‘Pirates of Penzance’s’ B’way Return

[rick]

www.broadwayworld.com/article/Roundabouts-2024-2025-Season-Will-Include-New-Orleans-Style-PIRATES-OF-PENZANCE-with-Ramin-Karimloo-and-David-Hyde-Pierce-YELLOW-FACE-Starring-Daniel-Dae-Kim-and-More-20240109

[rick]

When Joe Papp approached Linda to be in Gilbert & Sullivan's "Pirates of Penzance" at the Delacorte Theatre Linda was, at that time,
was at the peak of her popularity. Now, as the article above states, 44 years later, I can't imagine a Taylor Swift or a Beyonce'
walking away from a recording and concert career to perform eight times a week in a 100-plus-year-old operetta.

[erik]

Quote by rick:

When Joe Papp approached Linda to be in Gilbert & Sullivan's "Pirates of Penzance" at the Delacorte Theatre Linda was, at that time, wa at the peak of her popularity. Now, as the article above states, 44 years later, I can't imagine a Taylor Swift or a Beyonce' walking away from a recording and concert career to perform eight times a week in a 100-plus-year-old operetta.

I think such a move would be seen by Taylor and Queen Bey as the kind of artistic pivot that wrecks careers. Of course that's what Linda's handlers said about Linda just doing Pirates, let alone the Nelson Riddle albums or Canciones De Mi Padre. Linda succeeded, of course, but even she knew what the risks were in doing them.

Besides, would either Taylor or Queen Bey even have the vocal capacity to do this kind of thing, even if they wanted to (especially Taylor, whose voice is still not all that great [IMHO])?

[PoP80]

New production of Pirates. I wonder who will play Mabel?

Lastly, Roundabout will offer a spring Broadway revival of the comic operetta “The Pirates of Penzance.” The production will mark a creative reunion between director Scott Ellis, librettist Rupert Holmes and actor David Hyde Pierce, who in 2007 collaborated on the Broadway musical “Curtains.” Ellis, a Tony-nominated veteran who is Roundabout’s interim artistic director, will direct the new staging of “Penzance,” which will feature a fresh adaptation by Tony winner Holmes and a leading performance from Tony winner Pierce — who will portray Gilbert, Sullivan and the Major General. Tony nominee Ramin Karimloo will co-star as the Pirate King in the production, set to begin performances in April 2025. Holmes’ new interpretation, described in press materials as “jazz-inspired,” unfolds as a pirate ship docks in New Orleans. According to press notes, the story features “a tongue-twisting Major General, a rabble-rousing Pirate King, newly imagined young lovers, daring daughters, footloose pirates and fleet-footed police.” “Penzance” features music by Arthur Sullivan and words by W.S. Gilbert. Rounding out the revival’s creative team will be Tony-winning choreographer Warren Carlyle and Tony-nominated music director Joseph Joubert, who is also crafting orchestrations with Tony winner Daryl Waters.