Spamalot

The Tony Award-winning Best Musical of 2005, Monty Python’s Spamalot, will visit New Orleans for eight performances from Tuesday, December 14 – Sunday, December 19, 2010 at the Mahalia Jackson Theater. Monty Python isn’t a person, but a group of British actors and writers (and one American) that performed their famous comedy show Monty Python’s Flying Circus on the BBC from 1969 to 1974, with subsequent international fame and success.

Lovingly “ripped-off” from the internationally famous comedy team’s most popular motion picture, Monty Python and the Holy Grail, Monty Python’s Spamalot is the winner of three 2005 Tony Awards including Best Musical and Best Director (Mike Nichols), as well as the Drama Desk and Outer Critics Circle Awards for Best Musical. The original cast recording of Monty Python’s Spamalot won the 2006 Grammy Award for Best Musical Show Album.

Based on the Tony Award winning direction of Mike Nichols and the riotous choreography of Casey Nicholaw, 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 Mr. Idle and John Du Prez.

Telling the legendary tale of King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table and their quest for the Holy Grail, Monty Python’s Spamalot features a chorus line of dancing divas and knights, flatulent Frenchmen, killer rabbits and one legless knight.

Monty Python’s Spamalot is produced by Stephen B. Kane, Michael McFadden and Phoenix Entertainment. Mike Nichols has been acclaimed as one of the great American directors in film, theater and television. He has won an Academy Award and eight Tony Awards. He recently received the Directors’ Guild of America Award for Lifetime Achievement as well as a DGA Award for the direction of the HBO adaptation of Angels in America.

Casey Nicholaw’s outstanding work on Monty Python’s Spamalot earned him nominations for the Tony Award, the Outer Critics Circle Award and the Drama Desk Award. He followed up Monty Python’s Spamalot with another smash hit Broadway musical, The Drowsy Chaperone for which he earned numerous nominations as director and choreographer.

Aside from his work with Monty Python in films and on TV, Eric Idle has written a West End play, Pass the Butler; three novels, including The Road to Mars, The Rutles – A Mockumentary; and many songs too rude to mention. He has sung opera, acted in movies, appeared on television and crossed America performing comedy on The Greedy Bastard Tour. His diary of his 15,000 mile journey by bus was recently published by Harper Collins, and his long awaited sequel The Rutles2: Can’t Buy Me Lunch was released by Warner Video in March. There’s no saying what he might do next…

John Du Prez has composed over 20 feature film scores including A Fish Called Wanda, A Private Function, The Meaning of Life, Personal Services, UHF, and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles I, II & III. He has worked with Eric Idle since 1978.

For more information, visit www.MontyPythonsSpamalot.com

Schedule and Tickets
The performance schedule is Tuesday through Friday at 8:00PM, Saturday at 2:00PM and 8:00PM and Sunday at 2:00PM and 7:30PM.

For more information and tickets, visit http://www.mahaliajacksontheater.com or the Mahalia Jackson Box Office. Tickets are also available at all Ticketmaster locations, www.ticketmaster.com or via phone at 800-982-2787 (ARTS). Group discounts for 20 or more are available by calling 504-287-0372. The Mahalia Jackson Theater is located in Armstrong Park at 801 N. Rampart Street, New Orleans, Louisiana. Information on the Broadway Across America – New Orleans series and venue policies and accommodations may be obtained online at www.mahaliajacksontheater.com. Group Sales information is available at 504-287 0372. Box Office information is available at 504-287-0351.

Playing at Mahalia Jackson Theater in 2011 are: West Side Story, March 15-20; SHREK THE MUSICAL, May 31- June 5; and a special 5-performance run of The Color Purple, February 11-13.