`Spamalot' and `Doubt' each take four Outer Critics Awards

NEW YORK (AP) _ ``Monty Python's Spamalot,'' based on the cheeky British troupe's film ``Monty Python and the Holy Grail,'' won four Outer Critics Circle Awards on Sunday, including

Monday, May 9th 2005, 9:49 am

By: News On 6

NEW YORK (AP) _ ``Monty Python's Spamalot,'' based on the cheeky British troupe's film ``Monty Python and the Holy Grail,'' won four Outer Critics Circle Awards on Sunday, including the prize for best Broadway musical.

``Doubt,'' John Patrick Shanley's drama about a combative nun's suspicions about a parish priest, was named best Broadway play. It also received three other prizes from the organization of journalists and critics who write outside New York.

Leading acting awards in the play categories were taken by the two stars of ``Doubt'' _ Cherry Jones, who portrays the suspicious nun, and Brian F. O'Byrne, who plays the priest. The play's director, Doug Hughes, also won.

Norbert Leo Butz, who portrays a con man in ``Dirty Rotten Scoundrels,'' picked up the actor-musical award. Victoria Clark won the actress-musical prize for her performance in ``The Light in the Piazza.''

``Spamalot'' also picked up prizes for director-musical, Mike Nichols; featured actress-musical, Sara Ramirez, and costume design, Tim Hatley.

``Altar Boyz'' was named best off-Broadway musical, and the prize for best off-Broadway play was a tie, won by Neil LaBute's ``Fat Pig'' and ``Going to St. Ives'' by Lee Blessing.