It's Official

From a post on BroadwayWorld.com:

National Tour Of Monty Python's SPAMALOT Set To Close In Costa Mesa CA 10/18

The record breaking National Tour of Monty Python's SPAMALOT, the Tony Award-winning Best Musical, will close in Costa Mesa CA on October 18th. The musical's tour will have played 1408 performances over 101 separate engagements throughout North America, to an audience estimated at nearly 3.6 million people. The National Tour began in Boston in March 2006 and recouped in less than nine months on the road. In all its global productions (Broadway, West End, Australia, National Tour, Las Vegas), SPAMALOT will have been seen by approximately 6.9 million people when the tour closes.

With a book and lyrics by Eric Idle, music by John Du Prez and Eric Idle and direction by Mike Nichols, Monty Python's SPAMALOT is based on the screenplay of Monty Python and the Holy Grail by Monty Python creators Graham Chapman, John Cleese, Terry Gilliam,Eric Idle, Terry Jones and Michael Palin.

The SPAMALOT phenomenon began on March 17, 2005 when the show opened at the Shubert Theatre on Broadway to rave reviews, enthusiastic audiences, and, shortly after, Tony Awards (Best Musical, Best Director for Mike Nichols, and Best Featured Actress in a Musical for Sara Ramirez). The musical set house records for weekly grosses, and joined an exclusive club of shows that have grossed more than $1 million weekly on Broadway. Playing 1575 performances, the Broadway engagement of Monty Python's SPAMALOT recouped its entire investment in less than a year and grossed approximately $168 million. The National Tour is expected to have grossed more than $167 million at the time of closing.

With choreography by Casey Nicholaw, Monty Python's SPAMALOT features sets and costumes by Tony Award-winner Tim Hatley, lighting design is by Hugh Vanstone and sound design is by Acme Sound Partners. Others on the creative and production teams includeDavid BrIan Brown (Hair & Wig Design), Gregory Meeh (Special Effects Design), Elaine McCarthy (Projection Design), Joseph A. Campayno (Make-Up Design), Larry Hochman(Orchestrations), Glen Kelly (Music Arrangements), Todd Ellison (Music Supervision and Vocal Arrangements), Peter Lawrence (Associate Director), Tara Rubin (Casting), and Gene O'Donovan (Production Manager).
Monty Python's SPAMALOT is produced by Boyett Ostar Productions, The Shubert Organization, Arielle Tepper, Stephanie McClelland/Lawrence Horowitz, Elan V. McAllister/Allan S. Gordon, Independent Presenters Network, Roy Furman, GRS Associates,Jam Theatricals, Concert Productions International and Broadway Across America.

In addition to the numerous legitimate awards Monty Python's SPAMALOT has received, the authors also won the Grammy Award for Best Cast Recording in 2006.

Some facts about the National Tour of Monty Python's SPAMALOT:

· John O'Hurley is the current King Arthur, and starred as Arthur in the Las Vegas production as well. 
· The other touring "Arthurs" were Michael Siberry, Gary Beach, Jonathan Hadary andRichard Chamberlain.
· Christopher Gurr (Sir Bedevere) is the only principal to have played his role since opening night. 
· Christopher Sutton (Prince Herbert) has also been with the tour from its beginning; starting in the chorus and eventually taking over the role of Herbert.
· Jeff Dumas, the tour's original Patsy, won Washington DC's Helen Hayes Award for the role, and recently returned to the show. 

The tour is noteworthy for many reasons:

· 3000 pounds of confetti has been shot at The Audience
· 2000 coconuts have been used in a feeble attempt to mimic the sound of horses' hooves.
· Not a single rabbit was harmed in the touring of the show. Though we tried.
· Monty Python's SPAMALOT was one of the first Broadway tours to "go green" in the responsible methods used to haul the show around the country.

Now - or at least on October 18 - run away.

www.montypythonsspamalot.com

Jeff Wilson, one of our General Managers, was in Denver for our opening night and broke the news to the assembled company last night after sound check.  I don't think anyone gathered on stage was terribly surprised, but it is never fun news.  Jeff emphasized how proud of the tour everyone is and mentioned some of the milestones we will have reached by October 18th (101 separate engagements and more than 3.5 million audience members).  Jeff also took the company out for a drink after the show - the first of a string of parties planned for the week in Denver.

There are still six more months to go on this adventure, and six cities that I've never been to, but it's a little weird to know, for sure, when it's coming to and end.  I've set dates, for myself, for when I would leave the tour; but, obviously, none of them have stuck.  I really enjoy this gig and the people I'm traveling with & I hope it stays great all the way to Costa Mesa.  On the other hand, I would love to live with my wife again & I miss my apartment, my friends, my cats & NYC.

Now that it's official, if anybody out there has a job they'd like to offer me...

JV