FORT LAUDERDALE -- On Broadway, the classic musical "Hairspray"
runs for about three hours, intermission included. At CruiseWorld, it lasted
about 10 minutes, but encapsulated the story from start to finish.
Royal Caribbean International treated agents attending
CruiseWorld here with a condensed version of "Hairspay" on Thursday
afternoon, bringing the audience to its feet with a colorful and energetic
performance.
Nick Weir, Royal Caribbean's senior vice president of entertainment, introducing the Hairspray" performance at CruiseWorld.
Nick Weir, Royal Caribbean's senior vice president of
entertainment, and Vicki Freed, senior vice president of sales and trade
support, introduced the performance.
Freed said the cruise line has won a number of awards for
its entertainment, and she wants that trend to continue.
"Only on Royal Caribbean will you see entertainment
across four different stages," Freed said. "You see it, of course, on
the main stage which every cruise line has. Then you see our aerial
entertainment. Then we have our ice rinks, which are unique to Royal Caribbean,
where we have our beautiful ice shows. And finally, we have our Aqua Theater
shows, which are high-diving shows that are truly spectacular."
Royal Caribbean's Symphony of the Seas is expected to arrive
in Miami on Friday for its winter season of Caribbean cruises. "Hairspray"
will be performed on the ship. It will be the second run of "Hairspray"
on a Royal Caribbean ship; the show originally was performed on Oasis of the
Seas from 2009 to 2014.
Weir said it was important to him to bring the show back.
"It's bigger and better than ever," he said. "I
would say, and many people who have seen it who are in the business say that it
is the best version of 'Hairspray' ever, including the original on Broadway."