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The Pirates of Penzance

The Pirates of Penzance

by Arthur Sullivan and W. S. Gilbert

Classic
Comedy
Critically-Acclaimed

Opening Soon on Broadway

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The Pirates of Penzance

About the Musical

The Pirates of Penzance





One of Gilbert & Sullivan’s most performed operettas.


Story:

With the tongue-twisting Major-General, the rabble-rousing Pirate King, young lovers, daring daughters, footloose pirates and fleet-footed police, there's a shipload of musical comedy delights on board.


Get Tickets for The Pirates of Penzance Apply for Production Rights Visit the Official Website

Fun Fact

The Pirates of Penzance was the only Gilbert and Sullivan opera to have its official premiere in the United States. At the time, American law offered no copyright protection to foreigners. After the pair's previous opera, H.M.S. Pinafore, achieved success in London in 1878, approximately 150 American companies quickly mounted unauthorised productions that often took considerable liberties with the text and paid no royalties to the creators.
D'Oyly Carte and the Pirates: The Original New York Productions of Gilbert and Sullivan by Colin Prestige

Broadway Production Information

THEATRE

Todd Haimes Theatre
 227 West 42nd Street
New York, NY

Info and Directions

Schedule
NOTE: The pre-opening schedule for productions vary greatly from the schedule post-opening, so BMH does not list preview schedules.

Click "Buy Tickets" above to view the schedule and purchase tickets.

Once the musical opens, the full schedule will be posted here.

Important Dates
PREVIEWS: Apr 4, 2025
OPENING: Apr 24, 2025
CLOSING: Jun 22, 2025


Run Time
TBA


NOTE:

  • Opening dates are subject to change.
  • Most shows have special holiday dates and times. Check the official website for more information.

Cast and Creative Team

Composer

Composer
Arthur Sullivan

Librettist

Librettist
W. S. Gilbert

Librettist

2024 Adaptation
Rupert Holmes



Broadway Premiere

Theatre
Fifth Avenue Theatre
Opening Night
Dec 31, 1879
Original Cast
Alice Barnett

1900 Broadway Revival

Theatre
American Theatre
Opening Night
Feb 5, 1900
Total Performances
8
Producer
Castle Square Opera Company
Musical Director
Clarence West

1912 Broadway Revival

Theatre
Casino Theatre
Opening Night
Jun 3, 1912
Total Performances
28
Original Cast
Arthur Aldridge, J. Barbara, Louise Barthel, William Baumann, Ruth Bonner, Alice Brady, Tom Bryan, Edith Buell, Dorothy Cassel, Marie Corty, Eugene Cowles, John C. Cryan, Harriett DeNorma, Josephine DeNoville, Louis Derman, Loretta Doyle, Caro DuBurgho, Blanche Duffield, Jack Evans, J. Leonard Feiner, Joseph Galton, Marion George, Viola Gillette, Lew Graham, Leonora Guest, Herbert Hall, Florence Harris, David Heilbron, Annette Herbert, Fern Hollis, Henry Holt, DeWolf Hopper, Josephine Jacoby, Alex Keene, Irving Lavitz, Edna Lee, Parker Leonard, Lew Litchfield, Flora Lyons, George J. MacFarlane, Nora McClory, Sara Meredith, Frank Mirose, Margaret Morrison, Jose Pepe, John E. Reese, Nathalie Saymore, Florence Sommerville, Helen Starr, Pauline Sterling, Alice Stratton, Richard W. Temple, May von Summerfield, Fred Walker, Rose Wertz, George Williams, L. Williams
Director
William J. Wilson
Scenic Design
H. Robert Law
Costume Design
Max & Mahieu

1915 Broadway Revival

Theatre
48th Street Theatre
Opening Night
Jun 7, 1915
Total Performances
4
Original Cast
Arthur Aldridge, Alice Brady, Una Brooks, William Danforth, DeWolf Hopper, Marie Horgan, Alice McComb, Maude Mordaunt, Herbert L. Waterous, John Willard
Director
Herbert Cripps
Producer
William A. Brady
Musical Director
Clarence West

