“A rollicking account of the making of [the] 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) From comedy legend Eric Idle, the fascinating inside story of bringing Monty Python and the Holy Grail to Broadway as the unlikely theatrical hit Spamalot ONE OF NPR’S BEST BOOKS OF THE YEAR • SEMI-FINALIST FOR THE THURBER PRIZE FOR AMERICAN HUMOR IN WRITING 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 out 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—that reveal 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. “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 Eric Idle is a comedian, actor, author, and singer-songwriter who found immediate fame on television with the sketch-comedy show Monty Python’s Flying Circus . Following its success, the group began making films that include Monty Python and the Holy Grail, Monty Python’s Life of Brian, and Monty Python’s The Meaning of Life. Eric wrote, directed, and created The Rutles: All You Need Is Cash , the world’s first-ever mockumentary, as well as the Tony Award–winning musical Spamalot . His memoir Always Look on the Bright Side of Life was a New York Times bestseller. Tuesday, April 20, 2004 Okay, now finally it’s real! It was rainy and cold when I landed, but soon the sun came out and the blossoms popped; and in the five days I have been here Central Park has turned from brown sticks to pointillist green outside my window at the Essex House hotel. I remember at the old Navarro Hotel, in the height of summer, watching them spraying the park’s grass green, but this time it is purely Mother Nature, though perhaps Motherf***er Nature might be a more appropriate soubriquet for New York. Wednesday, April 21, 2004 So to our big first meeting when we assemble in Shubert Alley off 44th and Broadway for our initial look at the Shubert Theatre, which will be our home next year. There are about a dozen people waiting outside when I arrive on the dot of ten, having limped down Broadway. Composer John Du Prez is there with Bill Haber, our producer, and Peter Lawrence, our stage manager. Wendy Orshan and Jeff Wilson, our producers from 101 Productions, introduce me to our choreographer, Casey Nicholaw; the set and costume designer, Tim Hatley; and our lighting designer, Hugh Vanstone. Mike Nichols arrives last and is hailed by all and we squee