Pirates of Penzance question...

My history teacher loves Gilbert and Sullivan and he decided it would be a great learning experience (ha) if we watched Pirates of Penzance. So I was wondering what theater the show was performed at. The cast was:

Kevin Kline .... Pirate King
Angela Lansbury .... Ruth
Linda Ronstadt .... Mabel
George Rose .... Maj. Gen. Stanley
Rex Smith .... Frederic
Thank you!

The version you list (with Angela Lansbury as Ruth) was the movie version that was released to commercial movie theaters.

The show started out at the Delacorte Theatre in Central Park as part of The Public Theatre's Shakespeare in the Park. Patricia Routledge (Keeping Up Appearances) played Ruth. That version is available from Broadway Theatre Archive.

The show then moved to Broadway (Routledge was replaced by Estelle Parsons) and played the Uris Theater (now the Gershwin) and then moved to the Minskoff.

Finally, it was made into the movie with Lansbury playing Ruth.

ETA: You can watch a clip of the Shakespeare in the Park version here:

http://www.broadwayarchive.com/catalog_detail.asp?id=90050060

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Updated On: 3/23/06 at 04:58 PM

I saw the original production in the Park and then again when it moved to Broadway. All I can say is, get the BTA version. It's sensational; it was filmed beautifully live. Also, Patricia Routledge's Ruth is the best I've ever seen. She's monumentally better than Lansbury and Parsons (whom I felt was miscast). It's such a shame she didn't move with the show to Broadway.

I may go have to watch her scenes now...Damn, she was so good.

I believe the NYCO production is planned for the fall. They are hoping to sign Kristin Chenoweth to play Mabel.

Yes, NYCO will be doing Pirates in March of 07. Myrna Paris, who played Lady Jane in Patience last September, is signed to play Ruth.

ooh, i'm in the middle of performance of "Pirates of Penzance" in Ramsey, NJ! We have three more shows, March 30, 31, and April 1.