1918 Broadway Revival

Theatre
Park Theatre
Opening Night
Sep 30, 1918
Producer
The Society of American Singers

1926 Broadway Revival

Theatre
Plymouth Theatre
Opening Night
Dec 6, 1926
Total Performances
128
Original Cast
John Barclay, J. Humbird Duffey, Eleanor Edson, William C. Gordon, Paula Langlen, Ernest Lawford, Bert Prival, Vera Ross, Adele Sanderson, Sybil Sterling, Ruth Thomas, William Williams
Director
Winthrop Ames
Producer
Gilbert and Sullivan Opera Company

1927 Broadway Revival

Theatre
Royale Theatre
Opening Night
Nov 24, 1927
Total Performances
10
Original Cast
John Barclay, Lois Bennett, J. Humbird Duffey, Virginia Fox, William C. Gordon, Bettina Hall, Paula Langlen, George C. Lehrian, Vera Ross, Suissabell Sterling, William Williams, Fred Wright
Director
Winthrop Ames
Producer
Winthrop Ames

1931 Broadway Revival

Theatre
Erlanger's Theatre
Opening Night
Jun 29, 1931
Total Performances
24
Original Cast
Marynia Apel, Edith Artley, Frances Baviello, John Cardini, Francis Clark, Patricia Clark, William Danforth, Georgina Dieter, Frank Dowling, Harrison Fuller, Eleanor Gilmore, Vivian Hart, Helen Hosp, Charlotte La Rose, Bernard Lane, Martin Lilienfield, Sano Marco, Howard Marsh, Mary Joe Matthews, Bert Melrose, Frances Moore, Frank Moulan, Frank Murray, Felix Noonan, Isabel Norwood, Marie Pittman, Ramon Recalde, Julia Reid, Rosa Rubenstein, Olga Schumacher, Rosalyn Shaw, Adele Story, Lee Talbot, Edward Taylor, Mabel Thompson, Gertrude Waldon, Allan Ware, Herbert Waterous, Anne Yago, Hobson Young
Director
Milton Aborn
Producer
The Civic Light Opera Company
Musical Director
Louis Kroll
Art Direction
John C. Baatz
Costume Design
Eaves

1933 Broadway Revival

Theatre
Majestic Theatre
Opening Night
Aug 7, 1933
Total Performances
8
Original Cast
Ruth Altman, Frances Baviello, Kenneth Brown, John Cardini, Frank Clarke, Roy Cropper, William Danforth, Madeline de Souter, Harrison Fuller, Rudolph Glaisek, Thomas Green, Frederick Grieve, Mary Hennessy, Kaye Janice, Charlotte La Rose, Gus Loring, Eleanor Manning, Angela Marsh, Bert Melrose, Frances Moore, Frank Moulan, Vera Muller, Geraldine Olive, Basil Prock, Gertrude Rittenhouse, Vera Ross, Celia Schiffrin, Olga Schumacher, Adele Story, Mabel Thompson, Norman Van Emburgh, Gertrude Waldon, Margaret Walker, Donald Walters, Allen Waterous, Herbert Waterous, John Willard, Hobson Young
Director
Milton Aborn
Producer
Milton Aborn
Costume Design
Brooks

1934 Broadway Revival

Theatre
Majestic Theatre
Opening Night
Apr 9, 1934
Total Performances
16
Original Cast
Walter Bartholomew, Frances Baviello, Frank Benedict, John Best, Lauretta Brislin, Caroline Cantlin, John Cardini, Jean Chase, John Cherry, Francis Clarke, Roy Cropper, William Danforth, Sidney Duany, John Eaton, Lloyd Ericson, Laura Ferguson, Harrison Fuller, Elinor Gilmore, Thomas Green, Vivian Hart, Margaret Henzel, Elizabeth Kerr, Charlotte La Rose, Siegfried Langer, Barbara Martsin, Frank Murray, Geraldine Olive, Beatrice Pons, Doris Reed, Vera Ross, Celia Schiffrin, Olga Schumacher, Doris Snyder, Margaret Walker, Allan Ware, Allen Waterous, Herbert Waterous, John Willard, Hobson Young
Director
Lee Daly
Producer
S.M. Chartock
Musical Director
J. Albert Hurley
Scenic Design
Franklyn Ambrose

