Photo Preview: Eric Idle Visits SPAMALOT at Drury Lane Theatre
Drury Lane Theatre presents the regional premiere of the smash hit Tony Award-winning Best Musical, SPAMALOT, directed by William Osetek, Artistic Director at Drury Lane Theatre, the new production lovingly "ripped off" from the motion picture Monty Python and the Holy Grail. Drury Lane Theatre has been awarded the exclusive Midwest rights from the owners of SPAMALOT to present a regional production of the Broadway sensation. Featuring an all-star cast led by Sean Allan Krill as Galahad (Broadway's Mamma Mia! and first National Tour of Thoroughly Modern Millie), Gina Milo as the Lady of the Lake (Broadway's Les Miserables and the National Tours of Les Miserables, Annie and The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas), and David Kortemeier as King Arthur (returning to Chicago after starring in A Flea in Her Ear, Galileo, and Love's Labours' Lost at the Clarence Brown Theatre in Tennessee), SPAMALOT previews December 30, opens January 6 and runs through March 6, 2011 at Drury Lane Theatre, 100 Drury Lane, Oakbrook Terrace, IL. Tickets are already selling quickly.
The Monty Python-inspired farce is a hilarious musical comedy spoofing the 1975 film Monty Python and the Holy Grail, with a book and lyrics by Eric Idle and an entirely new score created by Idle and John Du Prez. The New Yorker hailed SPAMALOT as "a no-holds-barred smash hit," The Sunday Times raved that it "raises silliness to an art form," The Boston Herald said it is "A high energy blast, you'll leave the theatre whistling!" and "You could put a happy-meter in the theatre and watched it go off the charts!" exclaimed the Toronto Star.
The production debuted on Broadway in 2005 and ran for over 1,500 hysterical performances. SPAMALOT received 14 Tony Award nominations, winning three including Best Musical and Best Director (Mike Nichols), as well as the Drama Desk and Outer Critics Circle awards for Best Musical. The original cast recording of Monty Python's Spamalot won the 2006 Grammy Award for Best Musical Show Album. A hilarious ode to the classic Monty Python humor adored by millions of fans worldwide, SPAMALOT tells the legendary tale of King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table and their quest for the Holy Grail. Along the way, they encounter a chorus line of beautiful dancing divas and knights, flatulent Frenchmen, killer rabbits and one legless knight.
Director William Osetek is Drury Lane Theatre's Artistic Director. He has directed Thoroughly Modern Millie (Jeff Award nomination for Best Director and Best Production), Funny Girl, Mame, The Mousetrap, Beauty and the Beast, Of Thee I Sing, The Pirates of Penzance, Camelot, Barefoot in the Park, The King and I, and A Christmas Carol at Drury Lane Theatre. Mr. Osetek has worked at Drury Lane for over twenty years, where he began as assistant director to Travis Stockley before becoming the stage manager, technical director, production manager, associate director, associate artistic director and finally artistic director. A graduate of Loyola University of Chicago, Osetek received his MFA in directing from Illinois State University in 2002.
Intricate Medieval castles, projections worthy of Monty Python's Flying Circus, disco balls and inventive set changes are the hallmarks of the scenic design by Christopher Ash. Vibrant lighting by Jeff Award winner Jesse Klug transports audiences to a magical Las Vegas-inspired realm. The production's intricate choreography is by Jeff Award winner and nine-time Jeff Award nominee Tammy Mader. Jeff Award-winning Musical Director Roberta Duchak (Broadway's Ragtime, Ravinia Festival) brings a fresh perspective to an energetic score that features spectacular show-stopping musical numbers. Drury Lane will be using the costumes from the West End production designed by Tim Hatley, who was nominated for the Tony Award for Best Scenic & Costume Design for SPAMALOT. The elaborate pieces range from outlandish Medieval-inspired attire including armor and chain mail, to glittering, extravagantly beaded showgirl costumes, fanciful headdresses and colorful shoes. Technical Direction is by Jarrod Bainter with Assistant Technical Direction by Earl Baum, Props Carpenter is Joel Lambie, Sound Design is by Jeff Award winner Ray Nardelli, and Costume Coordinator is Maggie Floss with Costume Manager Erika Senase.
The production stars Matt Crowle as Patsy (Spamalot on Broadway, The National Tour of Dr. Doolittle); Jackson Evans as Herbert/Fred/Historian (Seven Brides for Seven Brothers at Drury Lane Theatre); David Kortemeier as King Arthur (Love's Labours' Lost at Clarence Brown Theatre in Tennessee, Acting Faculty in UT Department of Theatre, Great Lakes Theatre Festival, Noble Fool Theatricals, and 12 seasons with the Illinois Shakespeare Festival including starring roles in Henry VIII, Macbeth and Twelfth Night); Sean Allan Krill as Galahad (Broadway and North American Tour of Mamma Mia!, first National Tour of Thoroughly Modern Millie, Jesus in Jesus Christ Superstar at Drury Lane Theatre); Gina Milo as the Lady of the Lake (Broadway's Les Miserables and National Tours of Les Miserables, Annie and The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas), Brad Mott as Bedevere/Dennis' Mom (The Goodbye Girl at Drury Lane Theatre); Adam Pelty as Sir Robin/Guard (Jeff Award nominee for Actor in a Supporting Role in a Musical for The Drowsy Chaperone at Marriott Theatre); and John Sanders as Lancelot/Fr. Taunter (North American Tour of Mamma Mia!, Miss Saigon and Ten Little Indians at Drury Lane Theatre, Oh Coward! at Writers Theatre.) Also featured are Gary Carlson (Thoroughly Modern Millie at Drury Lane Theatre, A Chorus Line at Marriott Theatre), Ariane Dolan (Funny Girl at Drury Lane Theatre), Lauren Fijol ("Shout" The Mod Musical), Nicholas Foster (Jeff Award Winner for Actor in a Principal Role-Musical or Revue for Parade, Sweet Charity at Drury Lane Theatre), Katie Huff (Seven Brides for Seven Brothers at Drury Lane Theatre), James Earl Jones (Ragtime at Drury Lane Theatre), Amanda Kroiss (Seven Brides for Seven Brothers and Hot Mikado at Drury Lane Theatre), Kathryn Patton, Megan Simmons (Funny Girl and Sugar at Drury Lane Theatre), Brandon Springman (Seven Brides for Seven Brothers and Sugar at Drury Lane Theatre), Richard Strimer (Jeff Award winner for Actor in a Supporting Role in a Musical for Singin' in the Rain at Drury Lane Evergreen Park, Seven Brides for Seven Brothers at Drury Lane Theatre), Grant Thomas, Tiffany Trainer and Andrew Waters.
The performance schedule is as follows: Wednesdays at 1:30 p.m. ($35), Thursdays at 1:30 p.m. ($35) and 8 p.m. ($40), Fridays at 8:30 p.m. ($45), Saturdays at 5 p.m. ($45) and 8:30 p.m. ($46) and Sundays at 2:00 p.m. ($45) and 6 p.m. ($40). Lunch and dinner theater packages range from $49.75 to $68 depending on the day of the week. Student tickets start as low as $20 and Senior Citizen tickets start as low as $29 for matinees and $43.75 for a matinee luncheon package. For reservations, call the Drury Lane Theatre box office at 630.530.0111, call TicketMaster at 800.745.3000, or visit www.drurylaneoakbrook.com.
Eric Idle with SPAMALOT Cast and Artistic team
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