Photo Coverage: The Pirate Queen Opens in Chicago

The new Boublil and Schonberg musical The Pirate Queen, starring Stephanie J. Block as the swashbuckling title character, began previews at Chicago's Cadillac Palace Theatre on October 3rd and opened on October 29th.  It plays through November 26th.  It will drop anchor at the Hilton Theatre on Broadway beginning February 23rd, 2007 for an opening night on March 22nd.

The show is a historical musical based on the life of Grace O'Malley (called Grania in the show), a woman "who led an extraordinary life as a pirate, cheiftan, lover and mother in 16th century Ireland," according to press notes.  In addition to Block, the musical stars Hadley Fraser (Pacific Overtures and Assassins in the West End) as Tiernan, Linda Balgord (La Cage aux Folles, Passion) as Elizabeth I, and Jeff McCarthy (Urinetown, Side Show) as Dubhdara, with Marcus Chait (Urban Cowboy) as Donal, Áine Ui Cheallaigh as Evleen, and William Youmans (Wicked, Titanic) as Bingham. 

The Pirate Queen is produced by John McColgan and Moya doherty, both of the Irish dance sensation Riverdance. Frank Galati (Ragtime, Seussical) is the director. The musical, with a score that blends pop, rock, musical theatre and Irish music, is choreographed by Mark Dendy.  The Pirate Queen features music by Alain Boublil and Claude-Michel Schonberg (Les Miserables, Miss Saigon), with music by Schonberg and lyrics by Boublil and John Dempsey (The Witches of Eastwick).

Visit www.thepiratequeen.com for tickets and more information on the show.

Photos by Michael Piatkowski

Frank Galati and Stephanie J. Block

Frank Galati and Stephanie J. Block

Jeff McCarthy

Hadley Fraser and associate director Tara Young

Stephanie J. Block and Marcus Chait

Linda Balgord

William Youmans and dancers Bobbie Ann Dunn and Sean Beglan

Dancer Kyle James O'Connor and Mark Dendy

Cast member Brian O'Brien and costume designer Martin Pakledinaz

Dancer Eric Hatch and Irish Traditional Singer Aine Ui Cheallaigh

Cast Members Michael James Scott, Brian O'Brien and Nick Adams

Christiane Noll and husband, cast member Jamie LaVerdiere

Cast Members Eric Hatch, Grady McLeod Bowman, Katie Tomlinson, Tokiko Masudo, Jennifer Waiser and Brian O'Brien

The Pirate Boys Invade Chicago!: Kyle James O'Connor, Daniel Torres, Brian O'Brien, Troy Edward Bowles, Michael James Scott, Timothy W. Bish, Jerad Bortz and Eric Hatch