Spamalot to close on 11 Jan, one week earlier than originally announced

Monty Python�s Spamalot, the 2005 Tony Award winning Broadway musical will now close on Broadway one week earlier than originally announced.

It was originally announced it would play its final performance on 18 Jan 2009, but this has now been moved forward to 11 Jan 2009.

When the musical closes it will have played 1,574 regular performances and 35 previews.

With its final performance Spamalot will have grossed over $175,000,000 and will have been seen by more than 2 million people. The musical recouped its entire investment in under six months.

Spamalot opened at Shubert Theatre on the 17 Mar 2005 following previews from the 14 Feb 2005.

The current cast of Monty Python�s Spamalot includes Michael Siberry and Merle Dandridge who play �King Arthur� and �Lady of the Lake� respectively, Tom Deckman, Rick Holmes, Bradley Dean, Wally Dunn and David Hibbard.

Clay Aiken, who finishes his return engagement in the production on 4 Jan 2009, stars as Sir Robin.

A national touring production continues to do business across North America after more than 30 months on the road. The West End production will complete a successful two year run at London�s Palace Theatre at the end of this year, where it closes on 3 Jan 2009. The musical recently opened in Barcelona, Spain (performed in Spanish) and will open soon in Germany. Productions have also played in Las Vegas and Melbourne, Australia.

Spamalot, a new musical ripped-off from the internationally famous comedy teams most popular motion picture, 'Monty Python and the Holy Grail', 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 an entirely new score featuring music and lyrics by Eric Idle and John Du Prez, along with three songs from the 1975 film.

The musical opened to excellent reviews. The New York Post wrote "Bloody fantastic. Gorgeously silly. Superlative and better.� The USA Today said "Somewhere on the mythical Isle of Avalon, King Arthur is rolling over in his grave � and laughing till his armor rattles." and NewsDay printed "Eric Idle and Mike Nichols have indeed fashioned a Holy Grail of a big, crowd-pleasing Broadway musical comedy. The show slays 'em like Excalibur."

Spamalot tells the legendary tale of King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table, and their quest for the Holy Grail. The musical features a chorus line of dancing divas and knights, flatulent Frenchmen, killer rabbits and one legless knight.

Spamalot, is produced on Broadway by Ostar Boyett Productions. The production is directed by Mike Nichols; choreographed by Casey Nicholaw; sets and costumes by Tim Hatley; lighting by Hugh Vanstone ; and musical direction by Todd Ellison.