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“Camelot” brings to mind knights in shining armor, damsels in distress, courtly manners and heroic deeds, and — rip-roaring comedy?

“I think people are really surprised at how funny it is,” said Lou Diamond Phillips, who plays King Arthur in the national tour that stops in Cincinnati next week. “It has this ‘60s sheen on it because of the movie, but it’s a lot more entertaining than people remember.

“This production is more streamlined and more cinematic, and there’s also a greater emphasis on Arthur’s inner turmoil as a king who wants to bring peace to his people. It was a difficult time and Arthur had a vision of a better world.”

Phillips said that with campaigning already so heavy with the presidential election more than a year away, “America is concerned about the quality of leadership, so a lot of the dialog resonates in that regard as well.”

Although Phillips is better known for his film roles (“La Bamba,” “Stand and Deliver,” “Courage Under Fire”), he also has a long resume in live theater — “I am a theater animal,” he said — including a Tony nomination for Best Actor for his turn in a revival of “The King and I.”

He also recently appeared in “A Few Good Men” in Ft. Worth, “A Hatful of Rain,” “Whose Life Is It Anyway?” and “Hamlet.”

“Since ‘The King and I’ I’ve had a much more open mind about getting back on stage and to brush up on the purity of my acting,” he said. “Theater informs what you do on film, from the top of your head to the tip of your toes and keeps  you honest. You have to give it your best each and every night, because if you’re not on  your toes, the audience knows.”

He also enjoys taking the show on the road, partly because he gets a chance to see the personality of the towns he visits, but also because “every few weeks, there’s an opening night.”

• WHAT: Lerner & Loewe’s “Camelot”
• WHERE: Aronoff Center for the Arts, 650 Walnut, Cincinnti
• WHEN: Nov. 13-25
• COST: $20-$60
• MORE INFO: (513) 562-4949; www.broadwayacrossamerica.com