The Pirates of Penzance Revival 1946

Ages: 8+
Opened: May 12, 1946

The Pirates of Penzance - 1946 - Broadway History , Info & More

City Center
131 W. 55th St. New York, NY

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.

Get The Pirates of Penzance Email Alerts

Be the first to get ticket offers, news, photos & more.

MasterVoices Announces 2022-23 Season Featuring CARMEN, a Daniel Rein World Premiere & More
by Chloe Rabinowitz - Jul 20, 2022


MasterVoices has announced details of the chorus’ 81st season, celebrating the power of the human voice to unite, inspire and connect since 1941. The 2022-23 season opens on October 25 at the Rose Theater at Jazz at Lincoln Center with Mr. Sperling leading a concert staging of Bizet’s Carmen in its original Opéra Comique version.

Rubicon Theatre Presents KING LEAR Starring George Ball
by A.A. Cristi - Mar 13, 2018


Rubicon Theatre presents a timely and trenchant production of Shakespeare's tragedy KING LEAR as the centerpiece of the company's 20th Anniversary Season. Directed by Co-Founder James O'Neil, the production features a 20-member cast led by acclaimed actor and company memberGeorge Ball, who has starred in previous Rubicon productions of All My Sons, Man of La Mancha, and Jacques Brel… (New York, L.A., and international companies of the latter).

Kendra Kassebaum to Lead 5th Avenue Theatre's New Production of MAMMA MIA!, Full Cast Announced!
by Julie Musbach - Jan 4, 2018


Rehearsals begin today for The 5th Avenue Theatre's new production of Mamma Mia!, the celebrated musical that features the music of global pop sensation ABBA. The 5th Avenue Theatre is the first producing theater company in the Pacific Northwest to be granted the rights to create its own refreshed version of the show, which toured the world for nearly 20 years.

Disney's THE LITTLE MERMAID, Starring Diana Huey, to Make a Splash Next Week at Pittsburgh CLO
by BWW News Desk - Jun 9, 2017


Pittsburgh CLO has joined forces with Kansas City Starlight to produce a 21-week tour of Disney's THE LITTLE MERMAID, coming to the Benedum Center June 14-25.

VIDEO: Kevin Kline Shares PRESENT LAUGHTER Curtain Mishap on LATE NIGHT
by Caryn Robbins - Jun 6, 2017


On last night's LATE NIGHT, Kevin Kline talked to Seth about his Tony-nominated role in the Broadway revival  of Noel Coward's PRESENT LAUGHTER and shared a curtain mishap which occurred during a very intimate moment of the play.

Diana Huey, Eric Kunze, Joey Barreiro, Matt Bogart, James Snyder and More Slated for Pittsburgh CLO's 2017 Summer Season
by BWW News Desk - Jun 1, 2017


Pittsburgh CLO celebrates 71 years of musical theater magic with an incredible line-up of musicals featuring a team of Pittsburgh CLO alumni and Broadway's very best artists.

PRESENT LAUGHTER's Kevin Kline Wins 2017 Tony Award for Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Play
by BWW News Desk - Jun 11, 2017


Kevin Kline has won the 2017 Tony Award for Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Play for PRESENT LAUGHTER.

Russian Crime Novelist and Political Dissident Boris Akunin to Take on HAMLET Off-Broadway
by BWW News Desk - Mar 21, 2017


The best-selling Russian crime fiction writer Boris Akunin's new stage adaptation of Shakespeare's HAMLET will debut this spring Off-Broadway when Red Lab Productions and Roust Theatre Company present HAMLET. A VERSION, with previews beginning April 21, prior to the official press opening on April 25 at The Theater at St. Clement's (423 W. 46 St.) in New York City. HAMLET. A VERSION is directed by Irina Gachechiladze. The production features original music by Georgian composer Giya Kancheli.

GEORGIE: MY ADVENTURES WITH GEORGE ROSE Opens Off-Broadway Tonight
by BWW News Desk - Feb 1, 2017


The New York premiere of the critically acclaimed Signature Theatre production of Georgie: My Adventures with George Rose, the new play written by and starring Ed Dixon (Sunset Boulevard, LES MISERABLES) with direction by Eric Schaeffer (Follies, Million Dollar Quartet), opens tonight, February 1, 2017, for a limited engagement through April 15, 2017 at The Loft at The Davenport Theatre (354 West 45th Street, between 8th & 9th Avenues).

