FLASHBACK FRIDAY: Over the years, Broadway has done some unusual things that make it into the Theater history books. One of those times was breaking a world record.

In 2006, the Tony Award winning smash hit Monty Python’s Spamalot (that little well known musical adaptation of Monty Python and the Holy Grail) celebrated their 1st year Anniversary on Broadway by getting into the Guiness Book of World Records with “The World’s Largest Coconut Orchestra”.

For those who have never seen SPAMALOT or MONTY PYTHON & THE HOLY GRAIL, the main character of “King Arthur” has a sidekick named “Patsy” which he travels with. Wherever they go, “Arthur” would gallop and follow “Patsy” who would clap coconuts together in the place of a horse.

On the 1 year anniversary, 1,789 fans all gathered in Shubert Alley (outside the Shubert Theatre ,where the show was playing) and were each given a pair of coconuts. Members of the cast conducted the crowd in a raucous rendition of the Monty Python favorite and the show’s anthem ALWAYS LOOK ON THE BRIGHT SIDE OF LIFE. Instead of the whistling part, the crowd clapped their coconuts together in that place. From there, they made it into the World Records.

New York Broadway Tours founder and head tour guide Amada Anderson was part of that historical day!!!

However it gets better when the show went to London’s West End, the producers did the same thing in Trafalgar Square with the Coconut Orchestra and the crowd in London got even larger with 5,567 fans. London beated Broadway’s crowd.

In addition every year during the Broadway Flea Market (to raise money for Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS), the coconuts are still available to get. Our very own Amada is still looking for a new pair of SPAMALOT coconuts.

How cool was that?!

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Author: NYBroadwayTours