Music and Performing Arts 

What a Show!

When I was asked why I wanted to direct Spamalot, I didn't have to think twice about my answer: Because it's silly!

More importantly because I want to bring the wit and characters of Monty Python to a new generation of theatregoers, young and old, who may have never experienced the style of humor these talented boys from England created. For those experienced 'Pythoners', I want to take them back to their youth to relive the newness and off the wall silliness that Monty Python's Flying Circus was. In order to do all that, I felt that this show needed someone who gets their humor, who knows their silliness, innuendo, and has the ability to recreate it on stage. Thank goodness for the entire production team, who vested in me that challenge and responsibility. I feel #soblessed to be sitting in this director chair surrounded by a like-minded (Pythonesque) staff of theatre professionals.

Spamalot is a unique piece of musical theatre. Most musical theatre takes the audience through a storyline with each scene setting up the other through dialogue, dance, and music. Spamalot, on the other hand, is a tapestry of skits woven together with catchy songs and rollicking dance numbers. The show, at best, has a sketchy storyline with no real purpose other than to entertain its audience. It is intelligent farcical slapstick at its very best.

Eric Idle and John DuPrez adapted Spamalot from the 1975 movie 'Monty Python and the Holy Grail'. The characters in Spamalot have been lovingly recreated to mirror the characters originally created by Graham Chapman, John Cleese, Eric Idle, Terry Gilliam, Terry Jones, & Michael Palin in 'Grail'.

With the help of our wonderful RSC staff, it is my Holy quest to bring these very characters back to life on our stage, as Idle originally wanted them portrayed: very, very, silly.

This year we celebrate Kevin Lewis and his amazing contribution to RSC productions over the past 32 years. If you think you will be able to help out with set construction in the coming year, please contact me as we appreciate all the help we can get!

I would like to give a genuine and hearty THANK YOU to all who helped out with sets, painting, wigs, costumes make up, props, rigging, lighting, sound, shoes, hats, gaffa tape, ushering, OHS, encouraging, engineering, puppeteering, fish slapping and hundreds of other elements that make up this massive event that has been embraced by such a supportive community.

As a very wise person once said

- 'we did good!'

Karl McNamara

Director of Performing Arts