The Pirate Queen

"The Pirate Queen," an epic musical tale from the writers of "Les Miserables" and "Miss Saigon," will open in Chicago next year on its way to Broadway.

The show, which will begin performances Oct. 3, 2006, at Chicago's Cadillac Palace Theatre, features a book and score by Alain Boublil and Claude-Michel Schonberg. "The Pirate Queen" tells the story of Grace O'Malley, a spirited Irish clan leader who resists the English domination of Ireland.

No casting was announced, but the lavish show, employing 40 performers, will play Chicago through Nov. 26, 2006, then travel to New York for the 2006-07 Broadway season.

"The Pirate Queen" will be directed by Frank Galati, director of "Ragtime" as well as the Steppenwolf Theatre Company production of "The Grapes of Wrath."

It will be produced by Moya Doherty and John McColgan, the team which brought the world "Riverdance," the Irish dance extravaganza.