The Pirates of Penzance
Synopsis
As a young child, Frederic had been apprenticed to a pirate by mistake when he should have been apprenticed to a pilot. Now, having reached his 21st year, Frederic's indentures are at last over and he happily leaves the service of the pirates. When Frederic meets the beautiful Mabel, one of the many daughters (or wards in Chancery) of Major-General Stanley, they fall in love and decide to marry. However, complications arise when the pirates decide to marry the rest of the Major-General's daughters, themselves - and Frederic's birthdate turns out to be not all it seems. Filmed live from Central Park prior to the production's transition to Broadway.
Top Cast
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Kevin Kline
The Pirate King
Linda Ronstadt
Mabel Stanley
Rex Smith
Frederic
Patricia Routledge
Ruth
Tony Azito
The Sergeant
George Rose
Major-General Stanley
G. Eugene Moose
Samuel, the Pirate King's Lieutenant
Alice Playten
Edith Stanley
Marcie Shaw
Kate Stanley
Wendy Wolfe
Isabel Stanley
Alix Korey
Soloist - Daughter
Robin Boudreau
Daughter
Maria Guida
Daughter
Nancy Heikin
Daughter
Bonnie Simmons
Daughter
Dean Badolato
Pirates and Police
Mark Beudert
Pirates and Police
Brian Bullard
Pirates and Police
Key Information & Fast Facts
- Director
- Joshua White
- Screenplay & Story
- Arthur Sullivan, William S. Gilbert
- Original Title
- The Pirates of Penzance
- Country of Origin
- United States of America
- Spoken Languages
- English
- Runtime
- 2h 3m
- Production Studios
- New York Shakespeare Festival, Kultur Video, Broadway Theatre Archive
Creative Leadership & Key Crew
Joshua White
Arthur Sullivan, William S. Gilbert
Ken Gutstein
Joseph Papp
Department Leadership Roster
Joseph Papp
Producer
Joshua White
Director
Patricia McGourty
Costume Design
Ken Gutstein
Editor
William S. Gilbert
Writer
Production Stills & Gallery
Official cinematic photography and background stills for The Pirates of Penzance.
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Frequently Asked Questions About The Pirates of Penzance
Quick factual answers about cast, synopsis, director, box office, and release information.
What is The Pirates of Penzance about?
As a young child, Frederic had been apprenticed to a pirate by mistake when he should have been apprenticed to a pilot. Now, having reached his 21st year, Frederic's indentures are at last over and he happily leaves the service of the pirates. When Frederic meets the beautiful Mabel, one of the many daughters (or wards in Chancery) of Major-General Stanley, they fall in love and decide to marry. However, complications arise when the pirates decide to marry the rest of the Major-General's daughters, themselves - and Frederic's birthdate turns out to be not all it seems. Filmed live from Central Park prior to the production's transition to Broadway.
Who directed The Pirates of Penzance?
The Pirates of Penzance was directed by Joshua White.
Who stars in The Pirates of Penzance?
The principal cast of The Pirates of Penzance includes Kevin Kline, Linda Ronstadt, Rex Smith, Patricia Routledge, Tony Azito.
When was The Pirates of Penzance released and how long is it?
The Pirates of Penzance was released in 1980 with a total runtime of 2h 3m.