PHOTOS: Monty Python’s ‘Spamalot’ Opens at Yorktown Stage
PMT Productions and Yorktown Stage announced the Westchester premiere of Monty Python’s Spamalot. Performances will be held Saturday evenings, April 13 and April 20 at 7:30 pm; Sunday afternoons April 14 and April 21 at 2 p.m.; and Friday evening, April 19 at 7:30 p.m.
Monty Python’s Spamalot is a musical that was “lovingly ripped off” from the 1975 film Monty Python and the Holy Grail. Spamalot is a highly irreverent parody the story of King Arthur and his knights’ quest for the Holy Grail. Using Monty’s Python’s trademark blend of silliness, puns and bawdy jokes, Spamalot not only pokes fun at the Arthurian legend, but many of the conventions of standard Broadway musicals as well.
While the jokes come one right after another, they don’t stand alone, but rather build on each other to give the audience a lighthearted feeling that is typified by Spamalot’s signature song Always Look on the Bright Side of Life. As one reviewer put it, “Spamalot never lags and none of the jokes fall flat.”
Spamalot book and lyrics are by Eric Idle, with music by John DuPrez and Eric Idle.
The original 2005 Broadway production of Spamalot, directed by Mike Nichols, won three Tony Awards, including the Tony Award for Best Musical of the 2004-2005 season. During its first run of over 1,500 performances, it was seen by more than two million people.
“The original “Spamalot” was written in a monastery over 600 years ago by Thelonious Monk,” explains Ray Arrucci, president of PMT Productions. “And archaeologists and audiences agree that many of the jokes are not just stale, but may indeed be ancient. It is about time we had a Westchester Premiere.”
Adds Barry Liebman, president of Yorktown Stage, “The Spamalot play differs from the movie in many significant ways. For one, the movie came in a small metal can and the play does not. The movie also depicts medieval torture. We will not have any live torture at Yorktown Stage unless someone’s cell phone goes off during the performance.”
The PMT/Yorktown Stage Production is directed by August Abatecola with Musical Direction by Kurt Kelley. The performances will feature a live orchestra. Spamalot cast members include (in alphabetical order) Chelsey Alfredo (Golden’s Bridge) as Lady of the Lake, Daniel Basiletti (Yonkers) as a Knight, Erin Bradford (Mohegan Lake) as a Laker Girl, Lauren Citarella (Mahopac) as a Laker Girl, Brian Conklin (Tappan) as Bedevere, Brian Edwards (Montrose) as Lancelot, Bret Fox (Yorktown) as Robin, John Anthony Lopez (Yonkers) as King Arthur, Lauren Moore (Mt. Kisco) as a Laker Girl, Arianna Morales (Yorktown) as a Laker Girl,, Bennett Pologe (Riverdale) as Galahad, Grace Ring (Yorktown) as a Laker Girl, Peter Turo (Astoria) as Patsy, and Trevor Sideris (Poughquag) as the Historian.
Tickets are $26 adults, $21 for seniors (over 62) and students (12-22) and $19 for children under 12.
Yorktown Stage is located at 1974 Commerce Street in Yorktown Heights. For tickets or more information call (914) 962-0606 or visit www.yorktownstage.org.
Adam has worked in the local news industry for the past two decades in Westchester County and the broader Hudson Valley. Read more from Adam’s author bio here.