Center Theatre Group Blog

Bailey Pennick is Center Theatre Group’s Press Intern for Summer 2009. She is majoring in English at UC Berkeley.

1st soldier: It’s not a question of where he grips it! It’s a simple question of weight ratios! A five ounce bird could not carry a one pound coconut.
King Arthur: Well, it doesn’t matter. Will you go and tell your master that Arthur from the Court of Camelot is here?

             Before the 2005 Tony Award winning musical “Spamalot”, there was the 1975 film “Monty Python and the Holy Grail” which (unlike its influenced musical offspring) did not win any legitimate awards.  And before John O’ Hurley donned the crown of King Arthur in the Ahmanson production, there simply was Graham Chapman. 

Standing 6′2″ tall with sandy blonde hair, an expressive mouth and a distinct air of unpredictability, Chapman was one of the six members of British comedy group Monty Python.  He was the noble, but naïve “Arthur from the Court of Camelot”.  Remembered most for his lead roles in both of Python’s narrative feature films (King Arthur and Brian from “Life of Brian”) Graham Chapman was always the Python who wanted to push the limits of humor and silliness as much as his colleagues would allow.

Beginning his professional career by studying medicine at Emanuel College in Cambridge, Graham Arthur Chapman met fellow student John Cleese and began to think/write/live/breathe comedy.  After working for the BBC as a writer (usually for David Frost), Chapman and Cleese came together with Eric Idle, Terry Gilliam, Terry Jones, and Michael Palin to create the comedy troupe “Monty Python” and the hilarious BBC One television show, “Monty Python’s Flying Circus” in 1969.  Chapman was pegged for authoritative roles in sketches and usually seen as the “straight man” in the wacky world of Python, with hints of insanity seen when he dressed in drag, or tried to return a dead parrot.

            Chapman truly represented what was so revolutionary and quintessentially important about Monty Python: he let others shine within a scene.  While many see Graham Chapman as underutilized within the sketches because he never had a “catch phrase” like other Pythons (ex: “Wink wink, Nudge nudge”, “Nobody expects the Spanish Inquisition!”, “I’m a Lumberjack and I’m okay”), I believe that the real point to be made about Chapman is that his performances are just constantly underrated. 

Beyond trying to comprehend the real talent of a man with so many hardships within his private life including extreme alcoholism until 1977, and dealing with the negative response to his homosexuality until his untimely death from spinal/throat cancer in 1989, we must recognize that Graham Chapman embodied the concept of an ensemble.  Standing as the solid “typical man” within each scene of various lengths and subjects, Chapman was the blank canvas for his fellow performers to play off of.  Excelling at outrage, disbelief, and being the universal voice of reason, Graham Chapman’s characters are relatable, reliable, and reminiscent of our own emotions and reactions to the craziness of the Python’s world where people have funny walks and would like to pay for an argument.  Viewers often overlooked his genius because he was so similar to their own personalities with his on screen persona.

Chapman was seen as perhaps the best actor of the Pythons; really harnessing the comedy of the deadpan performance while either being dressed outrageously or asked to do ridiculous things.  He was always ready and willing to do anything in the name of comedy.  Brian and Arthur are indeed the main characters of their respective Python films, but the true heart comes out of the several ingenious vignettes featuring each character in the way that only those six men could.  While the plot of “Spamalot” focuses most of its attention on the Holy Grail quest according to the king, “Monty Python and the Holy Grail” does exactly what the title suggests; it gives you the quirky and unique talents of each Python as they work together to make you laugh more than ever expected.  A lot of the magic of that film is in part because of the giving canvas and wit of Graham Chapman.

There are two quotes of Chapman’s that stuck out for me as possible ending lines for this piece:

“I hope I will have achieved something lasting.”

“It’s nice to see that look of alarm on the faces of the others.”

I think he would have wanted me to pick the latter.

On Monday night, over fifty SPAMALOT fans gathered at the Borders in Westwood to hear their King, John O’Hurley, star of SPAMALOT, pontificate about the musical, his two bestselling books, his dogs, his son, his brothers, his father, his teachers, his wife, his aversion to reality television (despite having performed quite successfully on Dancing with the Stars), and his career on stage and on the small screen.

