Pirate Queen Documentary to Air March 12 on WLIW in NYC Area

By Kenneth Jones
09 Mar 2007

"The Pirate Queen: A New Musical — A Broadway Journey," a documentary about the creation of Broadway's new swashbuckling musical The Pirate Queen, will be seen on public TV in the New York City area March 12.

The program (including live guests from the Broadway troupe in the studio) airs 9 PM March 12 on WLIW21, Channel 21, New York Public Television. "A Broadway Journey" is hosted by Gabriel Byrne and "follows the story of two legendary musical theatre teams — Alain Boublil and Claude-Michel Schönberg, creators of Les Misérables and Miss Saigon; and Moya Doherty and John McColgan, the producers of Riverdance – as they journey to bring Grace O'Malley's story to the Broadway stage."

The documentary follows the creative team, cast and crew from their earliest days of rehearsals in Dublin and New York, to their opening at the Cadillac Palace Theatre in Chicago, through the moment they embark upon their Broadway premiere.

The musical is now in previews at the Hilton Theatre. The documentary "includes powerful performances recorded at rehearsals and during the Chicago run."

The Pirate Queen officially opens April 5 at the Hilton Theatre and "tells 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," according to the producers. "To protect her people and save her one true love, O'Malley must confront the one woman more powerful that her: her fierce rival, Queen Elizabeth I of England."

Producers Moya Doherty and John McColgan and cast leads Stephanie J. Block (Grace O'Malley) and Hadley Fraser (Tiernan) will be live in the WLIW21 (Channel 21) studio during the premiere broadcast to share their personal stories of working on the production, and they will have a special ticket offer for WLIW21 members.

Visit wliw.org for more information.