Issue link: https://newsleader.uberflip.com/i/203490
Sarasota News Leader November 1, 2013 Page 112 MONTY PYTHON'S SPAMALOT COMING TO FLORIDA STUDIO THEATRE Florida Studio Theatre will open its first show of the 2013-14 Mainstage Season, the Tony Award-winning Monty Python's Spamalot, in the Gompertz Theatre on Friday, Nov. 15, the theatre has announced. "Lovingly ripped off from the classic film Monty Python and The Holy Grail, this outrageous parody tells the tale of King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table and has been called 'The best new musical to open' by The New York Times," an FST news release points out. "While embarking on their quest for the Holy Grail, the knights encounter flying cows, killer rabbits and taunting Frenchmen," the release adds. Bruce Jordan will return to FST for this show after previously directing hit comedies such as The Underpants, Perfect Wedding and Shear Madness, the release continues, noting he was one of the original co-producers for the latter. "My favorite part about Spamalot is not only does it have a lot of funny scenes," Jordan says in the release, "it also has lots of tuneful music. In its own way it's like the musical comedies I was brought up on. A fun book and a strong score. … Some people have said that Spamalot will 'gallop' onto the Gompertz Theatre stage beginning Nov. 15. Photo courtesy of Florida Studio Theatre Monty Python is to comedy what the Beatles were to music. I see that. I understand how they began and how they have shaped much of the comedy that follows them." Among the 16-person cast are returning FST company members Patrick Noonan, Gill Brady and Priscilla Fernandez, along with new company members Kevin Loreque and Jacob Hoffman, the release adds. Among Noonan's past FST productions are Occupant and Irma Vep. Brady previously appeared in The Underpants and Our Son's Wedding, while Fernandez was in the South Beach Babylon production. Monty Python's Spamalot will run until Jan. 11. Single tickets range from $18 to $45. Season subscriptions may be purchased for as little as $45. Both are available online at FloridaStudioTheatre.org, in person at the FST box office at 1241 N. Palm Ave. in Sarasota or by calling 366-9000.