"Spamalot" director Mike Nichols was born in what country?

Broadway San Diego’s next mega musical hits with “Spamalot” based on the film “Monty Python and the Holy Grail.”

In a preview video on the making of “Spamalot” the perturbed book writer and Python Eric Idle is seen leaving the show’s first day’s rehearsal saying, “I have to rewrite act two.” That task, set out by director Mike Nichols, proved to be the next daunting step to securing “Spamalot’s” success. The show earned Mr. Nichols his 18th Tony Award for direction and Mr. Idle two 2005 Tony nominations, Best Book of a Musical and Best Original score; he won a Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Lyrics.

Broadway San Diego’s Susan Chicoine distributes the most prolific media releases and “back grounders” I’ve had the pleasure to read. Following are section headings from “Spamalot:”

Always Look on the Bright Side of Life! Song Facts, SPAM FACTS from The National Tour (23 bullets worth!), Quotes from Women ~ Pythons Are A Girl’s Best Friend!, Monty Python and the Holy Grail Quote Quiz, The Movie Monty Python and the Holy Grail Trivia Quiz, Monty Python Trivia Quiz, Top Myths About Monty Python’s Spamalot and Drink Like a Knight and See Killer Rabbits!, a series of drink recipes named in “Spamalotiana.”

Here is a quiz on Director Mike Nichols’s trivia.

1. Spamalot director Mike Nichols made his Broadway directing debut with what Neil Simon comedy?
Answer: “Barefoot in the Park” in 1963 starring Robert Redford & Elizabeth Ashley.
2. What was the first motion picture Spamalot director Mike Nichols directed?
Answer: “Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?” in 1966 starring Elizabeth Taylor, Richard Burton, George Segal and Sandy Dennis.
3. How many Tony Awards, including the one he won for Best Director of Musical for Spamalot, has Mike Nichols won?
Answer: Mike Nichols has won more Tony Awards for Best Direction of a Play than any other individual. His five nods were for Barefoot in the Park (1964), Luv and The Odd Couple (1965), Plaza Suite (1968), The Prisoner of Second Avenue (1972) and The Real Thing (1984). He has also won in other categories for directing the musical Monty Python’s Spamalot (2005) and producing Annie (1977) and The Real Thing (1984). That makes a total of eight Tony Awards.
4. What other Broadway musical did Spamalot director Mike Nichols stage?
Answer: “The Apple Tree” starring Alan Alda in 1966.
5. Spamalot director Mike Nichols was born in what country?
Answer: He was born Michael Igor Peschkowsky in Berlin, Germany.
6. Spamalot director Mike Nichols won an Academy Award for direction what film classic?
Answer: “The Graduate” in 1967.
7. Spamalot director Mike Nichols won Emmy Awards for what two made-for-TV films that originally aired on HBO?
Answer: “Wit” and “Angels in America.”
8. Name the famous comic actress/writer who Spamalot director Mike Nichols teamed up with for classic comedy sketches. Hint: She also wrote the screenplay for the Mike Nichols films, “The Birdcage” and “Primary Colors.”
Answer: Elaine May.

Photos:

Mike Nichols, photo credit: popularpersons.org

The Company

Merle Dandridge as "Lady Of The Lake"

Christopher Gurr as King Arthur and Company

Production Photo Credit: Joan Marcus

“Spamalot”

San Diego Civic Theatre
3rd and B Street
Downtown San Diego

September 8-13, 2009

Performance Times:
Tuesday and Wednesday at 7PM
Thursday at 7:30PM
Friday at 8PM
Saturday at 2PM & 8PM
Sunday at 1PM & 6PM

Tickets:
$18--$87

BroadwaySD.com