The Pirate Queen, the Broadway-bound new musical by Alain Boublil and Claude-Michel Schönberg whose work together includes Les Misérables, Miss Saigon and Martin Guerre, will premiere at the Chicago Cadillac Palace Theatre next fall. The production, directed by Frank Galati, is scheduled to begin performances in the Windy City on October 3, 2006, according to a spokesperson.
The Pirate Queen is based on the real-life story of the legendary Irish pirate chieftain, Grace Grania O'Malley, who was a pirate, chieftain, lover and mother in 16th century Ireland. O'Malley was one of the last Irish clan leaders to resist the English conquest of Gaelic Ireland.
The show will feature choreography by Mark Dendy, set design by Eugene Lee, costume design by Martin Pakledinaz, lighting design by Kenneth Posner and orchestrations by Julian Kelly. John Dempsey co-wrote the lyrics with Boublil.
The Pirate Queen is scheduled to end its limited engagement in Chicago on November 26 and is expected to open on the Great White Way during the 2006-2007 Broadway season. While no casting has been confirmed, The Toronto Star previously reported that Colm Wilkinson best known for his work in Boublil and Schönberg's Les Miserables is expected to appear.