One thing I learned about John O’Hurley on Monday was that the man is a pro. That morning he had woken up at 6 am to tape an interview with KTLA. He then went into a studio and shot six back-to-back episodes of Family Feud (which he hosts concurrently with his role in SPAMALOT) and, refusing the car service CTG had offered to him, drove himself to Westwood where for over ninety minutes he spoke about his life, answered many questions from fans ranging on all topics, and autographed books, CDs, and T shirts. He even took pictures with fans, including two guys who arrived at the Borders ten minutes after the event had ended! John O’Hurley is truly a class act.

The Westwood Borders was under a bit of renovation so we had practically the entire back half of the second floor to ourselves. The stage was in front of huge western-facing windows, so as John spoke we could glimpse a magnificent sunset behind him (we also had a clear view of the takeout Thai place across the street).

Around 6:45 pm the fans started rolling in. Though one could imagine in one’s mind what the stereotypical SPAMALOT fan would look like, these patrons did not conform to any predetermined look or category. They were young and old, small and large, male and female; people with no interest in the show but loved John’s books, or his role as Peterman on Seinfeld; a few people who were just in the Borders buying books or getting coffee and decided to see what the fuss was all about. Some were wearing SPAMALOT gear, and many came bearing O’Hurley’s books and the SPAMALOT cast recording CD; two men even came wearing bejeweled armor, in case the King was besieged in Westwood.

After some initial silliness involving a piano bench, the Marketing Team was able to set up a station with an Enter to Win box for T shirts and a grand prize of a pair of tickets to the show. We ultimately gave out seven shirts, and the tickets went to a lovely couple named the Algots who had yet to see the show. Gooooooo Algots!

John’s speech was great - humorous, intelligent, inspiring, and best of all, promotional. Highlights included an imitation of his father’s laugh (silent, with occasional snorting); a story from his ragtag youth in which he spelled Columbus “Columbum” in a public art project; and the tale of how he found out that his first book had made the New York Times’s Bestseller list on the same day that his son was born. He also read an excerpt from his latest book, Before Your Dog Can Eat Your Homework, First You Have to Do It, which was hilarious and which everyone reading this should buy if they haven’t already. (And if you’ve already bought it, buy another copy! What, like you won’t want to read it again?)

All in all, the event was a major success on multiple levels, and we thank our good friends at Borders as well as King Arthur himself, John O’Hurley, for putting together such a fantastic evening of fun.

Thanks to BroadwayWorld.com, you can get an insider look at the wacky world of Monty Python’s Spamalot, courtesy of longtime cast member Rick Holmes, who cracks up audiences “knightly” as the French Taunter (among others). In these exclusive videos, Rick takes you behind-the-scenes at the ridiculously funny musical, now playing in Los Angeles for the first time!

	Spamalot VLog 1
	Spamalot VLog 2

Hear audience reaction from the opening night of SPAMALOT! From Kevin Nealon to Samm Levine, Scott Hamilton to JoAnne Worley - everyone is RAVING about SPAMALOT!

Join in on the fun, now at the Ahmanson Theatre through September 6th!!

Catch exclusive interviews with SPAMALOT star John O’Hurley and co-creator
John Du Prez about the Tony Award-winning musical kicking off the Ahmanson Theatre’s 2009-2010 season. Beginning July 7, this hilarious, irreverent and fun-filled romp based on the film “Monty Python and the Holy Grail” fulfills your need for flying cows, killer rabbits, and dancing knights!

KTLA’s Allie Mac Kay was reporting live from the Music Center plaza for yesterday’s SPAMAPALOOZA event — she even got an interview with the show’s creator, Monty Python alum Eric Idle, in a stockade! You can watch all four segments at KTLA’s web site:

6am spot

7am spot

8am spot - the Eric Idle “stockade interview!”

9am spot

In case you missed the SPAM-tastic festivities at the Ahmanson this morning, here are some choice photos from today’s SPAMAPALOOZA event. We celebrated Spamalot tickets going onsale with an April Fool’s Day Fair, complete with costumes, wandering minstrels, mimes on unicycles (you read that correctly), cow-toss and killer-rabbit-hoops games, a Spam-can hunt, and a giant foot (you read that one correctly, too).

View many more photos here.

Emcee Josh Venable from Star 98.7 was our excellent host for the day. Here he is with our knight in spamming armor.

Folks were lined up around the Ahmanson to be the first to get tickets for SPAMALOT as it makes its L.A. premiere.

