The Pirate Queen producers will launch a "castcom," billed as "an on-line web communication which gives our cast and creatives an opportunity to tell you their story and bring you, our viewer, behind the scenes on our journey to Broadway."
The castcom goes live Sept. 12 from the Cadillac Palace Theatre in Chicago, where the company will be in rehearsal toward the first Chicago preview Oct. 3.
Log on to www.ThePirateQueen.com. Prior to Sept. 12, the cast and creative team were seen in a variety of video-diary trailers that served as a countdown to the first live transmission in Chicago.
*
The castcom — a registered trademark all in lowercase — "will provide the highs, the lows and all of the drama of bringing a major new musical theatre production to the stage." A daily video diary will introduce viewers to the cast and creative team, and special live broadcasts will be presented on key dates.
Riverdance producers Moya Doherty and John McColgan (whose company is called Riverdream) commissioned and present The Pirate Queen, the tale of the fiery Irish chieftain Grace O'Malley, who was the last Irish leader to give in to English rule.
Alain Boublil and Claude-Michel Schönberg's The Pirate Queen will begin previews on Broadway beginning Feb. 23, 2007, opening March 22, 2007, at the Hilton Theatre. The world premiere engagement plays Chicago Oct. 3-Nov. 26.
The cast of 39 is led by Stephanie J. Block (Grace O'Malley), Hadley Fraser (Tiernan), Linda Balgord (Queen Elizabeth I), Marcus Chait (Donal), Jeff McCarthy (Dubhdara) and William Youmans (Bingham).
The Pirate Queen "is an epic musical adventure celebrating the legendary Irish chieftain Grace O'Malley." Based on her real-life story, it "tells of a compelling, inspirational woman; a heroine who led an extraordinary life as a pirate, chieftain, lover and mother in 16th century Ireland."
The show "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," according to the producers.
Tony Award winner Frank Galati directs. Boublil is credited with book and lyrics, Schönberg is credited with book and music. John Dempsey (The Witches of Eastwick) co-wrote the lyrics.
The project is based on the novel "Grania-She King of the Irish Seas" by Morgan Llywelyn.
Tickets for the Chicago run are currently on sale at the Chicago Cadillac Palace Theatre (151 West Randolph Street), the Broadway In Chicago box office at 24 W. Randolph St., the Broadway In Chicago Ticket Line at (312) 902-1400, at all Ticketmaster ticket centers or online at ticketmaster.com. Single tickets range in price from $28-$85.
