Spamalot is back in Duluth after being shut down by the pandemic

It’s the moment the cast and crew of Spamalot have been waiting for! The show, opening Friday, was put on hold more than a year ago after COVID-19 put a stop to their work. But now it’s time to dust off the set.

"We got within days of opening when we had to shut things down”, says Director Justin Peck, “And then we’ve been waiting for the past 18th months to get the show back up again."

The show is back, and while a majority of the old cast couldn’t make the commitment to perform again, the returners were very supportive to the newcomers. Phillip Hoelscher is a part of that new cast saying, “it’s really interesting to come into a family, coming into a cast who already had some ideas of what the show was.”

That added new perspective did wonders for the show. Peck says the collaboration was fun to see. He says, “And that the new show with new people involved and new energy was going to be a different thing and I think it really has been that.”

And with Spamalot comes all the iconic Monty Python comedy, something that feels right for the times. Justin Peck says, “"I think the timing of the show is great for that exact reason, it’s the comedy. It feels like this moment where we as a society need to laugh a little bit. To be reminded to look on the bright side of things. I think the timing of the show is really great.”

Comedy that’s rooted in fantastical escapism. “It’s humor that is at the same time ridiculous and intellectual it walks a really effective line between being silly and profound", says Peck.

The show runs from September the 17th to October 3rd. For more information you can check out Duluth Playhouse’s webpage here.