Prince associate artistic director Richard M. Parison, Jr. (Dreamgirls) directs the world premiere production, which officially opens May 13 and continues to May 28. The Porter score from the film will be expanded to include the 1929 Porter classic, "What Is This Thing Called Love?," and other Porter tunes, and additional new songs by composer Brad Ross and lyricists David Levy and Zack Manna. Manna and Levy adapted the screenplay for the stage (their official credit is "new book and additional lyrics by David Levy and Zack Manna").

Porter's "Be a Clown" may be the best-known song from the Vincente Minnelli-directed picture. "Voodoo," a provocative number cut from the film because it was "too sexy for the times," according to Prince, has been restored.

(Porter's "I Concentrate on You" and "Wake Up and Dream," as well as the lesser-known "A Fool There Was" are also freshly interpolated into the stage show.)

According to Prince Music Theater, "Cole Porter's The Pirate "is a comic adventure about a highborn but penniless young West Indies woman, Manuela, whose aunt wants to get rich by marrying her off to the wealthy mayor of the island. Dreaming of romance and the freewheeling life of pirates, Manuela falls in love with a dashing traveling actor who masquerades as the pirate of her dreams. Hijinks ensue as young love meets powerful opposition from all sides — including the real pirate himself, whose identity will surprise everyone!"

The cast also includes Tom Flynn as Don Pedro, Pamela Myers (Broadway's original Company) as Aunt Ines, James T. Lane as Trillo, Aileen Goldberg as Lizarda, Steve Pacek as Bolo, Julian Brightman as Gumbo, Danielle G. Herbert as Isabella, Marla Mindelle as Mafalda, Richard J. Hinds (ensemble), James Clark (ensemble), Kaitlin Rose Mercurio (ensemble). Casting for the role of Mango Woman will be announced. Burns' credits include Off-Broadway's Saturday Night as well as Broadway's The Full Monty and Beauty and the Beast. Hingston is a veteran of Broadway's Contact, Swing! and Crazy for You.

The original story for the musical came from a 1942 Broadway play by S. N. Behrman that starred Alfred Lunt and Lynn Fontanne.

The stage version came about following discussions between the Cole Porter Trusts, Warner Bros. Theatre Ventures, S. N. Behrman Estate, and the Prince Music Theater, along with the new writers.

"We found a movie from the golden age of M-G-M movie musicals so sensational and stylized that it clamored to be adapted for the stage," said Levy and Manna in a statement. "The wonderful score included five songs and a dazzling 'Pirate Ballet,' plus cut numbers like 'Voodoo' that offered a less-familiar dimension of Cole Porter's musical genius."

To fill out the score, with the backing of the Cole Porter Trusts, the writers added songs from the vast Cole Porter song catalog. The authors also "believed that the show needed book songs that did not exist and made the decision to create songs that relate more closely to the book, thus avoiding any change in existing Cole Porter lyrics."

The new authors, along with composer Brad Ross (Off-Broadway's Little By Little), wrote new songs that are plot-specific.

"The raw material for this show is truly a feast," stated Prince producing director Marjorie Samoff. "At a time when a new generation is rediscovering the glories of the great American song legacy, we have a chance to give new theatrical life to astonishing Cole Porter songs. With the partnership of the Cole Porter Trusts and Warner Bros. Theatre Ventures, a wonderful Cole Porter score can take the stage to tell a timeless comic story."

Steven Freeman joins the creative team as music director and Chase Brock is choreographer.

The new production includes sets designed by acclaimed Broadway designer, Ray Klausen (Brooklyn and On Golden Pond). The lighting will be designed by Shelley Hicklin, with costumes designed by Mark Mariani. Sound design will be by the Prince resident sound designer, Nick Kourtides.

The score as it exists in the first week of rehearsal includes "Wake Up and Dream," "Macocco" (Levy/Manna/Ross), "I Concentrate on You," "Niña," "Port Sebastien" (Levy/Manna/Ross), "Play On" (Levy/Manna/Ross), "Mack the Black," "What Is This Thing Called Love?," "Voodoo," "Love of My Life," "The Pirate Ballet," "You Can Do No Wrong," "A Fool There Was," "Be a Clown" and "Wake Up and Dream" (reprise).

For more information, visit www.princemusictheater.org.