More Casting Announced for London Spamalot; Tickets On Sale

Tickets are now officially on sale for the highly anticipated West End premiere of Monty Python's Spamalot, which will play its first performance at the Palace Theatre in London's West End on October 2nd, with press night on October 16th and opening night on October 17th.

Eric Idle officially launched the first day of ticket sales at London's Palace Theatre Box Office for the smash musical yesterday, February 21st. Joining him at the launch were composer John Du Prez, choreographer Casey Nicholaw, multi-Olivier Award-winning set and costume designer Tim Hatley, as well as members of the newly engaged London cast of the Tony Award winning musical. They were joined by producer Bill Haber. Tickets are now on sale for performances from October 2nd through March 31st, 2007.

It was recently announced that Tim Curry will return to the London stage after an absence of over 20 years to open the London production as King Arthur, reprising the critically acclaimed role he created on Broadway. In January 2007 Curry, will hand over the role of King Arthur to multi award-winning Simon Russell Beale, who is currently wooing audiences as King Arthur at the Shubert Theatre on Broadway. West End musicals performer Hannah Waddingham will play The Lady of the Lake, David Birrell will be seen as Patsy, Tom Goodman-Hill will play Sir Lancelot and Robert Hands, Sir Robin. Further casting will be announced shortly.

Directed by Mike Nichols, Spamalot features a book by Idle, "lovingly ripped-off" from the screenplay of the Pythons' best-loved film, Monty Python and the Holy Grail by Graham Chapman, John Cleese, Terry Gilliam, Idle, Terry Jones and Michael Palin.

"Telling the legendary tale of King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table, and their quest for the Holy Grail, Spamalot features a chorus line of dancing divas (and serfs), flatulent Frenchmen, killer rabbits and a legless knight," according to pres snotes.

Book and lyrics are by Idle with a Grammy Award-winning score by Idle and John Du Prez. Other members of the Spamalot creative team include Nicholaw (choreography), multiple Olivier Award-winners Hatley (sets and costumes), Hugh Vanstone (lighting) and Acme Sound Partners. Larry Hochman provided the orchestrations, Glen Kelly the music arrangements, Todd Ellison the musical supervision and vocal arrangements, and Michael England the music direction.

"Winning more Best Musical awards than any other show in New York last year, including the Drama Desk and Outer Critics' Circle Awards for Best Musical along with the Tony, Spamalot has broken house records, playing to standing-room-only audiences since opening to critical acclaim in March, 2005 at the flagship Shubert Theatre on Broadway." In addition, Mike Nichols won his eighth Tony Award for direction of the musical. The show is produced by Boyett Ostar Productions.

Visit www.montypythonspamalot.com for ticket information.