The Pirate Queen

The Pirate Queen is about ready to set sail in Chicago with its October 3 opening at the Cadillac Palace Theatre but those eager for a sneak peak of the show may want to check out the “castcom” which will launch on Tuesday, September 12th.

This castcom is a daily video diary that will introduce viewers to the cast and creative team, and special live broadcasts will be presented on key dates. "A castcom is an on-line web communication which gives our cast and creatives an opportunity to tell you their story and bring you, our viewer, behind the scenes on our journey to Broadway," according to press notes. "The castcom will provide the highs, the lows and all of the drama of bringing a major new musical theatre production to the stage. You will get to know our cast and creative team on our daily video diary, with special live broadcasts on key dates.  This is a first for a musical theatre production and we invite you to join us when we go live. There will continue to be an on-going series of behind the scenes diaries following the live broadcasts."

To view the castcom, visit www.thepiratequeen.com to meet the cast and creative team in a variety of video-diary trailers that will countdown to the first live transmission in Chicago.

The Pirate Queen will first play Chicago's Cadillac Palace Theatre from October 3rd through November 26th, 2006 before dropping anchor on Broadway at the Hilton Theatre for preview performances beginning February 23rd, 2007 and 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. The show "combines classic storytelling and a sweeping score, with the powerful, vibrant traditions of Irish dance and song, to create a modern musical event that is both an historic romance and a timeless epic."

Aboard are several Tony Award winners, including writer and composer Alain Boublil and Claude-Michel Schonberg - the team behind Les Miserables and Miss Saigon. Frank Galati, another Tony winner, is director, with Doherty and McColgan producing.

“We wanted an Irish story that had resonance, one that would travel internationally,” said Doherty. “We think we have found that in the life of Grace O’Malley, who was something of a female icon in her day.”
Stephanie J Block, who has featured in many Broadway musicals, including Wicked and Oliver, plays the Pirate Queen, with Hadley Fraser as her lover, Tiernan. Linda Balgord has the role of Queen Elizabeth I.