GEORGIE: MY ADVENTURES WITH GEORGE ROSE Begins Tonight Off-Broadway
by BWW News Desk - Jan 25, 2017


Producers Martin Platt and David Elliott with Mary Cossette, Jamie deRoy, Richard Winkler, and Mike Blank present the New York premiere of the critically acclaimed Signature Theatre production of Georgie: My Adventures with George Rose, the new play written by and starring Ed Dixon (Sunset Boulevard, LES MISERABLES) with direction by Eric Schaeffer (Follies, Million Dollar Quartet).

GEORGIE: MY ADVENTURES WITH GEORGE ROSE Headed Off-Broadway in 2017
by BWW News Desk - Dec 15, 2016


Producers Martin Platt and David Elliott with Mary Cossette, Jamie deRoy, Richard Winkler, and Mike Blank will present the New York premiere of the critically acclaimed Signature Theatre production of Georgie: My Adventures with George Rose, the new play written by and starring Ed Dixon (Sunset Boulevard, LES MISERABLES) with direction by Eric Schaeffer (Follies, Million Dollar Quartet).

Breaking News: Kevin Kline Will Return to Broadway Next Year in PRESENT LAUGHTER
by Nicole Rosky - Sep 27, 2016


Back in February, BroadwayWorld reported that stage and screen star Kevin Kline would star in The Acting Company's reading presentation of Noel Coward's charming comedy PRESENT LAUGHTER. Now he's taking the show to Broadway, according to the New York Times.  

Matt Scott Steps in for Josh Franklin in Goodspeed's A WONDERFUL LIFE
by BWW News Desk - Nov 2, 2015


BroadwayWorld has just learned that Broadway's Matt Scott, who was last seen by Goodspeed audiences in the 2013 production of SNAPSHOTS at The Norma Terris Theatre, will assume the role of 'Sam Wainwright' for the remainder of the run of A WONDERFUL LIFE at Goodspeed Opera House through December 6th.

Goodspeed Announces Week-Long Extension for A WONDERFUL LIFE
by BWW News Desk - Oct 27, 2015


Grammy and Emmy Award-winner Joe Raposo and Tony Award and Pulitzer Prize winner Sheldon Harnick's uplifting musical A WONDERFUL LIFE reminds us how one person's life can touch that of so many others. Based on the beloved 1946 holiday movie classic, this charming musical is sure to inspire and entertain. Just announced, A WONDERFUL LIFE will now play eight additional performances through Sunday, December 6, 2015 at the Goodspeed Opera House in East Haddam, Conn.

A WONDERFUL LIFE, with Duke Lafoon, Brings Holiday Classic to Goodspeed Tonight
by BWW News Desk - Oct 14, 2015


Grammy and Emmy Award-winner Joe Raposo and Tony Award and Pulitzer Prize winner Sheldon Harnick's uplifting musical A WONDERFUL LIFE reminds us how one person's life can touch that of so many others. Based on the beloved 1946 holiday movie classic, this charming musical is sure to inspire and entertain. A WONDERFUL LIFE is currently running through November 29 at the Goodspeed Opera House in East Haddam, Conn. The official press opening is tonight, October 14, 2015.

Duke Lafoon Stars as 'George Bailey' in Goodspeed's A WONDERFUL LIFE, Beginning Tonight
by BWW News Desk - Sep 18, 2015


Grammy and Emmy Award-winner Joe Raposo and Tony Award and Pulitzer Prize winner Sheldon Harnick's uplifting musical A WONDERFUL LIFE reminds us how one person's life can touch that of so many others. Based on the beloved 1946 holiday movie classic, this charming musical is sure to inspire and entertain. A WONDERFUL LIFE will run tonight, September 18, through November 29 at the Goodspeed Opera House in East Haddam, Conn. Official Press Opening will be October 14, 2015.

