Hormel Foods will introduce a limited edition flavor, SPAM golden honey grail, in a "Spamalot collector's edition" can to the first 100 fans on line when the box office opens Dec. 6 at 10 AM.
"SPAM products have been spoofed by the Monty Python comedy team for decades," said Hormel Foods senior product manager Nick Meyer. "The brand is beloved by many, so we are pleased to offer this special collector's edition can and SPAM golden honey grail to consumers."
"SPAM is the holy grail of canned meats," says Pythoner and Spamalot lyricist and bookwriter Eric Idle. "We're thrilled to dine on SPAM golden honey grail at the round table of Spamalot."
The can, according to a release, features Spamalot graphics and characters from the new musical and instructions in "Spamalot-ese" on how to "cooketh" SPAM. The new SPAM golden honey grail flavor will be sold in limited quantities in February 2005 at select New York City retailers and the Shubert Theatre.
* Mike Nichols ("The Graduate," "Angels in America") will direct the musicalized stage version of the "Monty Python and the Holy Grail" set to have its world premiere at Chicago's Shubert Theatre, Dec. 21, 2004 through Jan. 23, 2005, before heading to Broadway. Previews will begin at Broadway’s Shubert Theatre Feb. 14, 2005 towards an opening March 17, 2005.
The self-proclaimed "lovingly ripped-off" stagework features a book by Eric Idle, based on the screenplay he co-wrote with Monty Python creators Graham Chapman, John Cleese, Terry Gilliam, Terry Jones and Michael Palin.
Spamalot tells the tale of King Arthur and his Knights of the Round Table on their quest for the Holy Grail. The show will boast "a chorus line of legless knights, men in tights (with legs), killer rabbits and dancing divas who create unforgettable musical production numbers."
The musical features a completely new score with music and lyrics by Idle and composer John Du Prez ("A Fish Called Wanda") with three songs ("Brave Sir Robin," "He's Going to Tell," and "Knights of the Round Table") from the original 1975 film. Larry Hochman (Fiddler on the Roof) provides orchestrations, Glen Kelly handles music arrangements and Michael Keller will be musical coordinator.
Ostar Boyett Productions produce the new musical stars Tim Curry (The Rocky Horror Show, "Clue") as King Arthur, David Hyde Pierce ("Frasier," The Heidi Chronicles) as Sir Robin and Hank Azaria ("The Birdcage," Sexual Perversity in Chicago) as Sir Lancelot, Christopher Seiber (Into The Woods) as Sir Galahad, Michael McGrath (Wonderful Town) as Patsy et al., Steve Rosen (The Golem) as Sir Bedevere and Sara Ramirez (A Class Act) as The Lady of the Lake. The ensemble includes Christian Borle, Brad Bradley, Thomas Cannizzaro, Kevin Covert, Jennifer Frankel, Lisa Gajda, Jenny Hill, Emily Hsu, Abbey O'Brien, Daniel Pearce, Ariel Reid, Pamela Remler, Greg Reuter, Brian Shepard, Rick Spaans and Scott Taylor.
The world premiere of Monty Python's Spamalot will play a pre-Broadway run at the Shubert Theatre, located at 22 W. Monroe Street in Chicago, IL. Tickets are available through the show website at www.montypythonsspamalot.com.
