Article 153
Chamberlain Led "Spamalot" Tour Returns to Detroit's Fisher Theatre
The Tony and Grammy Award winning Monty Python's Spamalot returns to Detroit's Fisher Theatre with Richard Chamberlain reigning as King Arthur for a limited two-week engagement February 3-15, 2009.
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. In addition the original cast recording of Monty Python's Spamalot won the 2006 Grammy Award for Best Musical Show Album.
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.
"A high energy blast, you'll leave the theatre whistling!" said Terry Byrne from The Boston Herald. CTV's Chris Perez said "Hilarious show... it pushes comedy to its limits. This show is a crowd pleaser!" "You could put a happy-meter in the theatre and watched it go off the charts!" exclaims Richard Ouzounian, Toronto Star.
Richard Chamberlain has created a singular position with the world of mini-series, having starred in some of the most dramatic and powerful productions in the history of television. Over the last two decades Chamberlain has starred in six of the most acclaimed mini-series: "Shogun," "Wallengerg," "The Thornbirds," "The Bourne Identity," "Dreamwest," and "Centennial." "Shogun" earned Chamberlain a Golden Globe Award as Best Actor, as well as an Emmy nomination. He also received a Best Actor Award issued by London's TV Times Magazine for his work as Blackthorne. The actor received another Golden Globe Award, Emmy nomination, a People's Choice Award, and US Magazine's 1983 Readers' Poll Award as Best Actor in a Dramatic Series for his work in "The Thornbirds."
Richard Chamberlain became a household name overnight in 1961 when he played the title role of Dr. Kildare. He played the popular physician for 5 years. He has spanned the globe performing in numerous productions on stage, television and in films. He has most recently toured in the US premier of Scrooge, playing Ebenezer Scrooge and played the king in The King and I for Hawaii Opera Theatre. On screen Chamberlain has guest starred in the television sit-coms "Will & Grace," "Nip/Tuck," "Hustle" and "Desperate Housewives" and has played roles in the movies The Three Muskateers The Four Muskateers, The Return of the Three Muskateers, Towering Inferno, Strength and Honour, and I Now Pronounce You Chuck and Larry.
Directed by Mike Nichols, 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. Casey Nicholaw is the choreographer.
Monty Python's Spamalot is produced by Boyett Ostar Productions.
Set and costume design for Monty Python's Spamalot is by Tony Award-winner Tim Hatley, lighting design is by Hugh Vanstone and sound design is by Acme Sound Partners. Others on the creative and production teams include David BrIan Brown (Hair & Wig Design), Gregory Meeh (Special Effects Design), Elaine McCarthy (Projection Design), Joseph A. Campayno (Make-Up Design), Larry Hochman (Orchestrations), Glen Kelly (Music Arrangements), Todd Ellison (Musical Supervision and Vocal Arrangements), Michael Keller (Musical Coordinator), Peter Lawrence (Associate Director), Tara Rubin (Casting), and Gene O'Donovan (Production Manager).
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.