Theater News

Kevin Kline, Glenn Close, Eric Idle, and Martin Short Set for One-Night The Pirates of Penzance Concert Performance

The concert event will be part of The Public Theater’s annual gala.

Bethany Rickwald
New York City

Kevin Kline
Kevin Kline
(© Tristan Fuge)

Oscar and Tony Award winner Kevin Kline (Cyrano De Bergerac), Tony Award winner Glenn Close (Sunset Boulevard), Eric Idle (Monty Python’s Spamalot), and Tony Award winner Martin Short (Fame Becomes Me) are set to star in a one-night-only concert performance of The Pirates of Penzance for The Public Theater’s annual gala, which will take place June 10 at The Delacorte Theater in Central Park. The event will also honor the late Nora Ephron, a longtime board member.

Ted Sperling (South Pacific) will direct the musical event, which will feature staging by original choreographer Graciela Daniele. The evening will also include cocktails and dinner in Central Park as well as a dessert reception under the stars.

The Public’s original groundbreaking production of Gilbert and Sullivan’s The Pirates of Penzance, featuring rock-infused, modern staging, originally premiered at the Delacorte more than three decades ago. That production starred Kevin Kline, Linda Ronstadt, and Rex Smith and won the Tony Award for Best Revival.

The Public Theater’s free Shakespeare in the Park continues to further the company’s mission to increase access. Since the opening of The Delacorte in Central Park in 1962, more than five million people have enjoyed more than 150 free productions on its stage.