Overview
Synopsis
Based on the story of Grace O’Malley, the personification of Ireland, The Pirate Queen is a sweeping epic of love, honor, and piracy in Renaissance Ireland. Grace O’Malley is the heir to the O’Malley clan, and proves herself worthy through her bravery on the seas and skill in swordplay. In a time when women were expected to learn skills to make a good wife in the homestead, Grace defies her father and earns the title “The Pirate Queen,” inspiring men and women alike to follow her. When the English begin to attack and subjugate Ireland, only Grace has the strength and intelligence to negotiate peace with the powerful Queen Elizabeth I. With a score by Claude-Michel Schonberg and Alain Boublil, steeped in Irish traditions and powerful ballads, The Pirate Queen is both timeless history and epic romance for the stage.
Show Information
- Music
- Claude-Michel Schönberg
- Lyrics
- Alain Boublil , Claude-Michel Schönberg
- Category
- Musical
- Age Guidance
- Thirteen Plus (PG-13)
- Number of Acts
- 2
- First Produced
- 2006
- Genres
- Drama, Historical/Biographical
- Settings
- Period, Multiple Settings, Spectacle
- Time & Place
- Ireland, 1550s, 1560s, England, Irish Sea, London
- Cast Size
- medium
- Orchestra Size
- Large
- Dancing
- Heavy
- Licensor
- Music Theatre International
- Ideal For
- College/University, Community Theatre, Professional Theatre, Regional Theatre, Star Vehicle Female, Theatre, Mostly Male Cast, Includes Late Teen, Young Adult, Adult, Mature Adult, Child Characters, Medium Cast
Context
In 2005, Claude-Michel Schonberg and Alain Boublil were already well-known for their collaborations on shows such as Les Miserables and Miss Saigon. They joined forces again for The Pirate Queen, the story of an Irish Chieftain: Grace O’Malley, a pirate and rebel of Renaissance Ireland. The show is based on Morgan Llywelyn’s historical novel Grania: She-King of the Irish Seas (1986); Llywelyn herself relied on Irish historian Anne Chambers, who wrote a biography about Grace O’Malley.
to read the context for The Pirate Queen and to unlock other amazing theatre resources!Plot
Act One
In dream-like pantomime, a ship appears to the sounds of a celtic flute (“Prologue”). A young woman is at the wheel of the ship; it is Grace (Grania) O’Malley, who raises her sword in triumph. A young man named Tiernan meets her sword, and they playfully duel about the deck of the ship until she wins. They kiss, but are separated by the sounds of the O’Malley clan approaching, doing a traditional oar dance as they welcome their chieftain and Grace’s father, Dubhdara. He christens
to read the plot for The Pirate Queen and to unlock other amazing theatre resources!Characters
| Name | Part Size | Gender | Vocal Part |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Lead |
Female |
Mezzo-Soprano |
|
|
Supporting |
Female |
Soprano |
|
|
Supporting |
Female |
Mezzo-Soprano |
|
|
Supporting |
Male |
Tenor |
|
|
Supporting |
Male |
Tenor |
|
|
Supporting |
Male |
Tenor |
|
|
Supporting |
Male |
Tenor, Baritone |
|
|
Featured |
Male |
Baritone |
|
|
Featured |
Female |
Mezzo-Soprano |
|
|
Featured |
Male |
Silent |
|
|
Ensemble |
Either Gender |
Soprano, Mezzo-Soprano, Alto, Tenor, Baritone, Bass |
Songs
Act I
- Prologue – Orchestra
- The Pirate Queen – Dubhdara and *Company
- Woman – Grace
- The Storm – Company
- My Grace – Dubhdara and Grace
- Here on this Night – Grace, Tiernan and Crew
- *The First Battle – Company
- The Waking of the Queen – Elizabeth and Ladies-in-Waiting
- Rah-Rah, Tip-Top – Bingham, Elizabeth and Lords
- The Choice Is Mine – Grace and Company
- The Bride's Song – Grace, Evleen and Women
- *Boys'll Be Boys – Donal, Mates and Barmaids
- *The Wedding – Company
- I'll Be There – Tiernan
- Boys'll Be Boys (Reprise) – Donal, Grace and O'Flaherty
- Trouble at Rockfleet – Grace, Tiernan, Donal and Bingham
- A Day Beyond Belclare – Grace, Tiernan, Donal and Company
- Go Serve Your Queen – Elizabeth and Bingham
- Dubhdara's Farewell – Dubhdara and Grace
- Sail to the Stars – Grace, Tiernan and Company
Act II
- Entr'Acte – Orchestra
- It's a Boy – Grace, Majella and Sailors
- Enemy at Port Side – Grace, Evleen, Majella and Sailors
- I Dismiss You – Grace, Donal and Sailors
- If I Said I Love You – Tiernan and Grace
- The Role of the Queen – Elizabeth and Bingham
- *The Christening – Orchestra
- Let a Father Stand by His Son – Donal, Grace, Bingham and Company
- Surrender – Bingham, Tiernan, Elizabeth and Company
- She Who Has All – Elizabeth and Grace
- Lament – Grace, Majella, Eoin and Company
- The Sea of Life – Grace and Company
- Terra Marique Potens – Elizabeth, Grace, Bingham
- Woman to Woman – Elizabeth and Grace
- Behind the Screen – Company
- Grace's Exit – Elizabeth, Grace, Bingham and Company
- Finale – Grace, Tiernan and Company
A song with an asterisk (*) before the title indicates a dance number; a character listed in a song with an asterisk (*) by the character's name indicates that the character exclusively serves as a dancer in this song, which is sung by other characters.
Monologues
Scenes
Key Terms
A song that uses short stanzas to tell a story about love.
The Queen of England from 1558 until her death in 1603. She was the monarch for most of Shakespeare's playwriting career.
Referring to life in England under the reign of Queen Elizabeth I, 1558-1603.
A type of song, usually early in the musical, in which the protagonist expresses their desires. The "I Want" song establishes the character's objectives.
Videos
Quizzes
Themes, Symbols & Motifs
Sorry! We do not currently have learning modules for this guide.
Quote Analysis
Sorry! We do not currently have learning modules for this guide.
Guide Written By:
Cindi Calhoun
Theatre teacher, director, writer, and seamstress