My Shows
News on your favorite shows, specials & more!

The Pirates of Penzance Revival

Ages: 8+
Closing: May 25, 1980

The Pirates of Penzance - 1979 Off-Broadway History , Info & More


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.

Who Will Win at the 2026 Tony Awards?
by Sidney Paterra - Jun 3, 2026


The 79th Annual Tony Awards are this Sunday, June 7, 2026. It's the biggest awards show of the Broadway season and it closes out a long awards season for Broadway and Off-Broadway musicals and plays. Which Best Musical and Best Play nominees will take home the ultimate prize?

The Rise of SNL Stars on Broadway: A Comprehensive Guide
by Jennifer Ashley Tepper - Apr 26, 2026


Since the start of television’s legendary Saturday Night Live in 1975, there has been cross-over between the show and Broadway. Actors who have started out on Broadway have ended up gracing our televisions on Saturday night as cast members in the sketch comedy program.

Ramin Karimloo Will Lead New Production of SWEENEY TODD in the UK
by Stephi Wild - Jan 29, 2026


Ramin Karimloo is taking on the role of Sweeney Todd in a new production of Stephen Sondheim's music at the Birmingham Repertory Theatre in the UK. Learn more about the show here!

Wake Up With BroadwayWorld December 19, 2025
by - Dec 19, 2025


Rise and shine, BroadwayWorld! It is December 19, 2025 and it's time to catch up on all of the theatrical happenings you may have missed in the last 24 hours.

SWEENEY TODD to be Presented at The Jersey Shore Arts Center
by Chloe Rabinowitz - Oct 1, 2025


NENAproductions Theater Project will conclude its 2025 Season with the award-winning musical Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street. Learn more about the production!

Review: Rex Smith Rocks the Big Apple at 54 Below
by Sharon Ellman - Aug 16, 2025


Sexy Rexy, the 1970’s teen heartthrob, was live in person and bringing the filled-to-capacity audience on a time travel experience back to those fabulous days!

Who Will Win at the 2025 Tony Awards?
by Sidney Paterra - Jun 2, 2025


Which Best Musical and Best Play nominees will take home the ultimate prize? BroadwayWorld has rounded up the winners of the Tony Awards, the Drama Desk Awards, the Drama League Awards and the Outer Critics Circle Awards for the last fifty years to compare winners year by year.

2025 Drama Desk Awards Winners- The Full List
by Nicole Rosky - Jun 1, 2025


Debra Messing and Tituss Burgess hosted the 69th Annual Drama Desk Awards at NYU Skirball. Check out the full list of winners from the big night here!

2025 Drama Desk Awards Nominations- The Full List
by Nicole Rosky - Apr 30, 2025


Nominations for the 69th Annual Drama Desk Awards were announced. This year’s awards, hosted by Debra Messing and Tituss Burgess, will be held on Sunday, June 1 at 6:15pm at NYU Skirball  Check out the full list here!

Broadway Grosses: Week Ending 4/20/25 - Clooney-Led GOOD NIGHT, AND GOOD LUCK Tops the List
by - Apr 22, 2025


Grosses for all the Broadway shows for the week ending 4/20/2025.

2025 Drama League Awards Nominations- The Full List
by Nicole Rosky - Apr 22, 2025


The Drama League announced the 2025 Drama League Awards Nominees for Outstanding Production of a Play, Outstanding Revival of a Play, Outstanding Production of a Musical, Outstanding Revival of a Musical, Outstanding Direction of a Play, Outstanding Direction of a Musical, and the much-coveted Distinguished Performance Award. We have the full list of nominees here!

LA TRAVIATA, THE MARRIAGE OF FIGARO And More Come To Atlanta Opera for 2025-26 Season
by A.A. Cristi - Feb 4, 2025


The Atlanta Opera will embark on its 46th season in 2025-26. The season's six productions are themed to twilight and transformation, as exemplified by Carl W. Knobloch, Jr. General & Artistic Director.

Who Will Win at the 2024 Tony Awards?
by Sidney Paterra - Jun 14, 2024


BroadwayWorld has rounded up the winners of the Tony Awards, the Drama Desk Awards, the Drama League Awards and the Outer Critics Circle Awards for the last fifty years to compare winners year by year.

Donna Lynne Champlin & More to Star in SWEENEY TODD at Virginia Arts Festival
by Chloe Rabinowitz - Mar 13, 2024


Virginia Arts Festival will present Stephen Sondheim's Tony Award-winning musical Sweeney Todd in an orchestral performance. See who is starring and learn how to purchase tickets.

Video: The Atlanta Opera Season Announcement 24/25
by Joshua Wright - Jan 19, 2024


The Atlanta Opera Announces 45th Anniversary Season in 2024–25, Featuring Immersive “Bohème Project” & New Production of Siegfried with Greer Grimsley, Stefan Vinke, Lise Lindstrom, Lindsay Ammann & Barry Banks

Atlanta Opera Opens Season With Paul Moravec's THE SHINING
by A.A. Cristi - Aug 16, 2023


The Atlanta Opera opens its 2023-24 season in collaboration with Alliance Theatre at the Woodruff Arts Center for the East Coast premiere of Paul Moravec's The Shining, a chilling new production of the opera based on Stephen King's 1977 bestselling novel, with a libretto by Mark Campbell (Sep 15–Oct 1).