1934 Broadway Revival

Theatre
Martin Beck Theatre
Opening Night
Sep 6, 1934
Total Performances
14
Original Cast
Maisie Baxter, Marjorie Eyre, Darrell Fancourt, Kathleen Frances, Dorothy Gill, Sydney Granville, Martyn Green, Elizabeth Nickell-Lean, Derek Oldham, Richard Walker
Director
James McRobbie Gordon
Producer
D'Oyly Carte Opera Company
Musical Director
Isidore Godfrey
Scenic Design
George Sheringham
Costume Design
George Sheringham

1935 Broadway Revival

Theatre
Adelphi Theatre
Opening Night
Jul 22, 1935
Total Performances
12
Original Cast
John Albert, Jay Amiss, Elfrida Andabel, Frances Baviello, Don Becker, Joan Boekholtz, Mildred Burke, Helene Bush, Marion Castleray, John Cosby, William Danforth, Margaret Daum, Madeline de Souter, Nina Dean, Alfred Drake, Adele Drury, George Ebert, Grace Garnett, Edith Gibson, Eleanor Gilmore, Ione Haals, Vivian Hart, Roger Ingham, Robert Irving, Siegfried Langer, Ruth Manners, Emily Marsh, Howard Marsh, Jean Matus, Mildred Mercer, Frank Moulan, John Muccio, Vera Muller, Bertram Peacock, George Rogers, Jane Rondthaler, Marion Ross, Vera Ross, Frederick Rudin, Jean Talcott, Alma Tollefsen, Serg Ury, Marie Valez, William Venturo, Rudolph Wagner, Gertrude Waldon, Margaret Walker, Herbert Waterous, Solon West
Director
R.H. Burnside
Producer
Lodewick Vroom and The Civic Light Opera Company
Scenic Design
Eugene B. Dunkel
Costume Design
Brooks Costume Company
Conductor
Louis Kroll

April 1936 Broadway Revival

Theatre
Majestic Theatre
Opening Night
Apr 20, 1936
Total Performances
8
Original Cast
Frances Baviello, Roy Cropper, William Danforth, Dean Dickens, John Eaton, Vivian Hart, Frank Moulan, Vera Ross, Gertrude Waldron, Herbert Waterous
Director
Frank Moulan
Producer
S.M. Chartock

Aug 1936 Broadway Revival

Theatre
Martin Beck Theatre
Opening Night
Aug 31, 1936
Total Performances
20
Original Cast
Brenda Bennett, John Dean, Marjorie Eyre, Darrell Fancourt, Evelyn Gardiner, Sydney Granville, Martyn Green, Kathleen Naylor, Elizabeth Nickell-Lean, Richard Walker
Musical Director
Isidore Godfrey
Producer
D'Oyly Carte Opera Company

1939 Broadway Revival

Theatre
Martin Beck Theatre
Opening Night
Jan 5, 1939
Original Cast
John Dean, Maysie Dean, Marjorie Eyre, Darrell Fancourt, Evelyn Gardiner, Sydney Granville, Martyn Green, Helen Roberts, Ivy Sanders, Richard Walker
Producer
D'Oyly Carte Opera Company
Musical Director
Isidore Godfrey

1940 Broadway Revival

Theatre
44th Street Theatre
Opening Night
Oct 7, 1940
Total Performances
6
Original Cast
Sibyl Baubre, Reta Baum, Lillian C. Bennett, Carlton Bentley, Miriam Bentley, Jeanette Bittner, Jane Bivins, Ernest Brown, William Calvin, Agnes Cassidy, James Chartrand, Anne Dawson, Robert De Lany, Marilois Ditto, Thomas Donahue, Ernest Eames, Robert Eckles, Marie Fox, Anna Handzlik, Clifford Jackson, Catherine Judah, Frank Kierman, Kathleen Killcoyne, Marjorie King, Michael Kozak, Kathryn Lewis, Frederick Loadwick, Dana Maddocks, Glenn Martyn, Regina McMahon, Ellen Merrill, Mary Margaret Merrill, Sidney Morton, Dorothea Mueller, James Pease, Rupert Pole, Phyllis Rand, Paul Reed, Avonelle Schaffer, Allen Stewart, Frank Stone, Mary Ten Eyck, Evans Thornton, Walter Tibbetts, Janet Webb, Gabrielle Winship, Carol Wolfe
Director
Charles Alan
Choreographer
Felicia Sorel
Producer
Lyric Opera Co., Joseph S. Daltry and Herman Levin
Musical Director
Joseph S. Daltry
Scenic Design
Samuel Leve

