Music Theatre of Wichita Launches 'The British Are Coming!' Season with SPAMALOT Tonight

Music Theatre of Wichita kicks off its 42nd summer season this week with the first of its five large-scale productions. With the theme "The British Are Coming!," all five titles this summer are linked, by theme or origin, to the United Kingdom.

The initial production is Monty Python's SPAMALOT, the 2005 Tony@ Award winning Best Musical, created by Eric Idle and composer John Du Prez from the 1975 film Monty Python and the Holy Grail. Beginning with King Arthur's quest to recruit worthy knights find the sacred artifact, this zany re-telling veers hilariously into new territory when Arthur and his men realize their own true "grail" might just be the creation of a new Broadway musical.

Originally directed by Mike Nicholas and choreographed by Casey Nicholaw, this production is re-created and directed by Billy Sprague Jr., with choreographic assistance from Carol Bentley, and musical direction by Thomas W. Douglas. The original Broadway sets and costumes by Tim Hatley are being utilized.

Heading the cast are Bruce Winant (Ragtime, La Cage Aux Folles, Phantom of the Opera) as Arthur, original Spamalot Broadway cast member Brad Bradley as Patsy, and Jennie Greenberry (Lucky Duck) as the mysterious Lady of the Lake. Other starring performers include Larry Raben (The Producers, Forever Plaid) as Sir Robin, Damon Kirsche (One for My Baby, Ziegfeld Follies of 1936) as Galahad, Monte Riegel Wheeler (The 'It' Girl) as Lancelot, Skyler Adams (The Adventures of Pinocchio) as Historian / Fred, and Wichita-based Timothy W. Robu as Bedevere.

The MTWichita season continues with Les Miserables (June 26-30) starring Nicholas F. Saverine, Kevyn Morrow, and Ian Patrick Gibb; Rodgers and Hammerstein's The King and I (July 10 - 14), starring Kim Huber and Thom Sesma; and the American premiere of 2011 London musical Betty Blue Eyes (July 24 - 28) starring Tracy Lore, Larry Raben, Mary Stout and Justin Robertson, based on the Maggie Smith - Michael Palin film A Private Function.

The season concludes with the regional premiere of Disney's and Cameron Mackintosh's Mary Poppins, with newly designed sets by J Branson, hundreds of new costumes by George T. Mitchell, direction by MTWichita producing artistic director Wayne Bryan, and choreography by Linda Goodrich. Mary Poppins will be played by Lindsey Bliven (from the national tour), and Bert will be portrayed by Broadway veteran David Elder. Its extended run plays August 9 - 11 and 14 - 18

For more information and a video "Sneek Peek," visit www.MTWichita.org or visit the Music Theatre of Wichita Facebook page.