MORGANTOWN — During rehearsals for Morgantown Theatre Co.’s upcoming production, which debuted May 10 at the Metropolitan Theatre, Kate Aultman-Moore and Zach Tallman sometimes have a hard time keeping it together.
“It’s such a funny show,” said Aultman-Moore of “Spamalot,” a musical comedy adapted from the 1975 film “Monty Python and the Holy Grail.”
“There was one moment when our King Arthur said something, and I just lost it,” Tallman added.
The wacky parody of the legend of King Arthur and his Knights of the Round Table received 14 Tony Award nominations during is original 2005 Broadway run, earning three, including Best Musical.
Putting on such an acclaimed show doesn’t make the pair of cast members nervous though.
“If anything, it’s exciting, because you know people will like it,” said Tallman, who takes on several roles. He portrays the mayor of Finland, a chorus knight, Tim The Enchanter and is a dancer.
The WVU student is one of a handful of MTC alum returning for this show.
“I’ve done it before, which makes it a little easier,” he said, though he admits the many dance numbers in the show, which include tap and high kicks, give him a good workout, adding “I’m usually sweating by the end.”
As Lady of the Lake, Aultman-Moore said she “sticks to singing,” belting out tunes like “Come With Me” and “The Diva’s Lament.” But while she doesn’t have to worry about breaking a sweat, she has had to work on her stage presence.
“The thing for me is you see actors on TV and they’re acting real,” the University High junior said. “But you can’t really do that on stage, especially with this show, you have to magnify all your movement and emotions. So that’s different.”
In a world of killer rabbits, flying cows and Scandinavian fish schlapping, Tallman adds that you can’t be afraid to get weird.
“It’s like building a stage attitude,” he said. “You have to break past how you normally act in a social setting. If you feel awkward, just keep going. … We’ve put a lot of effort into this. We’re going to make it great.”
- “Spamalot,” presented by Morgantown Theatre Co., is set for 8 p.m. May 11, and 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. May 12 at the Metropolitan Theatre, 371 High St. Tickets are available at morgantowntheatrecompany.org and at the door. Tickets cost $12 for adults and $9 for children 12 and younger.
