Boublil and Schönberg’s The Pirate Queen Will Debut in Chicago

The Pirate Queen, a new musical by Alain Boublil and Claude-Michel Schönberg, will have an eight-week engagement at Chicago Cadillac Palace Theatre from October 3 through November 26, 2006 prior to its planned Broadway opening later next season.

The show is based on the real-life story of the legendary Grace O’Malley, who led an extraordinary life as a pirate chieftain, lover and mother in 16th-century Ireland. It will be directed by Frank Galati, with choreography by Mark Dendy, set design by Eugene Lee, costume design by Martin Pakledinaz, and lighting design by Kenneth Posner. John Dempsey will also contribute lyrics, and the musical will be orchestrated by Julian Kelly. Casting is currently underway.

Boublil and Schönberg previously collaborated on Les Misérables, Miss Saigon, and Martin Guerre. Galati won a Tony Award for his work on The Grapes of Wrath and received a Tony nomination for Ragtime. Dendy most recently choreographed Miracle Brothers; his other credits include Taboo and the Off-Broadway production of The Wild Party.