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Structure
Interesting Questions, Facts and Information
- There are a total of 20 general entries.
Special Topics
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 Interesting Questions, Facts, and Information
 Spamalot
John du Prez. du Prez also scored the film "A Fish Called Wanda," so there's a previous connection to the Pythons. None of the other original troupe members had anything to do with the writing or composition of the show.
John Cleese. Eight performances a week on Broadway, and he's never even broken a sweat!
| What song that was not in the film sends up the "big numbers" in shows such as "Phantom of the Opera" and "Les Miserables"? | Knights on Broadway: Spamalot
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The Song that Goes Like This. It's worth the time to read the lyrics; they're hilarious. The two singers even stand in a rowboat under a chandelier!
"Once in every show
There comes a song like this
It starts off soft and low
And ends up with a kiss
Oh where is the song
That goes like this?
Where is it? Where? Where?
A sentimental song
That casts a magic spell
They all will hum along
We'll overact like hell
For this is the song that goes like this
Yes it is! Yes it is!
Now we can go straight
Right down the middle eight
A bridge that is too far for me
I'll sing it in your face
While we both embrace
And then
We change
The key
Now we're into E!
*hem* That's awfully high for me
But as everyone can see
We should have stayed in D
For this is our song that goes like this!
I'm feeling very proud
You're singing far too loud
That's the way that this song goes
You're standing on my toes
Singing our song that goes like this!
I can't believe there's more
It's far too long, I'm sure
That's the trouble with this song
It goes on and on and on
For this is our song that is too long!
We'll be singing this til dawn
You'll wish that you weren't born
Let's stop this damn refrain
Before we go insane
For this is our song that ends like this!"
Sara Ramirez. Although the other three ladies are all Broadway veterans, it has been Sara (pronounced SAH-ra with a rolled "r") who has stolen the show in all the major female parts. She claims to have never had a voice lesson, but her mom had a guitar and they sang around the house. Oh, sure, that's all it takes to get a 4-octave range and enough power to blow Ethel Merman out of a room!
| Two leading actors in "Spamalot" were nominated for Tony awards for Best Performance by a Leading Actor in a Musical (2005), along with three other contenders. Who won? | Knights on Broadway: Spamalot
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Norbert Leo Butz. David Hyde Pierce got top-billing but did not receive a nomination. Tim Curry (King Arthur) and Hank Azaria (various characters, mostly played by John Cleese in the film) did. Having seen the show in its out-of-town tryout in Chicago, I believe the Tony nominating committee were fair in excluding him.
Both John Lithgow and the unfortunately named Norbert Leo Butz were nominated for "Dirty Rotten Scoundrels," and Butz got the prize. A personal note: Even though I loved "Spamalot", I was rooting for Norbert. He grew up in my hometown, St. Louis, and attended Webster University where I am a faculty member.
Mike Nichols . The show itself took only three Tony awards of its 14 nominations. "Light in the Piazza" scored five. Mike Nichols, however, added his ninth award to his roster of 17 nominations.
To Get to Broadway. Many options are discussed, but the "silly k-nigits" decide Broadway is the quest.
| Nobody ever accused the Pythons of political correctness. What does Sir Robin point out to King Arthur that they must have in order to achieve their goal? | Knights on Broadway: Spamalot
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A Jew. Ouch! Direct shot at Mel Brooks and many other producers before him. Every night the person seated in Row A, Seat 101 is brought to the stage and presented as the "savior," their much-needed Jew.
"Arthur, can you hear me?
To get along on Broadway,
To sing a song on Broadway,
To hit the top on Broadway and not lose,
I tell you, Arthur king,
There is one essential thing...
There simply must be, simply must be Jews.
There simply must be,
Arthur trust me,
Simply must be Jews."
| Movie fans will remember the scene with the peasants, Dennis and his mother. What is the outcome of the scene onstage? | Knights on Broadway: Spamalot
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Dennis is knighted. Dennis becomes "Dennis Galahad," purest of all the knights. Conveniently, Galahad turns out to be his last name! When he hesitates over his decision to join the crew, he's persuaded by The Lady of the Lake and the Laker Girls--especially funny when you remember that Christopher Sieber is openly gay in real life!
"ARTHUR (spoken):
Stand aside, Mrs. Galahad, while the Lady of the Lake
and her Laker Girls welcome your son to my army."
| One song in the show has been imported from another Python project. Where did we first hear "Always Look on the Bright Side of Life"? | Knights on Broadway: Spamalot
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The Life of Brian. "For life is quite absurd
And death's the final word.
You must always face the curtain with a bow.
Forget about your sin.
Give the audience a grin.
Enjoy it. It's your last chance, anyhow."
And always look on the bright side of life!
| Who sings this song in act one?: "Here in England boy and girl can find a true romance..." | 'Spamalot' Lyrics
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Mayor. This is from the 'Fisch Schlapping Song', sung when the Mayor thinks that the Historian said that this was Finland.
| Who sings this very indignant line?: "And who needs to manage his anger?" | 'Spamalot' Lyrics
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Minstrels. This is from 'He Is Not Dead Yet'... the minstrels were all dead bodies, but became the musicians for King Arthur's knights.
Dennis. From 'Come With Me'. Dennis, later Sir Galahad, says this as the Lady of the Lake rises from the lake (where else?)
Lady. 'The Song That Goes Like This' is not actually the longest in the musical. The longest is 'Knights of the Round Table/The Song That Goes Like This', and the longest non-slash song is 'You Won't Succeed on Broadway'.
Men. 'He Is Not Dead Yet - Play Off'. The call-and-response army song. Sir Lancelot says that the knights will fight in suspenders and a bra... hmm.
| Who sings this in the second last song of act one?: "Then the prize you won't fail..." | 'Spamalot' Lyrics
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Lady. From one of my favourite songs, 'Find Your Grail', sung by everyone, mainly Lady and King Arthur. This is the second last song of the first act.
| Who sings this line from a classic Python song?: "Other things just make you swear and curse." | 'Spamalot' Lyrics
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Patsy. The song 'Always Look on the Bright Side of Life' is also from 'The Life of Brian', sung at the end by the blokes dying on the crosses. Now that's optimism!
Minstrel. A song from 'Monty Python's Holy Grail', the movie upon which this musical is based, 'Brave Sir Robin' is a very graphic song, interrupted by Sir Robin. In the movie the knights end up having to eat the minstrels - 'and there was much rejoicing!'
| Who belts this line in the longest solo?: "Arthur, can you hear me?" | 'Spamalot' Lyrics
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Sir Robin. 'You Won't Succeed on Broadway' (mentioned above) contains very good advice for anyone who wants to write musicals for Broadway... you can only succeed on Broadway (or in showbiz, in London) if you have Jews.
| Who sings this line from act two?: "He can finally come out and say that he is G.A...." | 'Spamalot' Lyrics
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Herbert. 'His Name is Lancelot' explains about the 'suspenders' and 'bras' mentioned above. The knights take off Lancelot's armour and reveal, according to the libretto, 'a glittering, glimmering, shimmering outrageous body costume, with silver lame tights...' Nice!
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