Lights, Action, Frozen Margarita?

Cruise ship entertainment continues to reach new heights so it is no surprise that when the world’s largest ship, Oasis of the Seas,  enters service this fall, the shows on board will also be “super-sized”.  While the ship will feature multiple entertainment venues, the current buzz is about “Hairspray” and not the kind available in the gift shop.  Royal Caribbean recently announced that it has signed an exclusive 3 year arrangement with the producers of the musical for presentation in the ship’s Grand Opal lounge. 

"We are thrilled to bring to our guests a ground-breaking entertainment feature such as Hairspray on Oasis of the Seas," said Peter Compton, vice president, Entertainment, Royal Caribbean International. "The addition of this popular musical to Royal Caribbean's entertainment lineup will undoubtedly take cruise entertainment to the next level and cater to the evolving tastes of vacationers. Guests will be able to enjoy an award-winning Broadway-caliber production on Oasis of the Seas along with a myriad of revolutionary onboard amenities for a most memorable cruise vacation."

Hairspray earned a total of eight Tony Awards, including Best Musical, during its near seven year run on Broadway, which came to an end in early January and is currently playing in London's West End. Set in 1962, the show follows the story of Tracy Turn lad, a big girl with big aspirations who wins a spot on the local TV dance program, "The Corny Collins Show" and finds herself transformed into an overnight teen sensation.

While the show has been trimmed just slightly to fit within the average 90-minute run time, consistent with Royal Caribbean's theater productions, guests and Hairspray fans will be pleased to find that the hottest, high-energy numbers will remain on the playbill. The show will be offered three or four times on each seven-night cruise itinerary, ensuring that guests have the opportunity to see the show at their leisure during their vacation.