Michael Siberry: Shakespeare to Sondheim to ... SPAMALOT?

 "This is like a vacation," says Michael Siberry, currently on tour with Monty Python's SPAMALOT.  The production is now wrapping up a successful Chicago run. Next it will play The National Theatre in Washington, D.C. (June 7^th to July 9^th) before arriving at the Cannon Theatre in Toronto on July 12^th.

 

Siberry, who plays King Arthur, made a brief stop in Toronto this week to promote SPAMALOT. This multi-million dollar Broadway musical "lovingly ripped off" from the classic film MONTY PYTHON AND THE HOLY GRAIL won the 2005 Tony Award for Best Musical of the season. Even before its Tony win it was already established as one of the hottest tickets on Broadway. It also scored Tony for director Mike Nichols; an honor that Michael feels is quite deserved.

 

"Mike Nichols tells us exactly what points have to be driven home (but) still allows the cast the freedom to take advantage when things go wrong.  It's all part of the show," explains Siberry who has long been a Python fan. "I grew up seeing their Television shows. It was very ahead of its time. I remember my parents asking "Why are we watching this?" They didn't understand it at all," he recalls with a gentle laugh.

 

Michael picked up on the fact that "the songs they wrote for the shows have a Broadway musical feel to them." To him it seemed only natural that someone should adapt the material for the Broadway stage.

 

After hearing the original cast recording of SPAMALOT (available on Decca Broadway, B0004265-02) Siberry auditioned for the upcoming London production. "When they found out I had a green card they asked me if I would like to do the North American tour."

 

A few months later he found himself opening in Boston at the start of the first national tour of the hit musical. The show has attracted the usual Python fans "We had one fellow show up in Boston dressed as the Black knight with no arms…and some audience members come as the knights of Ni," but the show has reached beyond just the Python crowd.

 

It's quite a change for Michael Siberry who has played everything from Shakespeare to Sondheim – actually doing both:  playing Shakespeare in the Lincoln Center production of Sondheim's THE FROGS. Meeting the composer was a little intimidating at first but Siberry found him to be supportive, encouraging the actor to make sure the words to the song "Fear No More" (drawn from CYMBELINE) were heard clearly.  Sondheim also supervised the recording sessions for the original cast album (available from PS Classics, PS 525.)

 

"We did the recording at the end of the run.  It was all very rushed, done in one day.  We had a wonderful producer and musical director Paul Gemignani was there to help get us through. I just left everything in their hands." 

 

Siberry was first established as a leading player with Royal Shakespeare Company before crossing the Atlantic to play NICHOLAS NICKLEBY on Broadway.  This was followed by a featured role in the in the Dustin Hoffman staging of THE MERCHANT OF VENICE.  His first Broadway musical was the 1998 Hallmark revival of SOUND OF MUSIC playing Capt Von Trapp. 

 

Siberry remains modest about his singing ability "I was able to get through Edelweiss" – but he did go on to appear in the London production of CHICAGO.

 

Now with the tour of SPAMALOT he has actually had a chance to visit the city that inspired the musical. There he has enjoyed the chance to study some of the city's famous architecture – which is one of his passions.

 

Michael was impressed with the beautiful restoration of the Canon theatre and looks forward to seeing some of the historic buildings in Toronto this summer.  Then, in September the show moves on to Pittsburgh, then Cleveland, Charlotte, and Fort Lauderdale as the tour continues.

 

"I'm enjoying this – It's a wonderful way to see the USA and CANADA!"  

 

 

 

 

 

Monty Python's SPAMALOT opens at the Canon Theatre in Toronto on July 12^th and plays until September 10^th. Performances are Tuesdays through Saturdays at 8, with matinees Wednesdays, Saturdays and Sundays at 2.  For tickets and more information call TicketKing at 416.872.1212 or toll-free at 1.800.461.3333