|
The Pirates of Penzance (1980)Opening Date: July 15, 1980
Closing Date: Aug 24, 1980 Air date: n/a Medium: DVD Where to watch: DVD (as an Amazon Associate I may earn from qualifying purchases from this link) |
Stage Production Notes
The Pirates of Penzance follows the trials and tribulations of Frederick, a young man born on February 29th, who was indentured to serve with a band of pirates until his 21st birthday.
The comic operetta was Gilbert and Sullivan’s fifth collaboration, and their first and only production to premier outside of the UK. Pirates opened in New York at the Fifth Avenue Theatre on December 31, 1879 and was an instant hit.
The Pirates of Penzance received its British premier in London at the Opera Comique on April 3, 1880.
The operetta is one of Gilbert and Sullivan’s most popular and beloved operettas, and has been performed in countless productions around the world. It was recorded as early as 1921, and has been adapted into several different films.
To to celebrate the operetta’s centenary, Joseph Papp produced a re-conceived version of Pirates with the Public Theater in 1980. The highly acclaimed production was directed by Wilford Leach, and starred Kevin Kline as the Pirate King.
The Public Theater version transferred to Broadway, opening at the Uris Theatre on August 8, 1981. The production later transferred to the Minskoff Theatre.
New York Times theatre critic Frank Rich stated “This may not be a perfect “Penzance”… but it delivers a dizzying amount of pleasure.” Rich praised the “wild” casting and the delightful performances of the cast.
The Broadway production of Pirates was nominated for 7 Tony Awards, winning for Best Actor in a Musical (Kevin Kline), Best Direction of a Musical (Wilford Leach) and Best Reproduction of a Musical or Play. It also won 5 of its 8 Drama Desk Award nominations, including Outstanding Actor, Outstanding Director, and Outstanding Musical.
The Broadway production played 787 performances before closing on November 28, 1982.
The Public Theater version was adapted into a film in 1983.
In 2013 the Public Theater revived the 1980 production for a one-night-only special concert. It was directed by Ted Sperling and once again featured Kevin Kline as the Pirate King.
The Pirates of Penzance follows the trials and tribulations of Frederick, a young man born on February 29th, who was indentured to serve with a band of pirates until his 21st birthday.
The comic operetta was Gilbert and Sullivan’s fifth collaboration, and their first and only production to premier outside of the UK. Pirates opened in New York at the Fifth Avenue Theatre on December 31, 1879 and was an instant hit.
The Pirates of Penzance received its British premier in London at the Opera Comique on April 3, 1880.
The operetta is one of Gilbert and Sullivan’s most popular and beloved operettas, and has been performed in countless productions around the world. It was recorded as early as 1921, and has been adapted into several different films.
To to celebrate the operetta’s centenary, Joseph Papp produced a re-conceived version of Pirates with the Public Theater in 1980. The highly acclaimed production was directed by Wilford Leach, and starred Kevin Kline as the Pirate King.
The Public Theater version transferred to Broadway, opening at the Uris Theatre on August 8, 1981. The production later transferred to the Minskoff Theatre.
New York Times theatre critic Frank Rich stated “This may not be a perfect “Penzance”… but it delivers a dizzying amount of pleasure.” Rich praised the “wild” casting and the delightful performances of the cast.
The Broadway production of Pirates was nominated for 7 Tony Awards, winning for Best Actor in a Musical (Kevin Kline), Best Direction of a Musical (Wilford Leach) and Best Reproduction of a Musical or Play. It also won 5 of its 8 Drama Desk Award nominations, including Outstanding Actor, Outstanding Director, and Outstanding Musical.
The Broadway production played 787 performances before closing on November 28, 1982.
The Public Theater version was adapted into a film in 1983.
In 2013 the Public Theater revived the 1980 production for a one-night-only special concert. It was directed by Ted Sperling and once again featured Kevin Kline as the Pirate King.
Filmed Production Notes
In the summer of 1980, during its initial run at the Delacorte Theatre in Central Park, The Pirates of Penzance was taped live.
For a brief period, The Pirates of Penzance was available to purchase from Broadway Digital Entertainment (BDE). BDE was ordered to stop selling the tape in 2002 following a “cease and desist” demand from Equity, who were attempting to crack down on pirated videos. Interestingly, Kultur Video released The Pirates of Penzance on DVD in 2002 (as an Amazon Associate I may earn from qualifying purchases from this link).
The 1994 Essgee Entertainment production is also available on DVD.
In the summer of 1980, during its initial run at the Delacorte Theatre in Central Park, The Pirates of Penzance was taped live.
For a brief period, The Pirates of Penzance was available to purchase from Broadway Digital Entertainment (BDE). BDE was ordered to stop selling the tape in 2002 following a “cease and desist” demand from Equity, who were attempting to crack down on pirated videos. Interestingly, Kultur Video released The Pirates of Penzance on DVD in 2002 (as an Amazon Associate I may earn from qualifying purchases from this link).
The 1994 Essgee Entertainment production is also available on DVD.
