Musical Theatre West to Close Season with SPAMALOT, 6/29-7/15

Musical Theatre West announces that it will close its 59^th consecutive season with the Tony Award-winning Best Musical, MONTY PYTHON'S SPAMALOT. MONTY PYTHON'S SPAMALOT will preview on June 29, have a June 30 opening night and will run an additional 12 performances through July 15, 2012. It will be performed with the original Broadway sets and costumes and as with all Musical Theatre West productions, each show is created from the ground up at its rehearsal studios in Long Beach using a blend of both professional actors from Broadway, Hollywood and national tours, as well as local talent.

A musical "lovingly ripped off" from the internationally famous comedy troupe's classic film comedy "Monty Python and the Holy Grail," MONTY PYTHON'S SPAMALOT is the winner of three 2005 Tony Awards including Best Musical and Best Director, as well as the Drama Desk and Outer Critics Circle awards for Best Musical. 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 Idle and John Du Prez.

MONTY PYTHON'S SPAMALOT spoofs the legendary tale of King Arthur's quest to find the Holy Grail. However, diverting a bit from the true story, this hilarious musical features such oddities as a line of beautiful dancing girls, flatulent Frenchmen and killer rabbits. Throughout the show King Arthur, traveling with his servant Patsy, recruits severAl Knights to accompany him on his quest, including Sir Bedevere, Sir Robin, Sir Lancelot and Sir Galahad. Besides the rabbits and farting Frenchmen, they meet such iconic Monty Python characters as the Lady of the Lake, Prince Herbert, Tim the Enchanter, Not Dead Fred, the Black Knight and the Knights Who Say Ni. 

MONTY PYTHON'S SPAMALOT will be helmed by Musical Theatre West's Artistic Director Steven Glaudini (MTW's ANNIE, THE PRODUCERS). MONTY PYTHON'S SPAMALOT will run June 29 – July 15, 2012 at the beautiful Carpenter Performing Arts Center.

The performance schedule for MONTY PYTHON'S SPAMALOT is Thursdays and Fridays at 8 p.m., Saturdays at 2 p.m. and 8 p.m. (no 2 p.m. show on June 30), Sundays at 2 p.m., with a 7 p.m. performance added on July 8th. Tickets start at $20. There is a $3 service charge per ticket. Prices are subject to change without notice. Group rates are available for 15 or more. Musical Theatre West performs at the Carpenter Performing Arts Center located at 6200 E. Atherton Street, Long Beach, CA 90815.

Tickets for MONTY PYTHON'S SPAMALOT are on sale now and may be purchased online at www.musical.org or by phone at 562-856-1999 x4. Tickets may also be purchased in person at the Musical Theatre West Box Office located at 4350 E. 7^th Street, Long Beach, CA 90804 from noon to 6 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday.

Musical Theatre West's 2011-2012 Season Sponsors are the Ackerman Family/Evalyn M. Bauer Foundation and Ken and Dottie Reiner.