The Scarlet Pimpernel started as a workshop with Carolee Carmello as Marguerite and directed by Nick Corley, following a concept album (and Top 40 Adult Contemporary Hit - "You Are My Home").

Directed by Peter H. Hunt, it starred Douglas Sills (Sir Percy Blakeney), Christine Andreas (Marguerite St. Just), Terrence Mann (Citizen Chauvelin), Marine Jahan (Madame St. Cyr), Elizabeth Ward Land (Marie), Gilles Chiasson (Armand St. Just), Ed Dixon (Ozzy), Bill Bowers (Leggett), and David Cromwell (Robespierre/Prince of Wales/Fisherman).

It reopened with Sills and three new leads, Rex Smith, Rachel York and |James Bohanek, and a vastly rearranged production, on October 10, 1998.

Like Wildhorn's two other big budget Broadway efforts (Jekyll & Hyde and The Civil War), the musical lost money.

[2] A US National tour played from February 20, 2000, through April 1, 2001, directed and choreographed by Robert Longbottom with Sills re-creating his role, Amy Bodnar as Marguerite and William Paul Michals as Chauvelin.

Takarazuka Revue in Japan produced the musical from June to October 2008, performed by the group's Star Troupe.

Hiromu Kiriya and Yuki Aono starred as Percy and Marguerite, respectively, with Masaki Ryuu and Rio Asumi double-cast as Chauvelin.

The musical has also received numerous regional US productions and has been produced in Germany, Finland, the Netherlands, United Kingdom, Ireland, Sweden, Canada, Mexico, Malta and Norway, among others.

The play opens at La Comédie Française, an elegant theatre where Marguerite St. Just is performing in her final show ("Storybook").

He takes on the identity of the Scarlet Pimpernel and convinces some of his friends (subsequently called "bounders") to join him in his daring rescue attempts; Armand, Marguerite's brother, insists on being included ("Into the Fire").

The band pretend to be inane fops, effectively throwing off any suspicions about the identity of the League of the Scarlet Pimpernel.

The furious Robespierre orders Chauvelin to discover the identity of the Scarlet Pimpernel with the help of a Belgian spy named Grappin (Percy in disguise).

Back in England, Marie, Marguerite's old costume designer and best friend, has come to the Blakeney estate and is painting Percy's portrait.

Marguerite's visitor turns out to be Chauvelin, who attempts to convince her to join him in his mission to unmask the Pimpernel, as the French believe he is a member of the Blakeney's circle.

Marguerite begs Armand to stay, but after trying to comfort her, he leaves, taking Marie back to Paris with him to assist the League ("You Are My Home").

Percy tells his remaining men that the Prince of Wales, suspicious of their trips to France, wants to meet with them.

Disguised as a tart, Marguerite attempts to uncover information about her brother, but she is quickly recognized and apprehended by Chauvelin ("Storybook (Reprise)").

While Chauvelin admires Marguerite's courageous efforts, he is angry that she was defying his threats, and he sends her to prison with Armand.

He vows to go it alone, not wanting the rest of the League to continue to risk themselves, but they reassuredly state they will stand by him ("Into the Fire (Reprise)").

Confident in his triumph, Chauvelin sends most of his remaining soldiers away to carry the news to Robespierre, leaving only a small squad.