The upcoming Roundabout Theatre Company mounting of “The Pirates of Penzance” has revealed a new title, a full production timeline, a design team and additional casting. The previously announced production will begin previews on April 4, 2025 and open on April 24 at the Todd Haimes Theatre under the new moniker “Pirates! The Penzance Musical.” The musical is scheduled for a limited run through June 22. As previously reported, Scott Ellis will direct and Warren Carlyle will choreograph this new adaptation by Rupert Holmes.
Casting has been finalized for “Pirates!” Joining the previously announced Ramin Karimloo as the Pirate King and David Hyde Pierce as Gilbert/Major General Stanely will be Jinkx Monsoon as Ruth, Nicholas Barasch as Frederic, Preston Truman Boyd as Sullivan/Police Sergeant and Samantha Williams as Mabel Stanley. The ensemble comprises Kelly Belarmino, Maria Briggs, Eddie Cooper, Cicily Daniels, Ninako Donville, Alex Dorf, Rick Faugno, Niani Feelings, Tommy Gedrich, Alex Gibson, Afra Hines, Dan Hoy, Ryo Kamibayashi, Tatiana Lofton, Nathan Lucrezio, Shina Ann Morris, Cooper Stanton and Bronwyn Tarboton.
Monsoon is a two-time winner of “RuPaul’s Drag Race.” Her theater credits include two stints playing Matron “Mama” Morton in Broadway’s “Chicago,” as well as playing Audrey in the Off-Broadway mounting of “Little Shop of Horrors. “Pirates!” will mark the third Roundabout-produced musical revival credit for Barasch, who appeared in the nonprofit’s 2012 production of “The Mystery of Edwin Drood” and 2016’s “She Loves Me.”
Boyd also appeared in the aforementioned “She Loves Me,” as well as Roundabout’s 2015 revival of “On the Twentieth Century” and 2019 staging of “Kiss Me, Kate.” Williams is also no stranger to Roundabout revivals, having played Emmie Thibodeaux in the 2021 production of “Caroline, Or Change.” Casting is by Jim Carnahan and Jason Thinger.
The newly announced design team for “Pirates!” will include Tony Award-winning scenic designer David Rockwell, Tony-winning costume designer Linda Cho, Tony-winning lighting designer Donald Holder and Tony-nominated sound designer Mikaal Sulaiman. John O’Neill will provide dance arrangements.
Holmes’ new adaptation of the 1879 musical, which features music by Arthur Sullivan and a libretto by W.S. Gilbert, will set the action in New Orleans.
“We want everyone to know that what you're going to see is a musical that celebrates the genius of Gilbert and Sullivan while taking some joyous liberties," Ellis said in a statement. “‘The Pirates of Penzance’ actually premiered in several U.S. cities, including New Orleans, which was a big center for piracy. So, since our pirates have now landed in New Orleans, we're adapting the title to be both familiar and fresh.”
This is far from the first time a show has been revived on Broadway under an altered title. The currently running revival of “Cabaret” uses the title “Cabaret at the Kit Kat Club,” while Harvey Fierstein’s Tony-winning play “Torch Song Trilogy” played a revival in 2019 under the truncated title “Torch Song.” Other shows have been revived giving author attribution in the title, such as 2012’s “The Gershwins’ Porgy and Bess.” The original Broadway production of “The Mystery of Edwin Drood,” also by Holmes, even changed its name to simply “Drood!” halfway through its run.
“Pirates! The Penzance Musical” is being produced by Roundabout, under the leadership of interim artistic director Ellis. As previously announced, Christopher Ashley will join as artistic director beginning in the 2025-2026 season.
