by Don Church and Tony Schillaci, Critics On The Aisle™
Spamalot at the Palace Theater, Waterbury, on September 24 and 25. Photos supplied by The Palace, Waterbury
The Tony Award-winning Monty Python musical “Spamalot” premieres at the glorious Palace Theater in Waterbury for three performances on September 24 and 25. This most recent national Broadway tour will kick off the theater’s 2010-2011 Webster Broadway Series, sponsored in part by WTNH/MyTV9.
According to the Palace’s Sheree Marcucci, the show is “lovingly ripped-off from the internationally famous comedy team’s most popular motion picture, ‘Monty Python and the Holy Grail,’ and is the winner of three Tony Awards, including Best Musical, as well as the Drama Desk and Outer Critics Circle Awards for Best Musical.”
This fractured version of the legendary tale of King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table’s quest for the Holy Grail, “Monty Python’s Spamalot” features a chorus line of dancing damsels and knights, flatulent Frenchmen, killer rabbits, flying cows, a legless knight and bawdy musical numbers.
Based on the Tony Award-winning direction of Academy Award-winner Mike Nichols and the riotous choreography of Casey Nicholaw (“The Drowsy Chaperone”), the show’s book is by Python veteran Eric Idle.
Sheree told Metroline, “The producers of the national tour were looking for a legitimate theater with a ‘WOW!’ factor that was close to New York where they could re-stage the show.” And Waterbury’s brilliantly restored 1920’s Palace Theater is one of the grandest, surviving, silent movie/vaudeville theaters in the world.
Spamalot Knights. Photos supplied by The Palace, Waterbury
The tour’s experienced and talented cast and crew will take up residency at the performing arts center for three weeks prior to the September 24th and 25th performances before embarking its 2010 tour.
This residency will offer the public exciting behind the scenes opportunities as well as ‘meet and greets’ with the director and cast members. This exciting theatrical premiere will be a positive economic impact on the city by having the cast and crew living, dining and exploring Waterbury after rehearsals and performances.
In keeping with the Palace Theater’s mission of being “a non-profit that enhances the quality of life for all people,” the Palace will be partnering with the United Way of Greater Waterbury to launch a SPAM canned ham drive that will be taking place September 7 – 23 at the theater. The Palace and the United Way of Greater Waterbury hope to collect enough cans of Spam to fill the Palace’s East Main Street windows. All SPAM donations will be distributed to local emergency-food pantries located in Waterbury.
Tickets to “Monty Python’s Spamalot” and the Palace’s 2010-2011 season shows can be purchased by phone at 203.346.2000, online at www.palacetheaterct.org or in person at the Box Office at 100 East Main Street. Groups of 20 or more qualify for discounted rates and should call the Group Sales hotline at 203.346.2002.
Copyright © 2010. Critics On The Aisle™. All rights reserved.
