RICHARD CHAMBERLAIN CLAIMS THE THRONE

OF MONTY PYTHON’S

SPAMALOT

MARCH 10-15

AT THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT AUSTIN
PERFORMING ARTS CENTER’S
BASS CONCERT HALL

TICKETS ON SALE NOW

AUSTIN, TX…Richard Chamberlain will reign as King in the National Tour of Monty Python’s SPAMALOT. The Tony Award-winning Best Musical of 2005, Monty Python’s SPAMALOT makes its Austin debut March 10-15 at the University of Texas at Austin Performing Arts Center’s Bass Concert Hall. Presented by the H-E-B Broadway Across America-Austin, tickets to Monty Python’s SPAMALOT go on sale Thursday, December 4.

Richard Chamberlain will wear the crown of King Arthur when he takes the stage on Tuesday January 20th, 2009 in Chicago and will perform role for a limited time.

Richard Chamberlain has created a singular position with the world of mini-series, having starred in some of the most dramatic and powerful productions in the history of television. Over the last two decades Chamberlain has starred in six of the most acclaimed mini-series: “Shogun,” “Wallenberg,” “The Thornbirds,” “The Bourne Identity,” “Dreamwest,” and “Centennial.” “Shogun” earned Chamberlain a Golden Globe Award as Best Actor, as well as an Emmy nomination. He received another Golden Globe Award, Emmy nomination, and a People’s Choice Award for his work in “The Thornbirds.”

Richard Chamberlain became a household name overnight in 1961 when he played the title role of Dr. Kildare, a part he played for five years. He has travelled the globe performing in numerous productions on stage, television and in films. He has most recently toured as the title role in the US premier of Scrooge, and played the king in The King and I for Hawaii Opera Theatre. On screen Chamberlain has guest starred on “Will & Grace,” “Nip/Tuck,” “Hustle” and “Desperate Housewives” and has played roles in the movies The Three Musketeers The Four Musketeers, The Return of the Three Musketeers, Towering Inferno, Strength and Honour, and I Now Pronounce You Chuck and Larry.

Aside from acting, Chamberlain has long been known for his interest in environmental affairs. He lobbied in Sacramento CA and in Washington D.C. to save the Tuolommne River flowing from Yosemite National Park in California. His efforts helped to win a “Wild and Scenic” designation for the river. He also narrated a widely acclaimed Audubon television special about the poaching of animals in National forests. One of his special projects was an Audubon special about Hawaii’s precious ecology. In 1989 he was the principal speaker at the San Francisco Ecological Convention. Richard also narrated cinematographer Don Briggs’ film The Grand Canyon, Its History, and Fragile Ecology. He also worked with past Mayor Jeremy Harris in television commercials to educate the public against dumping waste into the storm drains of Honolulu, protecting Hawaii’s pristine waters. He has also been very active with the environmental group, The Outdoor Circle in Honolulu. Frequently, he donates his talents to The Honolulu Symphony, doing numerous narrations on classical and contemporary works.

His adventure away from acting has been his love of painting and sculpture. His works can currently be viewed at Celebrity Gallery in Lahaina and Wailea on Maui, as well as on the web.

Lovingly “ripped-off” from the internationally famous comedy team’s most popular motion picture, Monty Python and the Holy Grail, Monty Python’s SPAMALOT is the winner of three 2005 Tony Awards including Best Musical and Best Director (Mike Nichols), as well as the Drama Desk and Outer Critics Circle awards for Best Musical. The original cast recording of Monty Python’s SPAMALOT recently won the 2006 Grammy Award for Best Musical Show Album.

Directed by Mike Nichols, Monty Python’s SPAMALOT features a book by Eric Idle, 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, with music and lyrics by the Grammy Award-winning team of Mr. Idle and John Du Prez. Casey Nicholaw is the choreographer.

Monty Python’s SPAMALOT is produced by Boyett Ostar Productions.

Telling the legendary tale of King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table, and their quest for the Holy Grail, Monty Python’s SPAMALOT features a chorus line of dancing divas and knights, flatulent Frenchmen, killer rabbits and one legless knight.

Set and costume design for Monty Python’s SPAMALOT is 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 include David 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 (Musical Supervision and Vocal Arrangements), Michael Keller (Musical Coordinator), Peter Lawrence (Associate Director), Tara Rubin (Casting), and Gene O’Donovan (Production Manager).

Monty Python isn’t a person, but a group of British actors and writers (and one American) that performed their famous comedy show Monty Python’s Flying Circus on the BBC from 1969 to 1974, with subsequent international fame and success.

www.MontyPythonsSpamalot.com

Tickets go on sale Thursday, December 4 with tickets starting at $19.50. Tickets are available at the following authorized outlets: Texas Box Office Outlets, including HEB at (512) 477-6060 or online at www.BroadwayAcrossAmerica.com. Groups of 20 or more, call 1 -877-275-3804 or e-mail Jenna.Storey@BroadwayAcrossAmerica.com. Performances are Tuesday – Friday at 8 p.m.; Saturday at 2 p.m. & 8 p.m.; and Sunday at 2 p.m. & 7:30 p.m.

CALENDAR LISTING:
March 10-15, 2009 – H-E-B Broadway Across America – Austin presents Monty Python’s SPAMALOT at the University of Texas at Austin Performing Arts Center’s Bass Concert Hall. Performances are Tuesday – Friday at 8 p.m.; Saturday at 2 p.m. & 8 p.m.; and Sunday at 2 p.m. & 7:30 p.m. Wheelchair accessible. Starting at $19.50, tickets are available at the following authorized outlets: Texas Box Office Outlets, including HEB at (512) 477-6060 or online at www.BroadwayAcrossAmerica.com. Groups of 20 or more, call 1-877-275-3804 or e-mail Jenna.Storey@BroadwayAcrossAmerica.com.

Broadway Across America: Owned and operated by British theatre producer John Gore (CEO) and entertainment industry veteran Thomas B. McGrath (Chairman), Broadway Across America presents first-class touring Broadway musicals and plays, family productions and other live events throughout a network of 43 North American cities. Broadway Across America is also dedicated to the development and production of new and diverse live theatre for productions on Broadway, across America and throughout the world. Current and upcoming productions include the Broadway premiere of Irving Berlin’s WHITE CHRISTMAS, Tony Award-winners BOEING BOEING and SPAMALOT, 13 A NEW MUSICAL, WEST SIDE STORY opening on Broadway in 2009, and DORA THE EXPLORER on tour. For more information or to purchase tickets through an authorized agent go to BroadwayAcrossAmerica.com.

Media contact:

Meridyth Garcia, Public Relations Director
Broadway Across America-Austin
(713) 693-2612 Office Direct

###

Download a PDF version of the Spamalot Press Release