Stephanie J. Block to Perform Live at AIDS Walk NY, 5/20

Stephanie J. Block, star of Alain Boublil and Claude-Michel Schönberg's The Pirate Queen will perform live at AIDS Walk New York on Sunday, May 20, during the opening ceremony in Central Park, beginning at 9AM.  Block will sing "You'll Never Walk Alone" (music by Richard Rodgers, lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II), which has long been associated as the anthem for the national AIDS Walk campaigns. The walk will commence (rain or shine) immediately following Block's performance.

Sign-in for the AIDS Walk begins at 8:30 AM (enter Central Park at 59th Street and Fifth Avenue.)  AIDS Walk New York benefits the Gay Men's Health Crisis; 45,000 people are expected to take part in the annual charity event.

"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," as the show is described in press notes.

Log on to The Pirate Queen website to view production photos and watch the daily video diary castcom.

The new musical is directed by Tony Award-winner Frank Galati with musical staging by Graciela Daniele. The creative team for The Pirate Queen includes Boublil and Schönberg (Les Miserables, Miss Saigon), who wrote the score, 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.

To register for AIDS Walk New York, call (212) 807-9255, or visit online for more information: www.aidswalk.net.

Photo of The Pirate Queen stars Hadley Fraser and Stephanie J. Block by Walter McBride/Retna Ltd.