Rex Smith Stars in MTW's 'Penzance'

Walt Disney's trilogy of "Pirate" films is not the only swashbuckling game in town.  Stage and screen star Rex Smith will return to a show he made famous both on Broadway and film, The Pirates of Penzance, in Musical Theatre West's presentation of the Gilbert and Sullivan classic beginning June 30.

"The Pirates of Penzance tells the story of young pirate Frederic, the lovely maiden Mabel and the daring Pirate King, and a well known score with memorable songs like 'Poor Wand'ring One' and 'I am the very Model of a Modern Major General,'" state press notes.  It "spins a hilarious farce of sentimental pirates, bumbling policemen, dim-witted young lovers, dewy-eyed daughters and an eccentric Major General, all morally bound to the often-ridiculous dictates of honor and duty."

Smith first appeared on Broadway in the lead role of Danny Zuko in the original production of Grease! and later tackled the role of Frederic in the Joseph Papp version of Pirates of Penzance.  He also appeared opposite Kevin Kline and Linda Rondstadt in the Universal Pictures film version of "Pirates."

MTW's Associate Producer/Artistic Director Steven Glaudini will direct Pirates, with musical direction by Daniel Thomas and choregraphy by Jamie Torcellini.  The cast features Norman Large (The Woman in White) as the Major General, Mary Gordon Murray (Into the Woods) as Ruth, Jennifer Malenke as Mabel and Kristofer McNeeley (Reprise's Sunday in the Park with George) as Frederic.

The Pirates of Penzance will perform through July 15 at the Carpenter Performing Arts Center in Long Beach.  Tickets range from $25 to $52 and can be purchased by calling 562-856-1999 ext. 4 or at the box office located at 4350 E. 7th Street in Long Beach.  For more information, visit www.musical.org.

Photo of Rex Smith.

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