LAKEPORT >> Cast members of the Lake County Theatre Company”s (LCTC) production of “Spamalot” are gearing up, in more ways than one, for opening night.
In addition to learning lines, blocking, songs and choreography, cast members of a large musical are often asked to help provide their own costumes.
“With a cast of 30 people, many of them having multiple costume changes, it”s really impossible for the theater company to be able to purchase all of the costumes required for a production like Spamalot,” Shannon Trout, head costumer, said. “In order to make it a little more fun for them, we put on a ”Peasant Pageant” at rehearsal and had the cast show off the peasant costumes they put together themselves as they walked down a runway to the song ”I”m Too Sexy.” It was a friendly competition and they seemed to enjoy it. We were very impressed with the costumes they created.”
The first-, second- and third-place winners were each presented with a gift bag containing items a peasant might need, such as soap and mouthwash.
Putting on a full-scale musical with a large cast is truly a team effort. Trout is just one of five people working on costumes. There are four people on the props team, three set builders, three choreographers, two vocal coaches, two producers, a band leader, a stage manager and a director, Tim Fischer, who is the glue holding it all together.
“Including the cast, musicians and all those working behind the scenes, we have over 50 people working on making this show a success,” Fischer said. “I am so proud of what this team is creating. Their hard work and dedication over the past few months will ultimately result in a fantastic production that audiences are sure to enjoy.”
Monty Python”s Spamalot opens on Oct. 9 at 7 p.m. at the Soper Reese Community Theatre. Additional show dates are Oct. 10, 11, 16 and 18 at 7 p.m., and Oct. 12, 18 and 19 at 2 p.m.
Tickets can be purchased at the Soper Reese Community Theatre box office, or on its website, www.soperreesetheatre.com/.
For more information, check the LCTC website at www.lakecountytheatrecompany.org or call 243-2244.
The theater is located at 275 S. Main St. in Lakeport.
