Kudisch will play the Pirate King in the Gilbert and Sullivan operetta, which returns to the NYCO repertoire March 3, 2007. The cast will also feature Sarah Jane McMahon as Mabel, Myrna Paris as Ruth, Matt Morgan as Frederic and Kevin Burdette as the Sergeant of Police. Opening night is scheduled for March 7. Additional cast members will be announced shortly. (This cast will sing all 16 performances of Pirates.)
The NYCO mounting of Pirates will be directed by Lillian Groag with choreography by Lynn Hockney. The creative team is also set to include John Conklin (set design), Jess Goldstein (costume design), Pat Collins (lighting design) and Abe Jacob (sound design). Gerald Steichen will conduct the orchestra.
With a book and lyrics by William S. Gilbert and music by Arthur Sullivan, some of the operetta's songs include "When Frederic Was a Little Lad," "Poor Wandering One!," "I Am the Very Model of a Modern Major-General," "A Rollicking Band of Pirates We" and "No, I Am Brave." The most recent Broadway revival of Pirates played the Uris Theatre in 1981. Directed by Wilford Leach, the musical featured a starry cast led by Kevin Kline, Estelle Parsons, Linda Rondstadt, George Rose and Rex Smith.
Marc Kudisch received Tony nominations for his work in Chitty Chitty Bang Bang and Thoroughly Modern Millie. His other Broadway outings include Assassins, Bells Are Ringing, The Wild Party, The Scarlet Pimpernel, High Society, Beauty and the Beast and Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat. Kudisch's television credits include "Bye, Bye Birdie," "Sex and the City" and "Loving."
Show times are March 3 at 1:30 and 8 PM, March 4 at 1:30 PM, March 7 and 8 at 7:30 PM, March 10 at 1:30 and 8 PM, March 15 at 6:30 PM, March 16 and 17 at 8 PM, March 20 and 21 at 7:30 PM, March 24 at 8 PM, March 29 at 7:30 PM and March 31 at 1:30 PM. The New York State Theater is located at Lincoln Center at 63rd Street and Columbus Avenue. Tickets, priced $16-$125, are available by calling (212) 721-6500 or by visiting www.nycopera.com.
