The Sandy River Players rehearse a scene of the comedy show Spamalot on Jan. 2 at Cascade Brook School in Farmington. Leo Goddard/Franklin Journal

FARMINGTON — The Sandy River Players, an inclusive community theatre group based in Farmington that has been around for over 50 years, is putting on the comedy show Spamalot at the Emery Community Arts Center starting on Jan. 17.

Monty Python’s Spamalot is a musical based on the Monty Python and the Holy Grail movie. The plot follows King Arthur and his journey to find the Holy Grail.

Brendan Hickey conducts music for the Sandy River Players as they rehearse for their upcoming show Spamalot on Jan. 2 at Cascade Brook School in Farmington. Leo Goddard/Franklin Journal

Gracie Libby and Brendan Hickey are co-directors of Spamalot this winter, Libby as the artistic director and stage manager and Hickey as the musical director. Libby said that they have wanted to do Spamalot ever since they put on a children’s version of the musical with their youth theatre camp in 2017.

The show is funny and heartwarming, Libby said. “It’s what Farmington needs right now,” she said, “an uplifter.”

Auditions for the show started in early November and rehearsals began soon after, taking place two to three times a week. There is a cast of 20 actors for this show and Libby said that they have sourced 16 musicians from all over Maine for the production.

According to Hickey, some of the biggest challenges that they are facing with this show are mostly technical – the show faces some obstacles that are difficult to pull off on stage. Limbs need to fall off of characters and a cow has to fall from the sky for example. Libby said that another challenge is making things seem big on a small stage.

In terms of overall challenges that the Sandy River Players face, a shortage of local talent is not one of them. However, finding those willing to take part in costume and set design, for example, is a bit harder.

“A lot of people want to sing and dance, but not a lot of people want to manage the singers and dancers,” Hickey said.

Anna Dunbar plays the Lady of the Lake in the show. This is her first role in 10 years as she got busy with other things in life, she said. Dunbar said that she acted a lot in high school and college. She shared that this was her first time auditioning for a main role, that her partner pushed her to try for it and that she was shocked to find out that she got the part. She shared that some of her past memorable roles included a fork in Beauty and the Beast and JoJo Rabbit in a one act play.

From left, Anna Dunbar and Tim Berry act out a scene together during a rehearsal of their upcoming show Spamalot on Jan. 2 at Cascade Brooke School in Farmington. Leo Goddard/Franklin Journal

Dunbar said that one of her biggest challenges in this show is finding and channeling her character. As someone who is usually laid back and relaxed, she said, she has to work to get into the more grand, confident character of the Lady of the Lake.

“It’s an empowering journey,” Dunbar said.

Dunbar also spoke highly of the rest of the cast, saying that they clap after every scene, not because it is expected, but because it is how they feel. “The cast is an incredible group of people,” she said. “I couldn’t be in better hands as a new member coming in.”

The Sandy River Players’ production of Spamalot will take place at the Emery Community Arts Center on Fridays and Saturdays, Jan. 17, 18, 24, and 25, at 7 p.m. as well as Sunday matinee showings on Jan. 19 and 26 at 2 p.m.

For more information on Spamalot or the Sandy River Players future shows, see the Sandy River Players Facebook page.