'Pirate' Stars Block & Balgord Interviewed on CBS, April 5

Stephanie J. Block and Linda Balgord, two stars of Alain Boublil and Claude-Michel Schönberg's The Pirate Queen, will be interviewed on WCBS's "2 News this Morning" on Thursday, April 5th between 6:00-6:30AM on channel 2. The epic new musical from the Tony Award-winning authors of Les Misérables and Miss Saigon, opens tomorrow, April 5th, 2007 at the Hilton Theatre (213 West 42nd Street). 

Commissioned and produced by Moya Doherty and John McColgan, the producers of Riverdance, The Pirate Queen "combines classic storytelling with a sweeping score and joyous dancing to celebrate the real-life story of legendary Irish Chieftain Grace O'Malley: a compelling, inspiring heroine who led an extraordinary life as a pirate, chieftain, lover and mother in 16th Century Ireland.  To protect her people and save her one true love, O'Malley must confront the one woman more powerful than her…her fierce rival, Queen Elizabeth I of England," state press materials.

The new musical is directed by Tony Award-winner Frank Galati with musical staging by Graciela Daniele. The creative team for The Pirate Queen also includes John Dempsey (Witches of Eastwick) who has co-written the lyrics; Richard Maltby, Jr., (Miss Saigon, co-lyricist; Ain't Misbehavin,' conceived/direction) who has co-authored the book and lyrics; JulIan Kelly, orchestrator, vocal arranger, musical supervisor and director; three-time Tony Award-winner Eugene Lee (Wicked), designing the set; two-time Tony Award-winner Martin Pakledinaz (Kiss Me, Kate) designing the costumes; four-time Tony-nominee Kenneth Posner (Wicked) creating the lighting design and; Jonathan Deans (Ragtime) creating the sound design. 

The cast of 42, is led by Stephanie J. Block (Grace O'Malley), Hadley Fraser* (Tiernan), Linda Balgord (Queen Elizabeth I), Marcus Chait (Donal), Jeff McCarthy (Dubhdara) and William Youmans (Bingham). 

Tickets are currently available online at www.ticketmaster.com or by calling Ticketmaster at (212)307-4100. Tickets are available at the Hilton Theatre Box Office (213 West 42nd Street, NYC). Visit www.ThePirateQueen.com for more information.

Photo of Linda Balgord by Walter McBride/Retna Ltd.