1942 Broadway Revival

Theatre
St. James Theatre
Opening Night
Feb 17, 1942
Total Performances
11
Original Cast
Florenz Ames, Boston Opera Company Ensemble, Morton Bowe, Helen Lanvin, Bertram Peacock, Frederick Persson, Robert Pitkin, Kathleen Roche, Mary Roche, Margaret Roy, Marie Valdez
Director
R.H. Burnside
Producer
Messrs. Shubert (Lee and J. J.)
Musical Director
Louis Kroll

1944 Broadway Revival

Theatre
Ambassador Theatre
Opening Night
Feb 17, 1944
Total Performances
8
Original Cast
Florenz Ames, Tom Bennett, Lucille Benon, Gerald Bercier, Edward Bird, David Bogart, Ruth Cummings, Jean Davis, John Dewey, Robert Eckles, Joseph Filos, Walter George, James Gerard, Helen Jayson, Catherine Judah, Florence Keezel, Louise King, Lillian Koniver, Charlotte Kremla, August Loring, Mary Lundon, Barry Lyndall, Chester MaDan, Edwin Marsh, Maxine Masseretto, Victoria Mayer, Louise Miller, Larry O'Dell, Athena Pappas, Doris Parker, Bertram Peacock, Robert Pitkin, Helen Prentiss, Kathryn Reece, Kathleen Roche, Edith Sterling, Allen Stewart, Virginia Tyre, Marie Valdez
Director
R.H. Burnside
Producer
Gilbert and Sullivan Opera Company
Musical Director
Louis Kroll

1946 Broadway Revival

Theatre
City Center
Opening Night
May 12, 1946
Total Performances
4
Original Cast
John Dudley, Gean Greenwell, Susan Griska, John Hamill, Catherine Judah, Virginia MacWatters, Hubert Norville, Lenore Parker, James Pease, Mary Polynack, Emile Renan
Director
Eugene S. Bryden
Choreographer
Igor Schwezoff
Musical Director
Julius Rudel
Scenic Design
H.A. Condell

1948 Broadway Revival

Theatre
New Century Theatre
Opening Night
Jan 5, 1948
Total Performances
16
Original Cast
Richard Dunn, Darrell Fancourt, Joan Gillingham, Martyn Green, Ella Halman, Helen Roberts, Thomas Round, Richard Walker, Enid Walsh, Joyce Wright
Director
Anna Bethell
Producer
D'Oyly Carte Opera Company
Costume Design
George Sheringham

1949 Broadway Revival

Theatre
Mark Hellinger Theatre
Opening Night
Oct 10, 1949
Total Performances
8
Original Cast
Morton Bowe, Robert Eckles, Jean Handzlik, Beverly Janis, Joseph Macauley, Earle MacVeigh, Elaine Malbin, Marie Petek, Ralph Riggs, Kathleen Roche
Director
S.M. Chartock
Producer
S.M. Chartock
Scenic Design
Ralph Alswang
Costume Design
Peggy Morrison
Lighting Design
Ralph Alswang

1951 Broadway Revival

Theatre
St. James Theatre
Opening Night
Feb 19, 1951
Total Performances
8
Original Cast
Darrell Fancourt, Joan Gillingham, Martyn Green, Neville Griffiths, Ella Halman, Muriel Harding, Donald Harris, Enid Walsh, Richard Watson, Joyce Wright
Director
Eleanor Evans
Producer
D'Oyly Carte Opera Company
Musical Director
Isidore Godfrey

