The Book That Goes Like This:The Spamalot DiariesTakes Fans Behind the Curtain of the Broadway Hit

Mar. 15, 2025

Tim Curry and Hannah Waddingham in Spamalot; The Spamalot Diaries.Photo:Alastair Muir/Shutterstock; Penguin Random House

Alastair Muir/Shutterstock; Penguin Random House

Want to know howEric IdlebroughtMonty Python and the Holy Grailto Broadway?

The Spamalot Diaries, a compilation of formerMonty Pythonmember and comedian Idle’s diaries and email exchanges while he worked on and produced theTony Award-winning musicalSpamalot, has arrived. The new book tells the full story of how Idle, 81, andMike Nicholsbrought the legendary British comedy troupe’s iconic 1975 movieMonty Python and the Holy Grailto the stage in N.Y.C., from the production’s first table read in April 2004 until the 59th Tony Awards on June 5, 2005, whereSpamalotwon in three categories, including best musical.

The original Broadway production starredTim Curryin its lead role as King Arthur of Britain. Sara Ramirez, Hank Azaria, Michael McGrath, David Hyde Pierce, Christopher Sieber, Seve Rosen and Christian Borle also starred; the musical later received a 2023 revival on Broadway.

Here are the biggest revelations fromThe Spamalot Diaries.

Eric Idle Praised His Working Relationship and Friendship with Spamalot Director Mike Nichols

Eric Idle and Mike Nichols during 71st Annual Drama League Awards at Marriott Marquis Hotel in New York.Bruce Glikas/FilmMagic

Bruce Glikas/FilmMagic

The Spamalot Diariesis dedicated to the late Mike Nichols, who directed the original Broadway production. Nichols was a renowned film and theater director, as well as a comedian in his own right, also known for directing movies likeWho’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?,The GraduateandThe Birdcage.

Idle effusively praises his friend of 15 years' work ethic, dedication to the production and enthusiasm for the material throughoutThe Spamalot Diaries. Nichols was the first person who came to mind for the production and while the pair naturally disagreed a number of times while producing the musical, the author “deliberately left these moments in because they show that it is possible to disagree with someone and still continue happily working together.”

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Idle additionally jokes in his introduction that his diary “lays the blame for success squarely on” Nichols, as well as producer Bill Haber, choreographer Casey Nicholaw and John Du Prez, who cowrote the show’s music.

“It was the best working relationship I have ever experienced as a writer,” he added of working with Nichols.

Eric Idle Reunited with Surviving Monty Python Members atSpamalot’s 2005 Broadway Premiere for the First Time Since 1998

Michael Palin, Terry Jones, Eric Idle, Terry Gilliam and John Cleese attend the opening night of “Spamalot” at the Shubert Theater on W. 44th St. Idle wrote the Broadway musical, which is based on the film “Monty Python and the Holy Grail.".Richard Corkery/NY Daily News Archive via Getty

Richard Corkery/NY Daily News Archive via Getty

Spamalotproved something of a solo effort for Idle, who had not worked with the other Pythons since the group disbanded following their 1983 movieMonty Python’s The Meaning of Life. (Graham Chapman, one of the group’s co-founders who portrayed King Arthur in theirHoly Grailfilm, died in 1989 at 48.)

While Idle remained the lone Python to adaptHoly Grailfor the stage, John Cleese visited the production in October 2004 to record voiceover as the voice of God, who appears once in the musical.

The surviving Pythons did ultimately reunite on March 17, 2005, when the show premiered on Broadway. On that date, the group took their first photo together since 1998; Idle wrote that being together with his former collaborators felt “strangely familiar” and that taking the stage with them following the performance proved “a historic moment.”

Eric Idle Worried How His Work onSpamalotAffected His Relationship with Wife Tania Kosevich and Daughter Lily

Eric Idleand wife Tania Kosevich attend the 38th AFI Life Achievement Award honoring Mike Nichols on June 10, 2010 in Culver City, Calif.Frazer Harrison/Getty Images

Frazer Harrison/Getty Images

Idle did worry that his near-constant work on the production through 2004 and 2005 may negatively affect his relationship with his wife Tania and their daughter Lily, who was a young teen when the production was in the works.

He remained in New York to work on the show’s second act rather than travel with his family to Chicago for Thanksgiving in 2004; his daughter was the first audience member to receive the Holy Grail during the show’s December 2004 world premiere in Chicago.

The Spamalot Diariesis available now, wherever books are sold.

source: people.com