October 16 – November 16

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Promotional image for the world premiere of THE PIRATE BALLAD OF BONNY & READ (Fall 2025) at the American Shakespeare Center. Ginna Hoben, in a red and gray pirate costume, holds crossed cutlasses beneath bold white show title text. Photo by Alaina Shefelton.

“There’ll be singin’, an’ cussin’, an’ swashin’ yer buckle ’til yer timbers shiver and yer eye needs a patch!”

–[from the creators of the 50/50 Shakespeare Project: Vanessa Morosco & Peter Simon Hilton], The Pirate Ballad of Bonny & Read

A teenager wanders through a maritime museum, dodging her college application, when two pirate statues suddenly come to life. Anne Bonny and Mary Read crash through the fourth wall – sharp-tongued, sword-wielding, and tired of being silent – and pull her into their untold tale of sea battles, bold disguises and the price of living free.

The Pirate Ballad of Bonny & Read is an overtly theatrical, sea-shanty-fueled world premiere about rewriting the rules, claiming your voice, and choosing your own way forward.

Written by the creators of the 50/50 Shakespeare Project: Vanessa Morosco & Peter Simon Hilton. Based on an idea by Peter Simon Hilton and Aidan O’Reilly, with Spanish translation by Sara Linares.

Discover the World of The Pirate Ballad of Bonny & Read

Stuff That Happens...
  • While visiting a maritime museum, a work-distracted Dad urges his Kid to write her college application essay.
  • A museum guard asks the Dad to take his phone call outside, then shows the Kid two weathered pirate statues: the infamous Anne Bonny and Mary Read.
  • The guard leaves. The statues come to life.
  • The pirates strike a deal: if the Kid helps them recover their reputation, they will help her with her essay.
  • Through the magic of theater and the singing of shanties, they board the pirate ship William and meet Captain Jack.
  • The Kid reveals a hidden talent. The pirates immediately recruit her. 
  • A children’s Museum Quest gets mistaken for a treasure map, launching a chaotic search for rope, hammocks, and buckets.
  • A fight breaks out between Mary and the Quartermaster. They duel.
  • Jack orders Mary to school the kid in “the ways of weaponry.” The Kid learns how to fire a flintlock, wield a cutlass, and play with parrots.
  • The ship is under attack. It’s the British Navy. Anne, Mary, and the Kid ready for battle.
  • Swashbuckling, secrets, shanty-filled sea battles, and decisions about college ensue…