No Gilbert and Sullivan comic opera boasts as many walk-away tunes as The Pirates of Penzance, the only collaboration of the pair to premiere on Broadway, and not in England. Building on the success of the previous year’s H.M.S. Pinafore, but trading—as their principal “serious” focus—the rigors of naval discipline for the obligations of duty, G&S manage to burlesque their normal share of popular institutions, including the army, the police, and operatic sopranos. Pirate apprentice Frederic, at age 21, has faithfully served out his indentures and, replete with a sense of duty, joins the police force, determined to exterminate his old mates. He falls in love with Mabel, the first girl he sees, but the daughter of Major-General Stanley, who himself is the target of a pirate revenge plot. Plans go awry when it is revealed that, thanks to a leap-day birth, Frederic is really only five and one-quarter years old. The engaging musical score includes some of the catchiest music in the G&S canon: Mabel’s pyrotechnic “Poor, wandering one;” the tongue-twisting patter song “I am the very model of a modern major-general;” “A policeman’s lot;” “Climbing over rocky mountain”—a survivor from Thespis, G&S’s lost first stage work; and “With catlike tread,” which, more than a quarter-century later, was given new words as “Hail, hail, the gang’s all here.” At The Egyptian Theatre.
Arizona Theatre Company presents the Arizona Premiere of "Jane Austen's Emma" a new romantic musical comedy that brings Jane Austen's masterpiece to life. "Jane Austen's Emma" plays at the Temple of Music and Art and runs from December 1, 2012 - December 22, 2012. It continues its run in Phoenix at the Herberger Theater Center from December 31, 2012 - January 20, 2013. "Jane Austen's Emma" is sponsored by Shirley Estes. ATC's season sponsors are I. Michael and Beth Kasser.
Grace Gummer, Corey Stoll, and Treat Williams join Tony and Emmy Award-winning actress, Ellen Barkin, in The Parisian Woman. Commissioned by The Flea Theater, Beau Willimon has adapted Henry Becque's La Parisienne, now set in contemporary Washington D.C. To what lengths will a woman go to advance the political career of her husband? The Parisian Woman tears the veil off adultery in this modern retelling of the scandalous affairs of a bored and intelligent wife left to her own devices. Directed by Joel Schumacher.
Grace Gummer, Corey Stoll, and Treat Williams join Tony and Emmy Award-winning actress, Ellen Barkin, in The Parisian Woman. Commissioned by The Flea Theater, Beau Willimon has adapted Henry Becque's La Parisienne, now set in contemporary Washington D.C. To what lengths will a woman go to advance the political career of her husband? The Parisian Woman tears the veil off adultery in this modern retelling of the scandalous affairs of a bored and intelligent wife left to her own devices. Directed by Joel Schumacher.
Michael Rennie, Executive Director of the Poway Center for the Performing Arts Foundation has announced four new shows to be added to the 2012/2013 Professional Performance Season.
Welcome to BroadwayWorld.com's 'Photo Blast From the Past' series. Featuring some of the collected theatre gem's of BroadwayWorld's own senior photographer Walter McBride, the series showcases images from his archives of theatre and Hollywood related gems.
Today, we bring you Kaye Ballard, Broadway vet who made her Broadway debut in The Golden Apple in 1954 and went on to star in Carnival!, The Beast In Me, Molly, and the Pirates of Penzance.
Hirsch, a powerful new one-man show about the life of Canadian theatre legend and former Festival Artistic Director John Hirsch, begins previews at the Studio Theatre on June 20.
REBECCA, the new musical based on the classic novel by Daphne du Maurier novel, has found its male and female leads: Jill Paice will play the role of "I" and Ryan Silverman the role of "Maxim de Winter." REBECCA will open on Broadway Sunday, November 18 at The Broadhurst Theatre. Previews will begin Tuesday, October 30.
The Public Theater announced today that Tony Award winner Denis O'Hare has been cast as The Baker in Stephen Sondheim and James Lapine's beloved musical INTO THE WOODS, directed by Timothy Sheader with co-direction by Liam Steel. INTO THE WOODS will be O'Hare's Shakespeare in the Park debut. Previews begin on Monday, July 23 at the Delacorte Theater and continue for five weeks through Saturday, August 25, with an official press opening on Thursday, August 9.
In honor and celebration of the 50th Anniversary of Shakespeare in the Park at the Delacorte Theater, The Public Theater (Artistic Director Oskar Eustis; Executive Director Patrick Willingham) will hold a special one-night-only gala event on Monday, June 18, featuring Kevin Kline as Romeo and Meryl Streep as Juliet in a star-studded staged reading of ROMEO AND JULIET, directed by Daniel Sullivan. For information on tickets for The Public Theater's Anniversary Gala, please call (212) 539-8547 or visit www.shakespeareinthepark.org.
The Public Theater has announced additional casting today for the 50th Anniversary season of free Shakespeare in the Park at the Delacorte. David Furr (Orlando) and Stephen Spinella (Jaques) join the previously announced MacIntyre Dixon (Adam), Renee Elise Goldsberry (Celia), Omar Metwally (Oliver), and Lily Rabe (Rosalind) in Shakespeare's comedy AS YOU LIKE IT, directed by Daniel Sullivan.
The Finborough Theatre's 'Celebrating British Music Theatre' series follows Perchance to Dream with Ivor Novello's last musical.
Welcome to BroadwayWorld.com's newest photo series 'Photo Blast From the Past'. Featuring some of the collected theatre gem's of BroadwayWorld's own senior photographer Walter McBride, the series will feature images from his archives of theatre and Hollywood related gems. This time, it's Patrick Cassidy, 42nd Street (2001), Aida (2000), Annie Get Your Gun (1999), Leader of the Pack (1985), and The Pirates of Penzance (1981) fame.