Film And Stage Actor Treat Williams Dies At Age 71 Following Motorcycle Accident
by A.A. Cristi - Jun 12, 2023


It has been reported that actor Treat Williams has died at the age of 71 in a motorcycle accident.

Who Will Win at the 2023 Tony Awards?
by Team BWW - Jun 9, 2023


Which Best Musical and Best Play nominees will take home the ultimate prize at the 2023 Tony Awards? We're breaking it down.

James Monroe Iglehart-Directed SPELLING BEE And More Announced For TheatreWorks Silicon Valley 53rd Season
by A.A. Cristi - Apr 10, 2023


TheatreWorks Silicon Valley has announced its 53rd season to be presented October 2023 through June 2024.

VIDEO: First Look at Leonard Bernstein's CANDIDE at Atlanta Opera
by Alan Henry - Mar 8, 2023


Get a first look at Leonard Bernstein's classic comedy operetta Candide, making its long-awaited debut at The Atlanta Opera, featuring an acclaimed cast of rising stars and veterans of the Metropolitan Opera in an all-new production.

The Atlanta Opera Announces 2023-24 Season Inspired by Iconic Literature & Film
by Chloe Rabinowitz - Feb 21, 2023


The Atlanta Opera has announced its 2023-24 season of performances at the Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre, inspired by the intersecting genres of iconic literature, horror film and fantasy: a kind of season-wide Gesamtkunstwerk for the modern age.

Leonard Bernstein's CANDIDE Makes Its Atlanta Opera Debut 
by A.A. Cristi - Feb 14, 2023


Leonard Bernstein's classic comedy operetta Candide makes its long-awaited debut at The Atlanta Opera, featuring an acclaimed cast of rising stars and veterans of the Metropolitan Opera in an all-new production.  

Cast and Creative Team Announced for CABARET at Porchlight Music Theatre
by Chloe Rabinowitz - Sep 23, 2022


Porchlight Music Theatre will present the Tony Award-winning landmark musical Cabaret, at the Ruth Page Center for the Arts January 14 - February 12, 2023. Porchlight’s production is directed by Artistic Director Michael Weber, associate directed and choreographed by Brenda Didier and music directed by Linda Madonia.

SWEENEY TODD's Jacqueline Petroccia Takes Over Instagram!
by HaleyJane Rose - Jul 20, 2022


The Muny is presenting Stephen Sondheim's Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barbler of Fleet Street through July 22! Stop by our Instagram story all day for as Jacqueline Petroccia takes the social media reigns for an exclusive look backstage. 

Who Will Win at the 2022 Tony Awards?
by Team BWW - Jun 11, 2022


Which Best Musical and Best Play nominees will win a Tony Award? BroadwayWorld has rounded up the winners of the Tony Awards, the Drama Desk Awards, the Drama League Awards and the Outer Critics Circle Awards for the last fifty years to compare winners year by year.

The Pirates of Penzance History

Other Productions of The Pirates of Penzance

1879   Regional (UK) World Premiere
Regional (UK)
1879   Broadway Original Broadway Production
Broadway
1880   New York Unknown
New York
1880   West End London Production
West End
1884   West End London Revival
West End
1900   Broadway Unknown
Broadway
1912   Broadway Broadway Revival
Broadway
1918   Broadway Broadway Revival
Broadway
1926   Broadway Broadway Revival
Broadway
1927   Broadway Broadway Revival
Broadway
1931   Broadway Broadway Revival
Broadway
1933   Broadway Broadway Revival
Broadway
1934   Broadway Broadway Revival
Broadway
1934   Broadway Broadway Revival
Broadway
1935   Broadway Broadway Revival
Broadway
1936   Broadway Broadway Revival
Broadway
1936   Broadway Broadway Revival
Broadway
1939   Broadway Broadway Revival
Broadway
1940   Broadway Broadway Revival
Broadway
1942   Broadway Broadway Revival
Broadway
1944   Broadway Broadway Revival
Broadway
1946   Broadway Unknown
Broadway
1948   Broadway Broadway Revival
Broadway
1949   Broadway Broadway Revival
Broadway
1951   Broadway Broadway Revival
Broadway
1952   Broadway Broadway Revival
Broadway
1955   Broadway Broadway Revival
Broadway
1961   Off-Broadway Off-Broadway Revival
Off-Broadway
1976   Broadway Broadway Revival
Broadway
1977   Off-Broadway Off-Broadway Revival
Off-Broadway
1979   Off-Broadway LOOM Revival
Off-Broadway
1981   Broadway Broadway Transfer
Broadway
1981   US Tour National Tour
US Tour
1982   West End London Production
West End
1985   Off-Off-Broadway Off-Off-Broadway Revival
Off-Off-Broadway
2006   Off-Broadway Off-Broadway Revival
Off-Broadway
2006   East Haddam, CT (Regional) Goodspeed Production
East Haddam, CT (Regional)
2007   Milburn, NJ (Regional) Paper Mill Production
Milburn, NJ (Regional)
2017   West End English National Opera Revival
West End
2024   West End
West End
2025   Broadway Roundabout Theatre Company Broadway Revival Production
Broadway

Videos


TICKET CENTRAL
Hot Show
Tickets From $59
Hot Show
Tickets From $77
Hot Show
Tickets From $70
Hot Show
Tickets From $59