Alan Dale to Play King Arthur in West End 'Spamalot'

Alan Dale, best know on television for playing Publishing mogul Bradford Meade in Ugly Betty, will join the London cast of Monty Python's Spamalot at the Palace Theatre from 3 March 2008 to play King Arthur, following in the footsteps of Tim Curry, Simon Russell Beale and Peter Davison (who continues in the role until 1 March 2008).  Currently playing to packed houses at the Palace Theatre the award-winning and record-breaking Monty Python's Spamalot is booking until 27 September 2008.

Alan Dale starred most recently on television as Bradford Meade in the US hit TV comedy "Ugly Betty."  Previously he created the roles of Caleb Nichol in The "O.C." and Charles Widmore in the cult classic "Lost."  For UK audiences Dale became a household name in the mid 1980's when he played Jim Robinson for eight years in the in the hugely popular Australian soap "Neighbours."

He has recently completed filming for the BBC's "Torchwood" playing the guest lead and he will be seen shortly as ruthless politician Donald Hagan in new ITV drama "Midnight Man" starring alongside Catherine McCormack and James Nesbitt.  In Australia his new television series "Sea Patrol" will air later this year.  His film credits include Praetor Hiren, the zealous president of the Romulan Senate in Star Trek: Nemesis, Commander Preston in Hollywood Homicide in which he starred alongside Harrison Ford and Josh Hartnett and he co-starred with Pierce Brosnan and Salma Hayek in After the Sunset.  He will also star in the new Indiana Jones movie Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Skull directed by Steven Spielberg which is to be released later this year.

Directed by Mike Nichols, Monty Python's Spamalot is "lovingly ripped-off" from the film Monty Python and the Holy Grail by Graham Chapman, John Cleese, Terry Gilliam, Eric Idle, Terry Jones and Michael Palin.  Book and lyrics are by Eric Idle with a Grammy Award-winning score by Eric Idle and John Du Prez.  Other members of the Spamalot creative team include Casey Nicholaw (choreography), multiple Olivier Award-winners Tim Hatley (sets and costumes) and Hugh Vanstone (lighting) and Acme Sound Partners.

The London production of Monty Python's Spamalot currently stars Peter Davison as King Arthur, Marin Mazzie as The Lady of The Lake, Robert Hands as Sir Robin, Steven Kynman as Prince Herbert, Graham MacDuff as Sir Dennis Galahad, Andrew Spillett as Patsy, Tony Timberlake as Sir Bedevere and Jake Nightingale as Sir Lancelot.  Mazzie will appear as the Lady of the Lake until 9 February 2008, when she will pass the role to the winner of Swedish TV reality show "West End Star."

Monty Python's Spamalot continues to play at the Shubert Theatre on Broadway having won more Best Musical awards than any other show in 2005.  A new production opened at the Las Vegas Wynn in 2007 and recently the Australian production opened in Melbourne. 

Listings Information Monty Python's Spamalot, is playing at the Palace Theatre, Cambridge Circus, London W1 and is booking until 27 September 2008. Performances are Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Saturday at 8pm and Fridays at 5.15pm and 8.30pm, Saturday Matinee at 3pm 

For more information and tickets call the Box Office at 0870 890 0142  and visit: www.montypythonsspamalot.com  

Alan Dale