Jeff Award-winner heads cast of 'Spamalot' in Palatine
Chuck Sisson, the 2012 recipient of the Jeff Award, for the non-equity best actor in a Principal Role-Musical, "The Baker's Wife," is playing King Arthur in Theatre Nebula's professional production of Monty Python's Spamalot at the Cutting Hall Performing Arts Center, 150 E. Wood St., in Palatine.
The hysterical musical comedy will be running for only six weeks; opening May 10, running through June 15. Theatre Nebula's production will be presented at 8 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays and 3 p.m. Sundays.
Lovingly ripped off from the classic film comedy "Monty Python and the Holy Grail" and adapted by Monty Python member Eric Idle, who cowrote the show's score with John Du Prez, is just as garish, madcap and entertaining - maybe more so.
The musical mashes up Camelot with Vegas, madrigals with power ballads, and killer rabbits with a gay Sir Lancelot romance. Moreover, it shamelessly skewers musicals in general, with some especially choice jabs at "Fiddler on the Roof" and "Phantom of the Opera."
"Spamalot" is set in Britain in the Middle Ages and it gleefully milks such abominations as the black plague and gruesome warfare for laughs, as it retells the legend of King Arthur and his Knights of the Round Table, and features a bevy of beautiful show girls, not to mention cows, shrubbery, large trout, and French people. Did we mention the bevy of beautiful show girls? The 2005 Broadway production won three Tony Awards, including Best Musical and received 14 Tony Award nominations.
"It's so great when you have a hilarious group of artists who are fearless performers willing to do anything and everything," says director Kevin Wiczer. "They come into rehearsals everyday with terrific ideas that have really brought this show to another level. This show has been such a blast. If you got the Spam, we got the cheese!"
The energetic cast includes: Chuck Sisson, Adam Kasprowicz, Anthony Mele, Tyler Callahan, Krist Neumann, Denise Tamborino, Brendan Foley, Tim Koll, Derek Dillon, Robert L. Williams, Adam Diamond, Dayna Palya, Amanda Diamond, Erin O'Leary, Laura Williams, JZ Zaeske and Kerry McGee. Many of the cast are returning to work under the direction of Wiczer and also have been seen in other Theatre Nebula productions.
"I have long been a fan of 'Monty Python and the Holy Grail,'" said artistic Director J. Spencer Greene. "So I was thrilled when it was turned into a stage musical, as I just knew it was the kind of show that epitomizes Theatre Nebula's style. We have always been very fond of presentational theater, and poking fun at ourselves. 'Spamalot' spoofs many musicals, is filled with anachronisms, and of course, great music and great fun!"
The talented Chicago area production team consists of producers J. Spencer Greene and Kathy Conick; director Wiczer; and choreographer Kara Williams. Scenic and lighting design is by J. Spencer Greene, costume design by Lisa Hale and properties design by Kristen Foley. The stage manager is Tom Hermanson.
Theatre Nebula is proud to close its 15th anniversary season with this Broadway hit musical. Providing innovative, professional theater to the local community, Theatre Nebula challenges the need to travel downtown for quality theater. Tickets are currently on sale through the Cutting Hall Box Office, 150 E. Wood St., in Palatine, (847) 202-5222, or online by visiting cuttinghall.org. Advance ticket sales are $18 for adults; $14 for students 13 and older; $14 for senior citizens 55 and older; and $12 for children 12 and younger. Add $2 if purchased at the door. Adult groups of 10 or more pay $17 per ticket.
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