Maltby Jr., Daniele Join 'Pirate' Team; Previews Start 3/6

Tony Award-winner Richard Maltby Jr. and multi-Tony Award-nominee Graciela Daniele have signed on to the creative team of the Broadway-bound musical The Pirate Queen.

Joining previously announced director Frank Galati (Ragtime, The Grapes of Wrath), Maltby Jr. (director of Ring of Fire, Ain't Misbehavin,' lyrics for Miss Saigon, Baby, Closer Than Ever) will work with composing team Alain Boublil and Claude-Michel Schonberg (Les Miserables, Miss Saigon), while Daniele (Bernarda Alba, Marie Christine, Ragtime, Once On This Island) will oversee musical staging.

Producer Moya Doherty said: "We are delighted that two such respected and talented artists as Graciela Daniele and Richard Maltby, Jr. have chosen to join us on the continuing voyage of The Pirate Queen.  Our director and authors have long-standing relationships with Graciela and Richard and feel innervated by the opportunity of collaborating with them."

In addition, previews have been moved back to March 6th, 2007; the show was originally set to begin March 2nd.  The opening date remains April 5th.  The Pirate Queen is currently playing an out-of-town tryout at the Cadillac Palace Theatre in Chicago through November 26th.  Audiences have packed the Cadillac Palace Theatre where the box office has grossed over $1,000,000 weekly for the last three weeks.

"The musical is an epic musical adventure celebrating the legendary Irish Chieftain Grace O'Malley.  Based on her real-life story, The Pirate Queen tells of a compelling, inspirational woman; a heroine who led an extraordinary life as a pirate, chieftain, lover and mother in 16th Century Ireland.   Commissioned and produced by Moya Doherty and John McColgan, the producers of Riverdance, this new musical 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," state press materials.

The cast of 40 is led by Stephanie J. Block (Grace O'Malley), Hadley Fraser (Tiernan), Linda Balgord (Queen Elizabeth I), Marcus Chait (Donal), Jeff McCarthy (Dubhdara) and William Youmans (Bingham).   

The Pirate Queen is based upon the novel Grania-She King of the Irish Seas by Morgan Llywelyn.

Visit www.thepiratequeen.com and www.broadwayinchicago.com for more information.