Synopsis & Character description
When the crew of the Kayla May flees at the mere sight of pirates, the fussy Captain Jennings is left to defend his ship with a mismatched band of prisoners and a sailor who can't swim. Onboard are the high-society Prescott family, including the haughty Madam Prescott, the overbearing Professor Bidwell, and the spirited Julia Prescott, who dreams of becoming a pirate herself. Things take a wild turn when the infamous Captain Bree and her fierce, all-female crew storm the ship in search of treasure, only to find royal passengers instead.
As the pirates seize control, they auction off prisoners to do their dirty work, teach Julia the pirating ropes, and debate the fate of their captives—all while engaging in sword fights, misunderstandings, and plenty of sea shanties. Amid the chaos, Samuel Prescott disguises himself as a girl to escape danger, and a Swedish cook speaks only gibberish (understood by just one pirate). But when a British fleet arrives, ready to hang the pirates and Captain Jennings alike, alliances shift and both captains must devise a clever plan to save their crews.
Filled with over-the-top characters, rollicking music, and nonstop laughs, The Lady Pirates of Captain Bree is a swashbuckling musical comedy that’s a treasure for the whole family.
CHARACTER DESCRIPTION
OLD PIRATE - Weather-beaten, but energetic and engaging. Begins and ends the story.
Any Gender, more mature/older than others (may be cast as adult)
Vocal Range: Baritone/Tenor or Mezzo/Soprano, strong character voice
LADY PIRATES
(all are Female-presenting, vocal balance more important than individual ranges)
CAPTAIN BREE - Leader of the Lady Pirates, she is hard on the outside, but soft inside. Genuinely cares for her crew
Vocal range: Mezzo, strong belt a plus
JANE - Bree’s second in command, a leader in her own right among the pirates
MOLLY - Newer to the pirate gang, she doesn’t quite think like a pirate yet and just wants everyone to get along
JOSEPHINE (JO) - just a bit ditzy, she never remembers the “rules” of piracy
GABRIELLA- very chatty, somehow the only person who can understand the cook
SHAWNA - a bit boy-crazy
PATTY - Irish, saves fellow Irishman Fergus
MAGGIE - mean and tough, she’s always ready for a fight
GEORGIA - convinced men are nothing but trouble
ADDITIONAL PIRATES - all voice parts
CREW/PASSENGERS/SAILORS
CAPTAIN JENNINGS - Captain of the Kayla-May, he is well-meaning, but sometimes a bit oblivious
Male-presenting
Vocal Range: Baritone/Tenor
FERGUS - sailor and unofficial “first mate”, he is Irish and sometimes the only one with a clue.
Male-presenting
Vocal Range: Baritone/Tenor
THOMAS - Cabin boy, younger than the rest, but very cheeky
Male-presenting (can be played by either gender)
Vocal Range: unchanged voice
COOK - speaks with such a strong accent (preferably Swedish), no one can understand him
Male-presenting
JOHN, JACK, and GEORGE - prisoners who are drafted into the crew, more brawn than brain
Male-presenting
MADAM PRESCOTT - Snooty, upper-crust society woman, the wife of a British ambassador
Female-presenting, more mature/older than others (may be cast as adult)
Vocal Range: Soprano
SAMUEL PRESCOTT - Nephew of Madam Prescott, brother to Julia. He’s not very tough, dresses as a girl to escape the pirates
Male-presenting
Vocal Range: Tenor
JULIA PRESCOTT - Niece of Madam Prescott, sister to Samuel. She longs for adventure and detests the pressure to be a “demure” society girl
Female-presenting
Vocal Range: Mezzo or Soprano
PROFESSOR BIDWELL - Famous (pompous) writer who is a passenger.
Male-presenting, more mature/older than others (may be cast as adult)
Vocal Range - Baritone/Tenor
OTHER PASSENGERS - all genders
ADMIRAL MOORE - Leader of the British Naval fleet, well-spoken and very stereotypically military
Male-presenting
ADDITIONAL BRITISH SAILORS
Male Presenting (can be played by either gender)
