Colm Wilkinson will return to musical theatre by once again collaborating with Alain Boublil and Claude-Michel Schonberg, whose Les Miserables launched him to theatrical fame 20 years ago.
Wilkinson will play the male lead in The Pirate Queen, an historical musical epic based on the life of Grace O'Malley (called Grania in the show), "a larger than
life figure in Irish history. Set in
16th century Ireland and England, it tells the story of her losses and
triumphs, both in her personal relationships and in her battles with
the English in defending her beloved Ireland." The Pirate Queen will
be directed by John McColgan and produced by Moya
Doherty, both of Riverdance. The swashbuckling show would
get its start in Dublin in 2006 before setting sail for London and most likely, Broadway.The
musical, with a score that blends pop, rock, musical theatre and Irish
music, will use Irish-step choreography in its scenes of battles and
funerals, according to McColgan. Mark Dendy of Taboo will create the dances that evoke those of Riverdance.
Boublil (book) and Schonberg (music and book) wrote Les Miserableswith lyricist Herbert Kretzmer (based on the French ones of Boublil and Jean-Marc Natel). Together, they also wrote Miss Saigon and the less-successful Martin Guerre.The Pirate Queen would herald Wilkinson's return to Broadway after an absence of more than 15 years. The star, who makes his home in Toronto, has occupied himself for several years as a concert performer. Wilkinson originated the role of Jean Valjean in both the London and Broadway productions of Les Miserables (for which he received a Tony nod), and also created the role of the Phantom in the Sydmonton workshop of The Phantom of the Opera;
he would star in the show in Toronto for four and a half years, and won
two Dora Mavor Moore Awards for his performances in the two roles. As a recording artist, he sang the title role(s) in the
Highlight album of Frank Wildhorn's Jekyll and Hyde and the many albums on which he has sung include his solos Stage Heroes and Some of My Best Friends Are Songs.
