Spamalot Rumors

This was in todays Las Vegas newspaper. Cant see this as a Las Vegas show but..

http://www.reviewjournal.com/lvrj_home/2005/Jul-06-Wed-2005/news/26836617.html

Amen Hushpuppy

Oh please Hushpuppy. You have a picture of Ethel Merman as your icon so you must be aware of shows like "Something for the Boys" which makes Spamalot look like "Sweeney Todd."

And they don't need any topless women, either-- this show is going to run for years on BROADWAY. Did you motice it set the house record at the Shubert AGAIN?

As for my 'drunken-frat boy' comment, I refer you to this article from the Times on April 10, 2005 (excerpt below) "Spamalot Discovers the Straight White Way"

THE other night at the Shubert Theater, home of the freshly minted hit 'Spamalot,' there were lines everywhere. There were lines at the box office and lines at the cancellation window. There were lines at the souvenir stand and lines at the bar. There were lines upstairs, lines downstairs and lines on the stairs in between.
But there was one spot with no line whatsoever: the ladies' room.


That's because 'Spamalot,' Broadway's hottest show, drawn from the 1975 cult film 'Monty Python and the Holy Grail,' has managed to tap into a rare, highly prized Broadway demographic: men; specifically, the kinds of teenagers and 20-somethings who find jokes about fish, flatulence and the French absolutely sidesplitting and who normally wouldn't be headed to the theater unless dragged by a girlfriend, school trip or court order.

'They are what the movie preview experts call young males under 35,' said Mike Nichols, who directed 'Spamalot.' 'And we have them.'

Indeed, 'Spamalot' may have created an entirely new breed of raving musical theater fan, one who has probably never heard of Rodgers and Hammerstein or Kander and Ebb or even -- gasp -- Stephen Sondheim, but who can quote full stretches of dialogue from 30-year-old films by British sketch-comedy troupes.

'I see guys in standing room yakking it up, hounding their girlfriends, elbowing them,' Mr. Nichols said. 'The guys actually lead it.'

Tim Curry, who plays a very silly King Arthur in the musical, confirms this, claiming to regularly see packs of young men chortling along to the show.

'They come in pockets of four or five guys from the frat, or who four or five guys who were frat brothers,' he said, sounding a bit like the narrator of a National Geographic wildlife special.

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Updated On: 7/6/05 at 10:28 AM

All I'm saying Hushpuppy is that every show doesn't need to be King Lear. Spamalot is funny-- I think hysterically funny-- and studded with catchy songs. It is indeed a HUGE hit with audiences. I'm sorry you don't consider it to be "of any quality whatsoever."

I guess you're right though-- let's boot it out of the Shubert and put in some "quality" show that draws the same old "Broadway crowd" and closes in 7 months with a total loss of it's investment. The last thing we'd want is to put on a big fat hit that draws in a new audience to Broadway.

But Hushpuppy, if we do that and put in a show of "quality" then you won't have anything to lambast to demonstrate your far superior taste and refinement!

Updated On: 7/6/05 at 10:50 AM

Quality shows often close early (Caroline, Or Change )
I felt cheated after Spamalot--$90 for recycled jokes.
But maybe Spamalot will turn frat boys from philistines into the occassional theatergoer (dragged by their wives, no doubt.)

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Updated On: 7/6/05 at 11:01 AM

Welcome back Penguin! I was worried about ya! Always good to hear from a smart Penguin!

Spamalot is the destruction of the future of musical theatre.
Shows like spamalot, movie musicals, etc are the dumbing down of american theatre. Shows as these though sometimes fun could make the great white way look like disneyland. Though I have to say even with as much contempt I have for shows like lion king (though artfully done)I would much prefer it to be the broadway of old. Shows like spamalot, good vibrations, all shook up (to name only a few) take away from the broadway experience. I do agree that a few Dumb shows do and should pop up now and then, but to see spamalot create such a hubbub over when we get down to it.... not a whole lot of plot or substance makes me sad. As I believe that this box office blowout of ticket sales will only increase the want on the great white way to replace good shows with this trash. I mean lets really face what is going on on broadway. The increasing amounts of Movie Musicals trying to be on Bway are rediculous. As much as I have liked hairspray and Dirty rotten scoundrels! The problem as I have stated before is the dumbing down of broadway, creating a bway that a more mass audience can see a title and say, "Oh I know that movie, lets go see it." and lets face it who really wants to go see a show where the only difference is that the characters break out in song... but the story is the same. I feel (My opinion) is that bway is being dumbed down for the midwest conservative tourist who doesn't know what the F$#@ they want. Doesn't know what they want to consume and is soo misled that they get roped into the first thing they recognize. I as a person who deals with theatre understands that in the long run that at the end of the day the producers really could give a S#&$ if the show has a story or is artful when the dollar signs are rolling it. Shouldn't everyone step back and say what are we doing to broadway.
I think this is what saddens me most.
I remember a few years ago... lets say 5-10.... when everyone was saying,"This looks like were losing american theatre, and if we don't do something about it we'll lose it forever." This is what I'm saying now.... If this trend continues american theatre will be forever lost. At this point if broadway becomes as hollywoodized as it seems thats the direction its going in.... Why don't we just have the nederlanders sell all the broadway theatres outright to Loews cineplex and get it over with.

