I have been searching for a new musical to lose myself in and become addicted to. My friend Veronica from the burlesque troupe is obsessed with Spamalot the Musical – a playful parody of the 1975 movie Monty Python and the Holy Grail. This is a musical that I had heard good things about for years but never gave it a chance. I guess I was resistant to the idea of enjoying a musical comedy. Most of the musicals that I gravitate toward are extremely dramatic with powerful vocals and group numbers or campy gay musicals because … well they are campy and gay. I also heard that the musical is primarily comprised of male leads and does not feature a lot of female vocalists – you know I love me a good diva belt. So I was a little skeptical about listening to Spamalot at first.

There were a few things that changed my mind about Spamalot. First of all I learned that orthopedic surgeon goddess Sara Ramirez – from Grey's Anatomy - served as the enchanting diva Lady of the Lake. Check one in the plus column that you have written in a part for a female diva. This girl can sing and I was totally taken aback when I heard her songs. Secondly the musical has an incredible cast to fill out of the roles. King Arthur is played by the ridiculously talented Tim Curry - who I have always had a warm spot for ever since the Wild Thornberries -, David Hyde Pierce [Fraiser], and Hank Azaria [Simpsons]. Also in the cast is the incredible dreamboat of Christopher Sieber, who is a big Broadway star, but I remember more fondly as the dad from Two of Kind starring the annoying Olsen Twins. Christopher Sieber totally fulfilled many of my DILF fantasies growing up and therefore when I learned that not only was he a big Broadway queen I got a little gitty. I also heard through the grapevine that he is a big mo as well. I just about died and went to gay heaven. Last but certainly not least, the musical features John Cleese as the voice of God. There have been many individuals cast in the role of God that I have adored – Alanis Morissette and Morgan Freeman are my two all time favorites – but John Cleese could say anything to me in his British accent and I would fall in love. The musical was nominated for 14 Tony Awards in 2005 and ended up winning Best Musical, Best Performance by a Featured Actress [Sara Ramirez], and Best Direction of a Musical.

Now, as it usually happens I have only intently and obsessively listened to about four songs on repeat – all of the songs that feature Sara Ramirez in it. The musical is definitely comedic in nature in the stylings of Monty Python. There are random tangents and many of the songs directly address the audience as to what is going on. Perfect example of this is the “Diva's Lament” which features Ramirez coming out on stage and wailing about how she has not been featured a lot in the second act and repeatedly asks the audience “whatever happened to my part?”. The purposeful breaking down of the fourth wall to comment about what is happening on stage is a fantastic element of the musical. It engages audiences in a way that musical comedy needs to and the musical consistently makes fun of itself. Hopefully within the next couple of weeks I will have broadened my horizons and will listen to the rest of the musical. … but for now Sara Ramirez is my home girl and her songs are so my jam right now.