Photo Coverage: The Pirate Queen Opening Night

The new Boublil and Schönberg musical The Pirate Queen, starring Stephanie J. Block as the swashbuckling title character, opened at the Hilton Theatre (213 W. 42nd St.) on April 5th after beginning previews on March 6th.

The Pirate Queen "combines classic storytelling with a sweeping score and joyous dancing to celebrate the real-life story of legendary Irish Chieftain Grace O'Malley: a compelling, inspiring heroine who led an extraordinary life as a pirate, chieftain, lover and mother in 16th Century Ireland.  To protect her people and save her one true love, O'Malley must confront the one woman more powerful than her…her fierce rival, Queen Elizabeth I of England," state press notes.  The show stars Block, Linda Balgord, Hadley Fraser, Jeff McCarthy, William Youmans and Marcus Chait.

The show, was written by: Alain Boublil and Claude-Michel Schönberg, and commissioned and produced by Moya Doherty and John McColgan, the producers of Riverdance. The new musical is directed by Tony Award-winner Frank Galati with musical staging by Graciela Daniele.

The creative team also includes John Dempsey (Witches of Eastwick) who has co-written the lyrics; Richard Maltby, Jr., (Miss Saigon, co-lyricist; Ain't Misbehavin', conceived/direction), who worked with the writing team on book and lyrics.  JulIan Kelly, orchestrator, vocal arranger and musical supervisor and director; three-time Tony Award-winner Eugene Lee (Wicked), who sets the scene from the deck of the ship which Grace captains, to the court of Queen Elizabeth I where the two remarkable women once met; two-time Tony Award-winner Martin Pakledinaz (Kiss Me, Kate) designing the costumes; four-time Tony nominee Kenneth Posner (Wicked) creating the lighting design; Jonathan Deans (Ragtime) creating the sound design.

Visit www.thepiratequeen.com for tickets and more information on the show.

Photos by Walter McBride/Retna Ltd.

Arrivals

 

John McColgan

John McColgan and Moya Doherty

Martin Pakledinaz

Dee Hoty

Hannah Storm

Dan Hicks and Hannah Storm

Hannah Storm

Gabriel Byrne

Gabriel Byrne and guest

Joan Allen

Josh Stolz and Joan Allen

Mark Morris

Patrick Wilson

Patrick Wilson

Patrick Wilson

Fran Drescher

Fran Drescher

Curtain call

Ensemble

William Youmans

William Youmans

Jeff McCarthy

Marcus Chait

Linda Balgord

Linda Balgord

Linda Balgord

Hadley Fraser

Hadley Fraser

Stephanie J. Block

Stephanie J. Block

Stephanie J. Block

Stephanie J. Block

Stephanie J. Block and Linda Balgord

Jeff McCarthy, Hadley Fraser, Stephanie J. Block, Linda Balgord, Marcus Chait and William Youmans

Jeff McCarthy, Hadley Fraser, Stephanie J. Block, Linda Balgord, Marcus Chait and William Youmans

Jeff McCarthy, Hadley Fraser, Stephanie J. Block and Linda Balgord

Jeff McCarthy, Hadley Fraser, Stephanie J. Block and Linda Balgord

Post-show cast photo op

Frank Galati, Alain Boublil and Claude-Michel Schönberg

Richard Maltby Jr.

Steven Barath

Jeff McCarthy

William Youmans

Jeff McCarthy and William Youmans

Linda Balgord

Linda Balgord

Hadley Fraser

Marcus Chait

Marcus Chait, Linda Balgord and Hadley Fraser

Stephanie J. Block

Stephanie J. Block

Stephanie J. Block and Hadley Fraser

Linda Balgord and Stephanie J. Block

Linda Balgord, Alain Boublil and Stephanie J. Block

Stephanie J. Block and fiance Sebastian Arcelus

Sebastian Arcelus and Stephanie J. Block