Star of Broadway's HELLAZPOPPIN, June Winters Dies at 96
by Caryn Robbins - Sep 8, 2015


It has been confirmed that June Winters, widow of legendary songwriter and record producer Hugo Peretti, and famous in her own right as the "Lady in Blue" on both radio and records, died March 29 of natural causes at her home in Bergenfield, NJ.

Duke Lafoon to Star as 'George Bailey' in Goodspeed's A WONDERFUL LIFE; Cast Announced!
by BWW News Desk - Aug 7, 2015


Grammy and Emmy Award-winner Joe Raposo and Tony Award and Pulitzer Prize winner Sheldon Harnick's uplifting musical A Wonderful Life reminds us how one person's life can touch that of so many others. Based on the beloved 1946 holiday movie classic, this charming musical is sure to inspire and entertain. A Wonderful Life will run September 18 through November 29 at the Goodspeed Opera House in East Haddam, Conn.

Full Cast Announced For Curve's SECRET DIARY OF ADRIAN MOLE, Opens March!
by Carrie Dunn - Jan 19, 2015


Curve today announces the full cast for the world premiere of Sue Townsend's The Secret Diary of Adrian Mole Aged 13¾ - The Musical. The cast includes Rosemary Ashe (Grandma), Cameron Blakely (Mr Lucas), Amy Booth-Steel (Miss Elf/Doreen Slater/Mrs Lucas), Neil Ditt (George Mole),Kirsty Hoiles (Pauline Mole) and Neil Salvage (Bert Baxter).

Pittsburgh CLO and University of Pittsburgh Host 2014 Gene Kelly Awards Tonight
by BWW News Desk - May 24, 2014


Pittsburgh CLO and the University of Pittsburgh will present the Gene Kelly Awards for Excellence in High School Musical Theater. The awards show will take place tonight, May 24 at 7:30 p.m. at the Benedum Center in downtown Pittsburgh.

Pittsburgh CLO and University of Pittsburgh Announce 2014 Gene Kelly Award Nominees
by BWW News Desk - May 7, 2014


Pittsburgh CLO and the University of Pittsburgh are proud to announce the nominees for the Gene Kelly Awards for Excellence in High School Musical Theater. The awards show will take place on Saturday, May 24 at 7:30 p.m. at the Benedum Center in downtown Pittsburgh.

The Vancouver Opera Presents ALBERT HERRING, Four Nights Only Beg. Today
by BWW News Desk - Nov 30, 2013


Vancouver, BC ~ Effervescent, intoxicating, and just a little daft, Vancouver Opera's colourful production of Albert Herring bursts onto the Queen Elizabeth Theatre Stage in less than two weeks. Benjamin Britten's fast-paced, clever and hummable opera, directed by Glynis Leyshon, transports audiences to the 1950s in a riot of scrumptious costumes, devastating satire, and charming slapstick.

Vancouver Opera Lights Up Dark Winter Days With ALBERT HERRING, Now thru 12/5
by BWW News Desk - Nov 30, 2013


The busybodies of proper English village life are brilliantly skewered in Benjamin Britten's devastatingly satirical Albert Herring, onstage at Vancouver Opera for four performances only. Fast-paced, effervescent and musically clever, this sparkling 1950s-style company premiere is a scrumptious treat for Vancouver audiences.

The Vancouver Opera Presents ALBERT HERRING, Four Nights Only Beginning 11/30
by BWW News Desk - Nov 19, 2013


Vancouver, BC ~ Effervescent, intoxicating, and just a little daft, Vancouver Opera's colourful production of Albert Herring bursts onto the Queen Elizabeth Theatre Stage in less than two weeks. Benjamin Britten's fast-paced, clever and hummable opera, directed by Glynis Leyshon, transports audiences to the 1950s in a riot of scrumptious costumes, devastating satire, and charming slapstick.

Vancouver Opera Lights Up Dark Winter Days With ALBERT HERRING, 11/30 - 12/5
by Rosie Hertzman - Nov 6, 2013


The busybodies of proper English village life are brilliantly skewered in Benjamin Britten's devastatingly satirical Albert Herring, onstage at Vancouver Opera for four performances only. Fast-paced, effervescent and musically clever, this sparkling 1950s-style company premiere is a scrumptious treat for Vancouver audiences.

Videos