The Public Theater’s upcoming one-night-only benefit concert of The Pirates of Penzance has added four stars to its already epic cast. Jonathan Groff, Montego Glover, Norm Lewis and Anika Noni Rose will join a starry group of actors including Glenn Close, Eric Idle, Martin Short and original star Kevin Kline, who will reprise his Tony-winning role as the Pirate King. The concert will be presented on June 10 at the Delacorte as part of the Public’s annual gala, which will honor the late Nora Ephron (a longtime board member).
Glover will play Kate, with Groff as Frederick, Lewis as Samuel and Rose as Mabel. The ensemble of Pirates also includes Sarah Bolt, Darius Nichols, Eliseo Roman, Martin Sola, Matthew Stocke and Frank Vlastnik. Ted Sperling directs, with musical staging by choreographer Graciela Daniele (who worked on the original 1980 production at the Delacorte Theater) and musical direction by James Moore.
Meryl Streep and Sir Howard Stringer will be on hand to pay tribute to Nora Ephron, who collaborated with Streep for over 25 years.