Hundreds of patrons played carnival games - including a Killer Rabbit toss - for Spamulous prizes. Here is one of the pesky critters mid-flight.

Eager contestants got dolled up for our King of Fools competition, wearing their best and most ridiculous outfits for a cash prize of $350.

View more.

Michael Bulger is CTG’s Marketing Coordinator.

In preparation for our April 1^st Spamalot On-Sale event (tastefully titled “SPAMAPALOOZA”) I had the extreme pleasure of spending the morning sifting through Old English garb in our incredible costume warehouse.

I must be honest, I didn’t quite know what to expect when I pulled up… but what I found was a Mecca of clothing.  A shopaholics dream!  Rows upon rows of shirts, coats, pants and (my favorite) hats!  From every era, from every economic class, from every style… it was truly stunning.

I could have easily spent four days in there, sorting through clothes and trying things on… but I had to limit myself to a mere four hours.  I was able to come out with a ton of costumes for SPAMAPALOOZA, including outfits for knights in shining armor, monks’ robes, peasant clothes and even a few Maid Marian-esque dresses. 

Below are a few pictures I snapped on my cell phone… I hope you enjoy!  Stay tuned for more info on SPAMAPALOOZA… including how you can get in on the fun!

PS: A very special thanks to Candice Cain, Costume Director here at CTG for all of her help with this project!!

Patrick Owen is the Deputy Director of Development at Center Theatre Group.

My path to what I truly believe is the best job in the world is not surprising.  I grew up in a family that valued and participated in the arts and philanthropy.  I fell in love with the theatre at an early age and now everyday I go to work and get to hang out with people who are equally invested in this art form that I love - my staff colleagues, the incredible theatre artists who come through our doors, and CTG donors - how cool is that!?!  So with my background, it really is no surprise that I work at CTG.  But, I am often surprised when my life - past, present and future - comes together, and in that moment it all seems to make sense.  Do you know the kind of moments where you feel like you are where you are supposed to be and loving life?

On February 3rd, CTG hosted a group sales event for Spamalot.  Whenever CTG hosts one of these events, we here in Development invite our donors.  Our donors love the opportunity to get a first look at these productions and they are often group sales buyers themselves.  As I walked over to the event, I ran into the head of Patina operations at the Music Center who was laughing over the fact that a Patina kitchen was actually serving SPAM at CTG’s request.  I ask you, what else would you serve for a Spamalot event except SPAM pizza?  I filed that away as a good inside story to share with my donors.  As I neared the event I saw a long line waiting to board elevators for the ride to the 5th floor of the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion (DCP) where the event was taking place.  Not wanting our donors to have to wait, I gathered my staff together and said, “Let’s take them up the back way.”  The “back way” involves a trip through the artists’ entrance of the DCP where a staff badge or your name on a list is required for entry.  Then you take a ride in a freight elevator where you may be joined by an opera singer in rehearsal or other assorted staff involved in all the art-making happening at the Music Center.  At the 5th floor, you walk a circuitous route through the backstage areas of Patina’s catering operation before entering the luxurious public spaces of the DCP.  The donors loved it!  My intention was to troubleshoot a donor service issue, and the result was that our donors experienced it as a special behind-the-scenes peek - just the kind of insider’s access we provide donors on a regular basis.  And best of all, this one did not take months of planning!

So, what does all of this have to do with a transcendental moment of clarity about my life?  I’m getting there.  I first discovered Monty Python in Junior High when I started hanging out with other theatre geeks.  We knew every routine from their “Another Monty Python” album and would spend hours trying to impress one another with what I am sure must have been dreadful imitations.  Our favorite routine was SPAM.  So Monty Python and SPAM are inextricably linked in my DNA with theatre.  After thoroughly enjoying some SPAM pizza and conversation with my donors, the presentation began.  Michael Ritchie was engaging as always and by the time we got to John O’Hurley performing a number from the show I was enjoying myself immensely.  How joyful I was feeling to be in that intimate setting, surrounded by other theatre lovers and experiencing a one-time-only performance by the talented Mr. O’Hurley.  And in that moment it all jelled — my past with Monty Python, SPAM, and theatre — my present hanging out with donors and enjoying a great evening — and the future promise of more great theatre at CTG and all the opportunity that it represents.  I LOVE MY JOB!