1952 Broadway Revival

Theatre
Mark Hellinger Theatre
Opening Night
Oct 27, 1952
Total Performances
8
Original Cast
Mary Louise Beatie, Anthony Cerami, Catherine Currie, Dolores DePuglia, Helen Dodge, John Dorrin, Robert Eckles, Herbert Estrow, Radley Flynn, Roger Franklin, Martyn Green, Bonnie Grevatt, Ella Halman, Vincent Henry, Glynn Hill, Don Kaplan, Don LaMon, Grace Lang, Joseph Macaulay, Dorothy MacNeill, Sheila Matthews, Eileen Moran, Ray Morrissey, Irl Mowry, Lillian Murphy, Han Newby, Bill Nuss, Athena Pappas, Shirley Pringle, Stanley Propper, Michael Rich, Mary Roche, Frank Rogier, Robert Rounseville, Gloria Sacks, Jeanne Schlegel, Rita Schoen, Ken Smith, Feodore Tedick, Helen Whitfield, Chase Willard
Director
S.M. Chartock
Producer
S.M. Chartock
Musical Director
Lehman Engel
Scenic Design
Ralph Alswang
Costume Design
Peggy Morrison

1955 Broadway Revival

Theatre
Shubert Theatre
Opening Night
Oct 6, 1955
Total Performances
8
Original Cast
Donald Adams, Margaret Dobson, Ann Drummond-Grant, Neville Griffiths, Muriel Harding, Trevor Hills, Fisher Morgan, Joy Mornay, Peter Pratt, Joyce Wright
Director
Robert A. Gibson
Producer
D'Oyly Carte Opera Company
Musical Director
Isidore Godfrey
Costume Design
George Sheringham

1976 Broadway Revival

Theatre
Uris Theatre
Opening Night
May 6, 1976
Total Performances
8
Original Cast
John Ayldon, James Conroy-Ward, Julia Goss, Lyndsie Holland, Jane Metcalfe, Michael Rayner, Meston Reid, Caroline Baker, Patricia Ann Bennett, Jon Ellison, Michael Buchan, Gillian Burrows, Paul Burrows, Barry Clark, Malcolm Coy, Lorraine Dulcie-Daniels, Anne Egglestone, Josephine Hinchley, Gareth Jones, Beti Lloyd-Jones, Guy Matthews, Elsie McDougall, Roberta Morrell, Helen Moulder, Suzanne O'Keeffe, William Palmerley, Andrea Phillips, Glynis Prendergast, Patricia Rea, Edwin Rolles, Thomas Scholey, Alan Spencer, William Strachan, Vivian Tierney, Paul Waite, Michael Westbury
Director
Michael Heyland
Producer
James M. Nederlander
Musical Director
Royston Nash

1981 Broadway Revival

Theatre
Uris Theatre and Minskoff Theatre
Opening Night
Jan 8, 1981
Total Performances
787
Original Cast
Kevin Kline, Estelle Parsons, Linda Ronstadt, George Rose, Rex Smith, Tony Azito, Stephen Hanan, Alexandra Korey, Marcie Shaw, Dean Badolato, Mark Beudert, Robin Boudreau, Brian Bullard, Scott Burkholder, Walter Caldwell, Tim Flavin, Ray Gill, Maria Guida, Nancy Heikin, George Kmeck, Daniel Marcus, G. Eugene Moose, Joseph Neal, Walter Niehenke, Joe Pichette, Bonnie Simmons, Ellis "Skeeter" Williams, Michael Edwin Willson, Wendy Wolfe
Director
Wilford Leach
Choreographer
Graciela Daniele
Producer
Joseph Papp
Scenic Design
Bob Shaw and Wilford Leach
Costume Design
Patricia McGourty
Lighting Design
Jennifer Tipton
Sound Design
Don Ketteler
Hair Design
J. Roy Helland

2025 Broadway Revival

Theatre
Todd Haimes Theatre
Opening Night
Apr 24, 2025
Original Cast
Ramin Karimloo, David Hyde Pierce
Director
Scott Ellis
Choreographer
Warren Carlyle
Producer
Roundabout Theatre Company
Musical Director
Joseph Joubert
Orchestrations
Joseph Joubert and Daryl Waters

