Monty Python Musical to Spam Broadway in 2005

It has just been announced that Spamelot, a musical adaptation of the popular 1975 film comedy Monty Python and the Holy Grail, is scheduled to open on Broadway in the spring of 2005. The show will be directed by film and Broadway veteran Mike Nichols.

Eric Idle will write the book of the musical, based on the screenplay by Graham Chapman, John Cleese, Terry Gilliam, Eric Idle, Terry Jones, and Michael Palin — members of the Monty Python comedy team, whose television show Monty Python’s Flying Circus ran from 1969 to 1974 and gained international admiration. The score, which will be original except for two songs carried over from the film, will be written by Idle and John Du Prez. Jerry Mitchell (Hairspray) will choreograph the production and Tim Hatley (Private Lives) will design the sets.

“I like the title Spamelot a lot,” said Idle of the project, “but I was thinking it might be smart to ask audiences on my upcoming U.S. tour if they liked it as much as I do. After all, they are the ones who will be paying
Broadway prices to see the show. So there’s a good chance the title may change.”