Spamalot is the destruction of the future of musical theatre.
Shows like spamalot, movie musicals, etc are the dumbing down of american theatre. Shows as these though sometimes fun could make the great white way look like disneyland. Though I have to say even with as much contempt I have for shows like lion king (though artfully done)I would much prefer it to be the broadway of old. Shows like spamalot, good vibrations, all shook up (to name only a few) take away from the broadway experience. I do agree that a few Dumb shows do and should pop up now and then, but to see spamalot create such a hubbub over when we get down to it.... not a whole lot of plot or substance makes me sad. As I believe that this box office blowout of ticket sales will only increase the want on the great white way to replace good shows with this trash. I mean lets really face what is going on on broadway. The increasing amounts of Movie Musicals trying to be on Bway are rediculous. As much as I have liked hairspray and Dirty rotten scoundrels! The problem as I have stated before is the dumbing down of broadway, creating a bway that a more mass audience can see a title and say, "Oh I know that movie, lets go see it." and lets face it who really wants to go see a show where the only difference is that the characters break out in song... but the story is the same. I feel (My opinion) is that bway is being dumbed down for the midwest conservative tourist who doesn't know what the F$#@ they want. Doesn't know what they want to consume and is soo misled that they get roped into the first thing they recognize. I as a person who deals with theatre understands that in the long run that at the end of the day the producers really could give a S#&$ if the show has a story or is artful when the dollar signs are rolling it. Shouldn't everyone step back and say what are we doing to broadway.
I think this is what saddens me most.
I remember a few years ago... lets say 5-10.... when everyone was saying,"This looks like were losing american theatre, and if we don't do something about it we'll lose it forever." This is what I'm saying now.... If this trend continues american theatre will be forever lost. At this point if broadway becomes as hollywoodized as it seems thats the direction its going in.... Why don't we just have the nederlanders sell all the broadway theatres outright to Loews cineplex and get it over with.

After reading all the posts, I feel personally attacked. One of my favortie plays was Tru, I emjoy ALL types of plays and musicals, and can't wait to see Spamalot (I have tickets for 2 different shows). I leave the afternoon (or evening open) to sample something different, but just because I want to laugh my tush off I shouldn't be made to feel like an idiot! It takes a lot of time, effort, and money to arrange a trip to NYC, and I try to do it at least twice a year. I've seen good shows and bad shows, but one of the things that should concern everyone is will it play to the masses?!? Granted, Spamalot has recouped it's cost, but taking a show on the road to play to those that don't have the means to get to NYC on a regular basis is a good thing for theatre, and the fact that this particular show attracts a mostly male audience means that a wife won't have to keep prodding her husband to keep him awake---he will probably enjoy it more than she will! And he might be more willing to go to a show in the future!

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What a bunch of whiners...

Hushpuppy, I don't fit your description at all--I'm a female college graduate who was perfectly sober when I saw "Spamalot," and I loved it. And I've been going to the theater since 1980, so don't even try to tell me I don't understand theater.

"Spamalot" was just ridiculous fun. Anyone looking for a deeper message, or for them to musically re-invent the wheel was at the wrong show. And judging from the lines at the box office, I think more than just 'drunken frat-boys' agree with you.

As far as the "destruction of musical theater" commment...please. They said that when all the shows were coming from London back in the 80s. It's being said now about the jukebox musical. In 1995 there were only 2 shows nominated for Best Musical. In 1996 2 of the 4 nominated shows had already closed. Broadway was apparently in it's last throes then, and somehow it's kept going. Get a grip.

And getting back to the 'drunken frat-boys' comment--I do know two guys who would rather have their eyes scratched out than sit through a musical. It doesn't make them stupid or less of a person--they just don't like musicals. Just like I don't like the car shows they'd rather go to. And they loved "Spamalot." Are we supposed to bar them from Broadway because they're not running out to see "The Light in the Piazza"?

Do you think it's a new trend that musicals are based on movies? "Oklahoma" was based on a poem. "West Side Story" was based on Romeo and Juliet. "My Fair Lady" was based on Pygmalion. It's hard to find a musical that isn't based on other source material.

You don't like "Spamalot"? Fine. It's your opinion, and you're more than entitled. But to cry doom for musical theater, and bash the people who like the show make you sound more childish than the people you are bashing.

Ni!

To add to rumours "SPAMALOT" will open in London replacing Chicago mid 2006.

"I feel (My opinion) is that bway is being dumbed down for the midwest conservative tourist who doesn't know what the F$#@ they want."

Excuse me?
Good example, because clearly ALL people that are either from the midwest or are conservative are incompetent and cannot properly choose shows!
Yes, tourists generally aren't familiar with the Broadway market but you cannot blame people that don't get the opportunity to see a show every week for choosing something they ARE familiar with. And if you loved Monty Python, you will probably love Spamalot. Perhaps you should blame the millions of Monty Python fans rather than tourists bringing their money to NYC.

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