'Pirate' sailing to B'way

After Chi tryout, show starting previews March 6 at Hilton Theater

By DAVID ROONEY

Following lukewarm reviews for its Chicago tryout, the producers of Gotham-bound musical "The Pirate Queen" have confirmed the addition of Broadway vets Graciela Daniele and Richard Maltby Jr. to the creative team.

The new musical by Alain Boublil and Claude-Michel Schonberg, the team behind 1980s blockbusters "Les Miserables" and "Miss Saigon," ended its Chicago run Sunday, announcing grosses above $1 million per week for the last three weeks. The show starts previews March 6 at Broadway's Hilton Theater, with opening night set for April 5.

The musical adventure is based on the life of 16th-century Irish chieftain Grace O'Malley. It was commissioned and produced by the "Riverdance" team of Moya Doherty and John McColgan, with Frank Galati directing.

Chi critics generally found the tuner underdeveloped in its plotting and characterizations and lacking in romantic heart, hence the recruitment of show doctors. Daniele ("Ragtime") is coming on board to oversee musical staging while Maltby ("Miss Saigon," "Ain't Misbehavin' ") will work with the authors-composers on revisions to the book and lyrics.