WLIW to Air Premiere of 'The Making of the Pirate Queen'

On Monday, March 12 at 9 pm, WLIW21 New York Public Television will air the world broadcast premiere of "The Making of The Pirate Queen."

Airing live in the studio, the special will feature cast members Stephanie J. Block (Grace O'Malley) and Hadley Fraser (Tiernan), and producer Moya Doherty.

During the broadcast, WLIW21 will also announce a special ticket offer.  More information will be announced.

The Pirate Queen, which recently played a tryout run at the Cadillac Palace Theatre in Chicago, will begin previews at the Hilton Theatre on March 6th and open on April 5th. 

The show features a score by Alain Boublil and Claude-Michel Schonberg (Les Miserables, Miss Saigon), with Richard Maltby Jr. (Baby, Miss Saigon) assisting the composing team.  The Pirate Queen also boasts direction by Frank Galati (Ragtime) and musical staging by Graciela Daniele (Bernarda Alba).

"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 Block (The Boy from Oz, Wicked tour) and Fraser, as well as 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.

Visit www.wliw.org for more on WLIW.

Photo of Stephanie J. Block by Ben Strothmann