New Las Vegas Home for Avenue Q Bets on Monty Python's Spamalot for 2007
By Ernio Hernandez
25 Jul 2005
The Wynn Las Vegas — which will soon open the sole Avenue Q run off Broadway — gambles on another Tony Award-winning show as the casino resort announced plans to bring Monty Python's Spamalot to its home in 2007.
Performances of Avenue Q begin Aug. 27 and open Sept. 8 at the new Broadway Theatre built especially for the production. Spamalot will receive the same royal treatment as a release states "performances will commence upon completion of the custom built Spamalot Experience and Grail Theatre."
The 2005 Tony Award-winning musical Monty Python's Spamalot just announced plans for its national tour scheduled to launch March 7, 2006 at the Colonial Theatre in Boston before returning to Chicago (where it made its world premiere), this time at the Cadillac Palace Theatre April 18-June 4, 2006. Dates at Washington, D.C.'s National Theatre have also been announced for June 7-July 9, 2006.
Further stops at major cities in the U.S. and Canada as well as casting are yet to be announced.
Mike Nichols ("The Graduate," "Angels in America") directs the show 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 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. The new score with music and lyrics by Idle and composer John Du Prez ("A Fish Called Wanda") also includes songs ("Brave Sir Robin" and "Knights of the Round Table") from the original film as well as Python signature "Always Look on the Bright Side of Life."
Spamalot tells the tale of King Arthur and his Knights of the Round Table on their quest from God (voiced by a familiar actor) for the Holy Grail — with a short stop in the dazzling Spam-filled land of Camelot. The show boasts "a chorus line of dancing divas and knights, flatulent Frenchmen, killer rabbits and one legless knight" who sing and dance. (Python devotees will be happy to know The Knights Who Say "Ni!" also make an appearance.)
The musical earned 14 nominations for the 2005 Tony Awards, winning prizes for Best Musical and Featured Actress Sara Ramirez.
Todd Ellison is musical director and vocal arranger. Larry Hochman provides orchestrations, Glen Kelly handles music arrangements and Michael Keller is musical coordinator.
The design team for Spamalot features Tim Hatley (set, costume), Hugh Vanstone (lighting), Gregory Meeh (special effects) and ACME Sound Partners (sound).
The show website can be found at www.montypythonsspamalot.com.
Tickets for Avenue Q at the Wynn, 3131 Las Vegas Blvd. South in Las Vegas, NV are available by phone or online at (702) 770-7000, toll free (888) 320 7123 or www.wynnlasvegas.com and www.ticketmaster.com/wynnlasvegas.
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