1983 Film Version

Movie Name
The Pirates of Penzance
Type
Hollywood Film Adaptation
Director
Wilford Leach
Screenplay
Wilford Leach
Starring
Kevin Kline, Angela Lansbury, Linda Ronstadt, George Rose, Rex Smith

1980 TV Version

Movie Name
The Pirates of Penzance
Type
Filmed Live on Stage
Director
Wilford Leach and Joshua White
Starring
Kevin Kline, Patricia Routledge, Linda Ronstadt, George Rose, Rex Smith

1994 TV Version

Movie Name
The Pirates of Penzance
Type
Made for TV Musical
Director
Peter Butler and Craig Schaefer
Screenplay
Melvyn Morrow
Starring
Jon English, Helen Donaldson, Toni Lamond

2006 TV Version

Movie Name
The Pirates of Penzance
Type
Made for TV Musical
Director
Bruce Best
Starring
Anthony Warlow, David Hobson, John Baton-wood, Susanne Johnston, Taryn Fiebig

Songs, Videos, Sheetmusic and More

Musical Numbers
Pour, O Pour The Pirate Sherry
When Frederic Was A Little Lad
Oh, Better Far To Live And Die
Oh, False One, You Have Deceived Me!
Climbing Over Rocky Mountain
Stop, Ladies, Pray!
Oh, Is There Not One Maiden Breast
Poor Wandering One
What Ought We To Do?
How Beautifully Blue The Sky
Stay, We Must Not Lose Our Senses
Hold, Monsters!
I Am The Very Model Of A Modern Major-General
Oh, Men of Dark and Dismal Fate
Oh, Dry The Glistening Tear
Then Frederic
When The Foeman Bares His Steel
Now For The Pirates' Lair!
When You Had Left Our Pirate Fold
My Eyes Are Fully Open (From "Ruddigore")
Away, Away! My Heart's On Fire
All Is Prepared
Stay, Frederic, Stay!
Sorry Her Lot (from "H.M.S. Pinafore")
No, I Am Brave
When A Felon's Not Engaged In His Employment
A Rollicking Band Of Pirates We
With Cat-Like Tread, Upon Our Prey We Steal
Hush, Hush! Not A Word
Sighing Softly To The River
Finale

Click on a song name to listen/purchase it on iTunes


Stream Online Now

CD
1981 Papp Filmed Live on Stage Version Available to Stream via BroadwayHD
CD
1983 Hollywood Film Version Available to Stream via Amazon
CD
2022 Filmed Live on Stage Version Available to Stream via BroadwayHD









CDs

CD
Joseph Papp Broadway Cast Album
CD
1968 D'Oyly Carte Company Cast Album

Vinyl

CD
Joseph Papp Broadway Cast Album
CD
1968 D'Oyly Carte Company Cast Album

Sheetmusic

Sheetmusic
Vocal Score

Videos

DVD
1983 Hollywood Version DVD
Blu-Ray
1983 Hollywood Version Blu-Ray
DVD
1980 Papp Version DVD
DVD
1980s Old Opera Series Version DVD
Blu-Ray
2006 Opera Australia Version DVD
DVD
2002 Stratford Festival Version DVD

Books

Book
The Topsy Turvy World of Gilbert and Sullivan by Keith Dockray and Alan Sutton (Author)

Merchandise

Merchandise
Merchandise on Ebay


Awards and Reviews

1981 Tony Award Nominations

Reproduction (Play Or Musical)
Best Direction Of A Musical
Best Actor In A Musical - Kevin Kline
Best Actor In A Musical - George Rose
Best Actress In A Musical - Linda Ronstadt
Best Featured Actor In A Musical - Tony Azito
Best Choreography

1981 Drama Desk Award Nominations

Outstanding Musical
Outstanding Actor In A Musical - Kevin Kline
Outstanding Featured Actor In A Musical - Tony Azito
Outstanding Director Of A Musical
Outstanding Costume Design
Outstanding Actor In A Musical - George Rose
Outstanding Choreography
Outstanding Set Design

1981 Theatre World Award Nominations

Rex Smith


1953 Tony Award Nominations

Conductor And Musical Director

Your Reviews: Do You Love It or Loathe It?

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