The masked Latino swordsman has hit the stage in the form of Zorro: The Musical. The Frank M. Young-Jim Bernard-Randy Rogel show premieres at Houston's Theatre Under the Stars (TUTS) Aug. 13-30.

Richard White, the New York City Opera baritone who created the title role in TUTS' premiere production of the Kopit-Yeston Phantom, will play the swashbuckling hero. White has appeared on Broadway as Joey in The Most Happy Fella and toured as Lancelot in Camelot with Robert Goulet. At NYCO, he has played leading roles in The Desert Song, Brigadoon and South Pacific.

Other cast members include Susan Powell as Margarita, Ira Hawkins as Redbeard, Peter Bryson as Senor Alvarado, Alberto Stevans at Ramon, Carol Swarbrick as Dona Elena, Jack Ritchel as Don Carlos Pulido and Jason Douglas as General Santa Anna.

Young and Bernard wrote the book, while Bernard and Rogel penned the lyrics. Rogel also wrote some original songs but much of the music is borrowed from themes by Bizet, Debussy, Dvorak, Puccini and Wagner. Zorro's authors describe the musical as "a new 1920's-style operetta created in loving homage to Naughty Marietta, The Student Prince, The New Moon, The Desert Song, Rose Marie and all the wonderful operettas of old."

TUTS spokesman Susie Works said the musical was not planned to coincide with the release of the current Antonio Banderas-Anthony Hopkins film. For information, call (800) 678-5440.

-- By Robert Simonson