The Spamalot Diaries
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The Spamalot Diaries
Narrated by:
Eric Idle, Alan Tudyk
Buy Now for $18.99
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Narrated by:
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Eric Idle
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Alan Tudyk
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By:
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Eric Idle
About this listen
On March 17, 2005, Spamalot debuted on Broadway to rapturous reviews for its star-studded creative team, including creators Eric Idle and John Du Prez, director Mike Nichols, and stars Hank Azaria, David Hyde Pierce, Sara Ramirez, Tim Curry, and more. But long before the show was the toast of Broadway and the winner of three Tony Awards, it was an idea threatening to fizzle before it could find its way into existence.
Now, in The Spamalot Diaries, Eric Idle shares original journal entries and raw email exchanges—all featuring his whip-smart wit—revealing the sometimes bumpy, always entertaining, path to the show’s unforgettable run. In the months leading up to that opening night, financial anxieties were high, with a low-ceiling budget and expectations that it would take two years to break even. Collaborative disputes put decades-long friendships to the test. And the endless process of rewriting was a task as passionate as it was painstaking. Still, there’s nothing Idle would change about that year. Except for the broken ankle. He could do without the broken ankle.
Chronicling every minor mishap and triumph along the way, as well as the creative tension that drove the show to new heights, The Spamalot Diaries is an unforgettable look behind the curtain of a beloved musical and inside the wickedly entertaining mind of one of our most treasured comic performers.
Critic Reviews
“Striking and moving.”—The Washington Post
“A memoir as entertaining as the Broadway musical smash . . . A ripping read that feels like a ride on a scary showbiz roller coaster and an invitation to a movable feast of the elite in the celebrity fast lane.”—AARP
“Idle provides a rollicking account of the making of his Broadway musical Spamalot. . . . [and] an irresistible and unfiltered ode to the art of live theater. Fans will love this tantalizing glimpse behind the curtain.”—Publishers Weekly (starred review)
“A privileged peek behind the curtain at the creative process [of Spamalot].”—The Saturday Evening Post
“Quite simply wonderful . . . This is so much more than a making-of book; it’s also a portrait of Eric Idle in the kind of detail that a more traditional memoir of Spamalot’s creation might not have provided.”—Booklist
“Spirited and exceedingly witty . . . Idle’s observations are sharp and clever, and his descriptions of his time in New York City are evocative. It’s exciting and very entertaining reading. . . . The backstage story of one of the most successful musicals will appeal to theater buffs and fans of Monty Python.”—Library Journal
“Offers plenty of comedy to delight fans. . . . An amusing behind-the-scenes look at a unique Broadway smash.”—Kirkus Reviews
“A memoir as entertaining as the Broadway musical smash . . . A ripping read that feels like a ride on a scary showbiz roller coaster and an invitation to a movable feast of the elite in the celebrity fast lane.”—AARP
“Idle provides a rollicking account of the making of his Broadway musical Spamalot. . . . [and] an irresistible and unfiltered ode to the art of live theater. Fans will love this tantalizing glimpse behind the curtain.”—Publishers Weekly (starred review)
“A privileged peek behind the curtain at the creative process [of Spamalot].”—The Saturday Evening Post
“Quite simply wonderful . . . This is so much more than a making-of book; it’s also a portrait of Eric Idle in the kind of detail that a more traditional memoir of Spamalot’s creation might not have provided.”—Booklist
“Spirited and exceedingly witty . . . Idle’s observations are sharp and clever, and his descriptions of his time in New York City are evocative. It’s exciting and very entertaining reading. . . . The backstage story of one of the most successful musicals will appeal to theater buffs and fans of Monty Python.”—Library Journal
“Offers plenty of comedy to delight fans. . . . An amusing behind-the-scenes look at a unique Broadway smash.”—Kirkus Reviews
Eric Idle and the ease of narration... his priceless humour. Insights into theatre world too were interesting.
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It doesn't have the usual anecdotes or insights I've come to expect.
Mediocre
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