The Finborough Theatre's 'Celebrating British Music Theatre' series follows Perchance to Dream with Ivor Novello's last musical.
BroadwayWorld.com reported the news exclusively on January 9, 2012 and now the The Public Theater has officially announced the line-up for the 50th Anniversary Shakespeare in the Park season at the Delacorte. Daniel Sullivan, who directed acclaimed productions of All's Well That Ends Well, The Merchant of Venice and Twelfth Night in the Park, will return to direct AS YOU LIKE IT in June with Lily Rabe as Rosalind.
The second show of the 50th Anniversary summer season will be Stephen Sondheim and James Lapine's beloved musical INTO THE WOODS, directed by Timothy Sheader with co-direction by Liam Steel. Based on the Olivier Award-winning Regent's Park Open Air Theatre London production in 2010, The Public Theater's INTO THE WOODS will be an all new production with an American cast and designers and will be staged in one of the most beautiful outdoor venues in the world-the Delacorte Theater. INTO THE WOODS will begin performances at the end of July.
Hottest Articles on BroadwayWorld.com from this weekend Sunday, January 8, 2012 - Sunday, January 8, 2012.
Today in 1981, Joe Papp's revival of THe Pirates of Penzance opened at the Uris Theatre, where it ran for 787 performances. The Pirates of Penzance is a comic opera in two acts, with music by Arthur Sullivan and libretto by W. S. Gilbert. The opera's official premiere was at the Fifth Avenue Theatre in New York City on 31 December 1879, where the show was well received by both audiences and critics. Pirates was the fifth Gilbert and Sullivan collaboration and introduced the much-parodied Major-General's Song.
The Public Theater has announced the return of Stephen Sondheim and Tony Kushner to The Public Forum on Tuesday, January 17 at 8:00 p.m.
Producers Ben Sprecher, Louise Forlenza, The Shubert Organization, Peter Bezemes, Tony Fusco, Larry Feinman, Nanda Anand and Peter Bogyo by special arrangement with/and based on the Vereinigte Buhnen Wien GmbH production, announced that the new musical REBECCA, based on the classic novel by Daphne du Maurier novel, will open on Broadway Sunday, April 22 at The Broadhurst Theatre (235 West 44th Street). Previews will begin Tuesday, March 27. Sierra Boggess (The Little Mermaid, Love Never Dies, Master Class and as Christine in last month's 25th Anniversary Concert of The Phantom of the Opera in London) will play the lead role of 'I'. Additional casting will be announced in the coming weeks.
3Arts today announced this year's twelve recipients of the 3Arts Awards. The awards were presented by the 3Arts Board of Directors and Awards Host Committee in a celebratory gathering at the Museum of Contemporary Art on Monday, October 3, 2011.
The Marriott Theatre, Chicago's longest running musical theatre announces its 2012 season. Kicking off the season will be what TIME MAGAZINE raves as 'One ELLE of a good show', LEGALLY BLONDE, previewing January 18th, opening January 25th, running through April 1st; the swashbuckling comedic opera THE PIRATES OF PENZANCE, previewing April 4th, opening April 11th, running through June 10th; the World Premiere of HERO, a quirky new musical by Aaron Thielen and Michael Mahler, previews June 20th, opens June 27th, runs through August 19th; the show stopping, Six time Tony Award-winning DREAMGIRLS previewing August 22nd, opening August 29th, and running through November 4th, and closing out the year with the Tap Spectacular, MY ONE AND ONLY, previewing November 7th, opening November 14th, and running through January 13, 2013.
According to published reports, stage veteran Linda Ronstadt is set to pen an autobiography, titled 'Heart Like a Wheel.' The book will be published by Simon & Schuster and will be released in 2013.
Cape May Stage, South Jersey's premier professional Equity theatre, is delighted to welcome another stellar Broadway performer into their ranks. On Monday, July 25th, Maureen McGovern lends her considerable talents to the Otto and Phoebe Haas Stage. Often called 'The Stradivarius Voice', McGovern has been thrilling audiences in a career that's spanned over 40 years. Join her as part of Cape May Stage's Second Stage ‘Women of Broadway' Series as she enchants audiences at the Robert Shackleton Playhouse in an exclusive concert performance of her new show dangling conversations.
Cape May Stage, South Jersey's premier professional Equity theatre, is delighted to welcome another stellar Broadway performer into their ranks. On Monday, July 25th, Maureen McGovern lends her considerable talents to the Otto and Phoebe Haas Stage. Often called 'The Stradivarius Voice', McGovern has been thrilling audiences in a career that's spanned over 40 years. Join her as part of Cape May Stage's Second Stage ‘Women of Broadway' Series as she enchants audiences at the Robert Shackleton Playhouse in an exclusive concert performance of her new show dangling conversations.
OPERA COLUMBUS AND CAPA PRESENT THE NEW YORK GILBERT & SULLIVAN PLAYERS IN THE PIRATES OF PENZANCE
The Public Theater and 3-Legged Dog have been invited by Director General Noam Semel to perform their acclaimed production of THE HUMAN SCALE at The Cameri Theatre in Tel Aviv, Israel, making it the first American production at The Cameri in its 66-year history. Written and performed by Pulitzer Prize-winner Lawrence Wright and directed by Public Theater Artistic Director Oskar Eustis, THE HUMAN SCALE will make its Israeli premiere on Wednesday, May 18 and run through Saturday, May 21 at Cameri Theatre 4, located at 18 Shaul Hamelech Boulevard.
Videos
