Christine Stulik

Thank goodness for the grand feats of woke escapism that took over New York venues this year. Charles Quittner reflects on his favorite theatrical events featuring pirates, pirates, more pirates, and drag queens.

A raucous, zany beach party, complete with swimming pools, Tiki Bar and beach balls, begins previews tonight, November 29, in a special, 80-minute holiday adaptation of Pirates of Penzance at NYU Skirball, running through December 10. BroadwayWorld has a first look at the cast in action below!

Berkeley Repertory Theatre proudly welcomes Chicago theatre rebels The Hypocrites for the West Coast premiere of Pirates of Penzance. Join the party in the Theatre's Osher Studio on Center Street for a delightfully and fantastically eccentric take on Gilbert and Sullivan's preposterous topsy-turvy world. Presented promenade-style, this unique production allows the audience to move around the space with the actors for a more immersive experience. Directed and adapted by Sean Graney, artistic director of The Hypocrites, Pirates of Penzance follows the adventures of Frederick, who was mistakenly apprenticed as a young boy to a band of sentimental pirates. Now 21, he falls head-over-heels for the Major-General's daughter and forswears the buccaneer's life forever, or so he thinks. This buoyant, award-winning production is a 'spirited, affectionate, and nearly irresistible,' says the Boston Globe.

Due to popular demand, The Hypocrites critically acclaimed production of ALL OUR TRAGIC will add two additional performances (that's 24 hours of theatre!), extending though August 16, 2015 at The Den Theatre's Heath Main Stage, 1329 N. Milwaukee Ave. in Chicago. Adapted and directed by Artistic Director Sean Graney, the unparalleled twelve-hour theatrical adaptation combines all 32 surviving Greek tragedies into a single epic narrative. Tickets for all performances are currently on sale at www.the-hypocrites.com.  

The Hypocrites is pleased to present a return engagement of its critically acclaimed world premiere ALL OUR TRAGIC, an unparalleled twelve-hour theatrical adaptation that combines all 32 surviving Greek tragedies into a single epic narrative. Adapted and directed by ArtisticDirector Sean Graney and featuring most of the original cast members, this contemporary festival of Dionysus returns now through August 9, 2015 at The Hypocrites' new home, The Den Theatre's Heath Main Stage, 1329 N. Milwaukee Ave. in Chicago. The press openings are today, June 27 at 11 am or Sunday, June 28 at 11 am. BroadwayWorld has a first look at the cast in action below!

The Hypocrites is pleased to present a return engagement of its critically acclaimed world premiere ALL OUR TRAGIC, an unparalleled twelve-hour theatrical adaptation that combines all 32 surviving Greek tragedies into a single epic narrative. Adapted and directed by ArtisticDirector Sean Graney and featuring most of the original cast members, this contemporary festival of Dionysus returns now through August 9, 2015 at The Hypocrites' new home, The Den Theatre's Heath Main Stage, 1329 N. Milwaukee Ave. in Chicago. The press openings are Saturday, June 27 at 11 am or Sunday, June 28 at 11 am. BroadwayWorld has a first look at the cast in action below!

The Hypocrites will present a return engagement of its critically acclaimed world premiere ALL OUR TRAGIC, an unparalleled twelve-hour theatrical adaptation that combines all 32 surviving Greek tragedies into a single epic narrative. Adapted and directed by Artistic Director Sean Graney and featuring most of the original cast members, this contemporary festival of Dionysus returns tonight, June 20 - August 9, 2015 at The Hypocrites' new home, The Den Theatre Mainstage.

The Hypocrites are pleased to announce their 2015-16 Season, featuring an unprecedented seven productions for Chicago audiences! The season kicks off this summer with the triumphant return engagement of the critically acclaimed ALL OUR TRAGIC, an unparalleled twelve-hour theatrical adaptation that combines all 32 surviving Greek tragedies into a single epic narrative, adapted and directed by Artistic Director Sean Graney and featuring most of the original cast.

 The Hypocrites will present a return engagement of its critically acclaimed world premiere ALL OUR TRAGIC, an unparalleled twelve-hour theatrical adaptation that combines all 32 surviving Greek tragedies into a single epic narrative. Adapted and directed by Artistic Director Sean Graney and featuring most of the original cast members, this contemporary festival of Dionysus returns June 20 - August 9, 2015 at The Hypocrites' new home, The Den Theatre Mainstage, 1329 N. Milwaukee Ave. in Chicago.  Tickets are currently on sale at www.the-hypocrites.com.  The press openings are Saturday, June 27 at 11 am and Sunday, June 28 at 11 am.

The Hypocrites are pleased to announce their 2015-16 Season, featuring an unprecedented seven productions for Chicago audiences! The season kicks off this summer with the triumphant return engagement of the critically acclaimed ALL OUR TRAGIC, an unparalleled twelve-hour theatrical adaptation that combines all 32 surviving Greek tragedies into a single epic narrative, adapted and directed by Artistic Director Sean Graney and featuring most of the original cast.