The Pirates of Penzance PRODUCTION CREDITS
Theatre: Delacorte Theatre, New York
Producer: Joseph Papp
Music and Lyrics: Arthur Sullivan and W.S. Gilbert
Director: Wilford Leach Film: Joshua White
Musical Director: William Elliott
Orchestrations: William Elliott
Dance arrangements and incidental music:
Choreography: Graciela Daniele
Scenic Design: Bob Shaw, Jack Chandler, Wilford Leach
Costume Design: Patricia McGourty
Lighting Design: Jennifer Tipton, Film: Nick Hutak
Sound Design: Don Ketteler
Hair and Make-Up Design: J. Roy Helland
Stage Manager: Tony Marshall
Cast:
Kevin Kline (The Pirate King)
G. Eugene Moose (Samuel)
Rex Smith (Frederic)
Patricia Routledge (Ruth)
Linda Ronstadt (Mabel)
Alice Playten (Edith)
Marcie Shaw (Kate)
Wendy Wolfe (Isabel)
Alexandra Korey (Soloist)
Major General’s Daughters
Robin Boudreau
Maria Guida
Nancy Heikin
Bonnie Simmons
George Rose (Major-General Stanley)
Tony Azito (The Sergeant)
Pirates and Police:
Dean Badolato
Mark Beudert
Brian Bullard
Walter Caldwell
Keith David
Tim Flavin
Joseph Neal
Walter Niehenke
Joe Pichette
Barry Tarallo
Lara Teeter
Michael Edwin Willson
Singers:
Audrey Lavine
Dennis Warning
Theatre: Delacorte Theatre, New York
Producer: Joseph Papp
Music and Lyrics: Arthur Sullivan and W.S. Gilbert
Director: Wilford Leach Film: Joshua White
Musical Director: William Elliott
Orchestrations: William Elliott
Dance arrangements and incidental music:
Choreography: Graciela Daniele
Scenic Design: Bob Shaw, Jack Chandler, Wilford Leach
Costume Design: Patricia McGourty
Lighting Design: Jennifer Tipton, Film: Nick Hutak
Sound Design: Don Ketteler
Hair and Make-Up Design: J. Roy Helland
Stage Manager: Tony Marshall
Cast:
Kevin Kline (The Pirate King)
G. Eugene Moose (Samuel)
Rex Smith (Frederic)
Patricia Routledge (Ruth)
Linda Ronstadt (Mabel)
Alice Playten (Edith)
Marcie Shaw (Kate)
Wendy Wolfe (Isabel)
Alexandra Korey (Soloist)
Major General’s Daughters
Robin Boudreau
Maria Guida
Nancy Heikin
Bonnie Simmons
George Rose (Major-General Stanley)
Tony Azito (The Sergeant)
Pirates and Police:
Dean Badolato
Mark Beudert
Brian Bullard
Walter Caldwell
Keith David
Tim Flavin
Joseph Neal
Walter Niehenke
Joe Pichette
Barry Tarallo
Lara Teeter
Michael Edwin Willson
Singers:
Audrey Lavine
Dennis Warning
Sources
Books
Articles
Websites
- Ian Bradley, Oh Joy! Oh Rapture!: The Enduring Phenomenon of Gilbert and Sullivan, Oxford University Press (2005)
- Ian Bradley, The Complete Annotated Gilbert & Sullivan: 20th Anniversary Edition, Oxford University Press (2016)
- Iris Dorbian, Great Producers: Visionaries of American Theater, Allworth Press (2008)
- Carolyn Williams, Gilbert and Sullivan: Gender, Genre, Parody, Columbia University Press (2012)
- Gayden Wren, A Most Ingenious Paradox: The Art of Gilbert and Sullivan, Oxford University Press (2011)
Articles
- Frank Rich, “Stage: ‘Pirates of Penzance’ Opens at the Delacorte in Central Park,” New York Times (July 30, 1980), p.57
Websites
- AusStage, “Pirates of Penzance,” Accessed via: https://www.ausstage.edu.au/pages/event/24756
- Actors Equity, “Equity Attacks Pirate Videotapes on Internet,” Accessed via: http://www.actorsequity.org/TheatreNews/pirates_0902.html
- David Spicer Productions, “Essgee’s Pirates of Penzance,” Accessed via: https://www.davidspicer.com.au/shows/essgees-pirates-penzance
- Essgee Entertainment, “About Essgee,” Accessed via: http://www.essgee.com/index.html
- Essgee Entertainment, “Pirates of Penzace: Our Original Version,” Accessed via: http://www.essgee.com/html/PirateOLDHome.html
- Internet Broadway Database, “The Pirates of Penzance: The Slave of Duty,” Accessed via: https://www.ibdb.com/broadway-production/the-pirates-of-penzance-4088/#awards
- Music Theatre International, “The Pirates of Penzance,” Accessed via: http://www.mtishows.com/the-pirates-of-penzance
- Playbill Store, “THE PIRATES OF PENZANCE - FILMED LIVE AT THE DELACORTE THEATRE DVD,” Accessed via: https://www.playbillstore.com/the-pirates-of-penzance-filmed-live-at-the-delacorte-theatre-dvd.aspx
- Rodgers & Hammerstein Organization, “Our Shows: The Pirates of Penzance,” Accessed via http://www.rnh.com/show/84/The-Pirates-of-Penzance
- Stagescripts, “The Pirates of Penzance,” Accessed via: http://shop.stagescripts.com/categories/musicals/musicals-fully-developed/comedy/the-pirates-of-penzance.html
Written by Luisa Lyons (October, 2017)