SPAMALOT, the musical comedy lovingly ripped off from the film classic, MONTY PYTHON AND THE HOLY GRAIL, returns to Broadway for the first time ever, following a record-breaking sold-out run at The Kennedy Center in Washington, DC.
Peter Marks of The Washington Post exclaims “It’s UNFAIR to make me laugh this much! SPAMALOT is a tightly packed clown car speeding to musical theater nirvana!”
Everything that makes a great knight in the theatre is here, from flying cows to killer rabbits, British royalty to French taunters, dancing girls, rubbery shrubbery, and of course, the Lady of the Lake.
Hijinks ensue, with most actors swapping roles to portray characters and farcical situations the audience has come to expect from the well-known classic. Were the plot sturdy or the jokes timeless, Idle’s decision to leave the book largely untouched would be fine. But alas, as with many other whose near-two-decade cobwebs were only lightly dusted off, I was left to consume a number about a character’s coming out that, until the final moments when a few Grindr beeps came through, comprised what a 2005 straight man’s idea of gayness was like. (Ironically, the tight-bodied spangles and Vegasness of that number might now be considered part of the heteronorm, but I digress.) So, fine, it’s not for me. The cast is clearly having a good time – though only Ethan Slater, swapping through multiple characters, as well as Kritzer, Walker, and especially Killam tap into the all-out comedy the work requires. And the audience? Well, their holy grail was promised and delivered, without much work to obtain it.
All the dancing, singing and questing unfolds on a clever, attractive set designed by Paul Tate dePoo III, whose projections – many seemingly inspired by Terry Gilliam’s instantly recognizable Python style of animation – play a crucial role in the production. Some of the effects are of a decidedly (and intentionally) DIY nature, like the catapulted (or, really, just tossed) cow or the bloodthirsty bunny, but all work terrifically within the show’s self-aware approach.
Rush Tickets:
Price: $39
Where: St. James Theatre box office (246 West 44th Street) box office at 10AM ET Monday through Saturday and 12PM ET on Sunday.
Limit: Two per customer.
Restrictions: Locations and number of tickets based on availability; seats may be partial view.
Digital Lottery:
Price: $44
Where: LuckySeat.com
When: For weekday performances, entries will be accepted until 9:30AM ET the day of the performance, with winners being selected beginning at 10AM ET and continuing through the day as needed.
Limit: Two per customer
Information: Winners will have a limited window in which to purchase and claim their tickets, so those entering are encouraged to keep an eye on the drawing on the dates they have entered.
2005 | Broadway |
Original Broadway Production Broadway |
2006 | US Tour |
National Tour US Tour |
2006 | West End |
London Production West End |
2007 | Las Vegas |
Las Vegas Production Las Vegas |
2010 | US Tour |
National Tour [Phoenix Entertainment] US Tour |
2012 | West End |
West End |
West End |
West End Revival Production West End |
|
2015 | Los Angeles |
Hollywood Bowl Production Los Angeles |
2023 | Broadway |
Broadway Revival Production Broadway |
Year | Ceremony | Category | Nominee |
---|---|---|---|
2024 | Drama Desk Awards | Outstanding Featured Performance in a Musical | Leslie Rodriguez Kritzer |
2024 | Drama League Awards | Distinguished Performance | Leslie Rodriguez Kritzer |
2024 | Drama League Awards | Outstanding Revival of a Musical | Monty Python's Spamalot |
2024 | Outer Critics Circle Awards | Outstanding Featured Performer in a Broadway Musical | Leslie Rodriguez Kritzer |
2024 | Outer Critics Circle Awards | Outstanding Revival of a Musical | Monty Python's Spamalot |
2024 | Tony Awards | Best Performance by an Actress in a Featured Role in a Musical | Leslie Rodriguez Kritzer |
Videos