By Ernio Hernandez
03 Mar 2005

Monty Python's Lady of the Lake Sara Ramirez.
photo by Joan Marcus

Monty Python's Spamalot creators Eric Idle and John Du Prez with stars Hank Azaria and Sara Ramirez will be guests on NPR's "All Things Considered," March 4. Clips of the original Broadway cast recording will also be aired.

The collaborators will discuss the creation of the new Broadway musical with NPR correspondent Jeff Lunden on the show set to air March 4 from 6-6:30 PM on WNYC 93.9 FM in New York. (check local listings). The interview can also be accessed across the country on NPR stations or following the broadcast at www.npr.org.

Mike Nichols ("The Graduate," "Angels in America") directs the new musical inspired by the 1975 feature film comedy "Monty Python and the Holy Grail" which landed at Broadway's Shubert Theatre for a St. Valentine's Day (Feb. 14) start and a St. Patrick's Day (March 17) opening.

The self-proclaimed "lovingly ripped-off" show features a completely new score with music and lyrics by Idle and composer John Du Prez ("A Fish Called Wanda") with a book by Idle based on the screenplay he co-wrote with Monty Python creators Graham Chapman, John Cleese, Terry Gilliam, Terry Jones and Michael Palin.

Spamalot tells the tale of King Arthur and his Knights of the Round Table on their quest for the Holy Grail. The show will boast "a chorus line of dancing divas and knights, flatulent Frenchmen, killer rabbits and one legless knight who create unforgettable musical production." Creator Eric Idle, in the show's announcement, promises it will be "as good as or quite likely better than any other show with killer rabbits and a legless knight opening on Broadway this season.”

The new musical stars Tim Curry (The Rocky Horror Show, "Clue") as King Arthur, David Hyde Pierce ("Frasier," The Heidi Chronicles) as Sir Robin, Hank Azaria ("The Birdcage," Sexual Perversity in Chicago) as Sir Lancelot, Christopher Seiber (Into The Woods) as Sir Galahad, Michael McGrath (Wonderful Town) as Patsy et al., Steve Rosen (The Golem) as Sir Bedevere and Sara Ramirez (A Class Act) as The Lady of the Lake.

The show website can be found at www.montypythonsspamalot.com.

Hank Azaria slays Steve Rosen in Spamalot
photo by Joan Marcus