalot is directed and choreographed by Andrew Ceglio, with additional tap choreography by Stephanie Bayer and music direction by Katie Coleman. Tickets are on sale now online at www.paplayers.org or by phone at 650.329.0891.

As gleefully silly, yet wickedly smart as Monty Python, the beloved British comedy troupe that inspired it, Monty Python's Spamalot parodies the tale of King Arthur and his Knights of the Round Table as they embark on their quest for the Holy Grail. Monty Python's Spamalot features some mostly handsome Knights, a bevy of beautiful showgirls, not to mention cows, killer rabbits, and French people, before the familiar sound of clomping coconut shells brings down the curtain on this goofy, if satirically dead-on, comic delight. The original 2005 Broadway production, directed by Mike Nichols with Eric Idle writing the musical's book and lyrics, won three Tony Awards, including the Tony Award for Best Musical, and received 13 Tony Award nominations.

Monty Python's Spamalot will be directed and choreographed by Andrew Ceglio. Ceglio has been an independent artist in the Bay Area and Central Coast of CA for 16 years. His director credits include: Urinetown, Forever Plaid, Night At The Nutcracker, Lunch (Cabrillo Stage), Into The Woods (Scotts Valley Performing Arts), Little Prince (Tabard Theatre Company), and Shakespeare's Boy (8 10's). Most recently, he performed the role of Samovar (Groucho Marx) in Palo Alto Players' production of A Day in Hollywood / A Night in the Ukraine.

"The delight of this show is that it appeals to those who grew up with Monty Python, but also to comedy fans in general. A huge reason why Monty Python is still funny after all these years is because it is intelligent, truthful and sincere, a form of comedy that is rare to find these days." says Ceglio. "Monty Python's Spamalot also appeals to the immature child within us all. Anyone who loves to laugh and needs a good laugh. Anyone who loves musicals and anyone who hates musicals will love this show. Not only is the music catchy and beautifully written in moments, but a huge element of this show is actually making fun of musicals."

Ceglio directs a cast of 16 local Bay Area actors. Monty Python's Spamalot cast features:

King Arthur: Michael Monagle

Historian, Not Dead Fred, Prince Herbert: Eric Borchers

Patsy: Joey McDaniel

Sir Robin, Brother Maynard: Josiah Frampton

Sir Lancelot, Tim the Enchanter: Brad Satterwhite

Sir Dennis Galahad, Prince Herbert's Father: Nick Kenrick

Dennis's Mother, Sir Bedevere: Chris Mahle

The Lady of the Lake: Juliet Green

Ensemble: Sarah Liz Amoroso

Ensemble: Jimmy Ashmore

Ensemble: Melissa Baxter

Ensemble: Stephanie Bayer

Ensemble: Alysia Beltran

Ensemble: Lillian Kautz

Ensemble: Michelle Skinner

Ensemble: Kaitlin Zablotsky

The creative team also includes music direction by Katie Coleman, tap choreography by Stephanie Bayer, scenic design by Nikolaj Sorensen, costume coordination by Melissa Sanchez, lighting design by Rick Amerson, sound design by Grant Huberty, properties design by Scott Ludwig, projections design by Kedar Lawrence, and stage management by Jeff Grafton.

Tickets for Monty Python's Spamalot can be purchased online at www.paplayers.org, by phone at 650.329.0891, or by visiting the Box Office at the Lucie Stern Theater located at 1305 Middlefield Road in Palo Alto. Performances at the Lucie Stern Theater begin on April 29 and continue through May 14, with a preview performance on April 28. Performance times are Thursdays at 7:30pm, Fridays and Saturdays at 8pm, and Sundays at 2pm. Ticket prices range from $25 to $55. Discounts for seniors, educators, patrons under 30 (including students), and military are available for all performances except preview night. Special discounts of 20-25% for groups of 10 or more are also available.

Events taking place during the run of Monty Python's Spamalot include:

Opening Night AfterGlow Party

Saturday, April 29

Enjoy a post-show champagne reception with drinks and appetizers while meeting the cast, FREE with the purchase of a ticket for that evening's performance.

Post-Show Talkback Series

Thursday, May 4 and May 11

Enjoy our Talkback series with Director/Choreographer Andrew Ceglio and members of the cast following these performances, FREE with the purchase of a ticket for any performance during the run.

In cooperation with The City of Palo Alto, Monty Python's Spamalot and the shows of the 86th Season of Palo Alto Players are produced at the Lucie Stern Theater, located at 1305 Middlefield Road in Palo Alto, California. Use of this facility is made possible through support from The City of Palo Alto, Community Services Department, Division of Arts and Sciences, and from our patrons.

About Palo Alto Players

Founded in 1931, Palo Alto Players is the San Francisco Peninsula's first theatre company. Based at the Lucie Stern Theater, built explicitly for Palo Alto Players in 1933, Palo Alto Players produces a season of comedies, dramas, classics, and musicals from September to June. Audiences and participants come from all over the Bay Area to be a part of Palo Alto Players' productions. Palo Alto Players is committed to providing a meaningful theatre experience for both audience and production participants. Intrinsic in this is the belief that theatre benefits the community-at-large and enhances the quality of life of those who are touched by it through education, enlightenment, and enrichment. Palo Alto Players is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization established for public benefit.

For more information about Palo Alto Players and upcoming shows, please visit www.paplayers.org or call the box office at 650.329.0891. Follow Palo Alto Players on Twitter @PaloAltoPlayers or twitter.com/PaloAltoPlayers, on Instagram @PaloAltoPlayers, and on Facebook at facebook.com/PaloAltoPlayers.

To post a comment, you must register and login.