The Hypocrites will present a return engagement of its critically acclaimed world premiere ALL OUR TRAGIC, an unparalleled twelve-hour theatrical adaptation that combines all 32 surviving Greek tragedies into a single epic narrative. Adapted and directed by Artistic Director Sean Graney and featuring most of the original cast members, this contemporary festival of Dionysus returns June 20 - August 9, 2015 at The Hypocrites' new home, The Den Theatre Mainstage, 1329 N. Milwaukee Ave. in Chicago. Tickets are currently on sale at www.the-hypocrites.com. The press opening is Sunday, June 28 at 11 am.

On the heels of their critically acclaimed hit ALL OUR TRAGIC, The Hypocrites are pleased to continue their 2014-15 Season with another world premiere: a playful re-imaging of Gilbert and Sullivan's comic opera H.M.S. PINAFORE, adapted and directed by Founding Artistic Director Sean Graney, co-directed by Thrisa Hodits with new arrangements by Matt Kahler* and Andra Velis Simon. Check out pictures below!

It's your last week to vote for the 2014 BroadwayWorld Louisville Regional Awards! Check out the latest live stats as of December 26th. Voting closes at the end of the year, in under one week!

On the heels of their critically acclaimed hit ALL OUR TRAGIC, The Hypocrites are pleased to continue their 2014-15 Season with another world premiere: a playful re-imaging of Gilbert and Sullivan's comic opera H.M.S. PINAFORE, adapted and directed by Founding Artistic Director Sean Graney, co-directed by Thrisa Hodits with new arrangements by Matt Kahler* and Andra Velis Simon. In what has become an annual celebration of the Gilbert and Sullivan canon, H.M.S. PINAFORE will run in repertory with remounts of the company's wildly popular productions of THE MIKADO and THE PIRATES OF PENZANCE, also adapted and directed by Graney. All three promenade-style productions will be helmed by ten creatively cast performers acting as their own orchestra, with music direction by Andra Velis Simon.

Time is ticking on your last chance to vote for the 2014 BroadwayWorld Louisville Regional Awards! Check out the latest live stats as of December 19th. Voting closes at the end of the year!

On the heels of their critically acclaimed hit ALL OUR TRAGIC, The Hypocrites are pleased to continue their 2014-15 Season with another world premiere: a playful re-imaging of Gilbert and Sullivan's comic opera H.M.S. PINAFORE, adapted and directed by Founding Artistic Director Sean Graney, co-directed by Thrisa Hodits with new arrangements by Matt Kahler* and Andra Velis Simon. In what has become an annual celebration of the Gilbert and Sullivan canon, H.M.S. PINAFORE will run in repertory with remounts of the company's wildly popular productions of THE MIKADO and THE PIRATES OF PENZANCE, also adapted and directed by Graney. All three promenade-style productions will be helmed by ten creatively cast performers acting as their own orchestra, with music direction by Andra Velis Simon.

Voting has now opened for the 2014 BroadwayWorld Louisville Regional Awards! Check out the latest live stats as of December 4th.

On the heels of their critically acclaimed hit ALL OUR TRAGIC, The Hypocrites are pleased to continue their 2014-15 Season with another world premiere: a playful re-imaging of Gilbert and Sullivan's comic opera H.M.S. PINAFORE, adapted and directed by Founding Artistic Director Sean Graney, co-directed by Thrisa Hodits with new arrangements by Matt Kahler* and Andra Velis Simon. In what has become an annual celebration of the Gilbert and Sullivan canon, H.M.S. PINAFORE will run in repertory with remounts of the company's wildly popular productions of THE MIKADO and THE PIRATES OF PENZANCE, also adapted and directed by Graney. All three productions will be helmed by ten creatively cast performers acting as their own orchestra, with music direction by Andra Velis Simon. Scroll down for a first look at the latter two shows!

Voting has now opened for the 2014 BroadwayWorld Louisville Regional Awards! Check out the latest live stats as of December 4th.

On the heels of their critically acclaimed hit ALL OUR TRAGIC, The Hypocrites are pleased to continue their 2014-15 Season with another world premiere: a playful re-imaging of Gilbert and Sullivan's comic opera H.M.S. PINAFORE, adapted and directed by Founding Artistic Director Sean Graney, co-directed by Thrisa Hodits with new arrangements by Matt Kahler* and Andra Velis Simon. In what has become an annual celebration of the Gilbert and Sullivan canon, H.M.S. PINAFORE will run in repertory with remounts of the company's wildly popular productions of THE MIKADO and THE PIRATES OF PENZANCE, also adapted and directed by Graney. All three promenade-style productions will be helmed by ten creatively cast performers acting as their own orchestra, with music direction by Andra Velis Simon.