<\/p>\n
While wandering the halls of Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings<\/a> Creative Studios<\/a>, it\u2019s possible to hear tap dancing in one studio, catch a glimpse of a swing number in another or hear the sounds of Journey or The Eagles reverberating through the walls.<\/p>\n This is just a small slice of what goes on daily at the company\u2019s all-inclusive rehearsal and production space in two Tampa warehouses spread across 110,000 square feet. The studios create and manage all aspects of each show\u2019s production \u2014 from costumes and cosmetics to shipping and laundry \u2014 for all 35 ships across the Norwegian<\/a>, Oceania<\/a> and Regent Seven Seas<\/a> fleets.<\/p>\n \u201cWe create bespoke productions and experiences from the ground up, which is one of the reasons why having an in-house creative team is so important,\u201d said Bryan White<\/a>, Norwegian Cruise Line Holding\u2019s vice president of entertainment production. \u201cThese are one-of-a-kind productions you cannot find anywhere else in the world.\u201d<\/p>\n During a tour of the facility in mid-January, performers gave a sneak peek of \u201cELTON: A Celebration of Elton John\u201d and \u201cHIKO: Innovation meets Wonder,\u201d plus a preview of \u201cSyd Norman\u2019s Presents: A Tribute to the Eagles.\u201d All of these are debuting on the Norwegian Luna<\/a>, which is set to debut out of PortMiami in early April.<\/p>\n It makes a lot of sense to have makeup artists, costumers and performers all under one roof when considering what it takes to support 134 active shows across all of Norwegian Cruise Line Holding\u2019s ships.<\/p>\n In one space, costumes can be custom printed and cut using high-tech printers, while another space houses a room full of sewing machines where costumers spend 80 hours crafting an intricate fur-pattern cape with fringes and sequins.<\/p>\n One space is focused solely on hair and makeup, while another is the main space for costume fittings, where the team can see 10,000 costumes come through in a single year.<\/p>\n It\u2019s a streamlined operation that takes into account the limited window that each cast has to prepare before heading to the ship, about six weeks from arrival to departure. All of the materials for each show can be sent to any one of 110 countries from a department that sends nearly 300 shipments out per year.<\/p>\n When costumes finally come back after a show\u2019s run, each one is cleaned in a laundry room that sees 60-80 garments come through in a day. From there, each piece is put into storage or, upon final retirement, donated to local schools\u2019 theatre departments or dance studios.<\/p>\n Norwegian Cruise Line\u2019s entertainment lineup<\/a> includes a musical tribute to Prince and a Jersey Boys Broadway-style musical. Now Sir Elton John is having his moment.<\/p>\n \u201cAs we continue to celebrate mainstream artists with broad generational appeal, there\u2019s nobody better than Elton,\u201d said Katy Tate, the show\u2019s director. \u201cWe\u2019re bringing in a lot of archival footage of Elton. We don\u2019t want it to feel like an impersonation show, we want it to feel like we summoned his past performances and we\u2019re a part of those things.\u201d<\/p>\n The full production of the Elton show on board the ship will include aerial and acrobatic elements and high-tech elements, such as LED screens on the top of four grand piano set pieces, which will have performers popping out of them.<\/p>\n Even from a 15-minute preview, it\u2019s apparent the show provides a high-energy spectacle with snappy choreography and talented live musicians performing hits such as \u201cI Guess That\u2019s Why They Call It the Blues\u201d and \u201cSaturday Night\u2019s Alright for Fighting.\u201d It also showed that flamboyant fur coats will be a part of the spectacle, an obvious choice, and brooms will be used as a prop in one number.<\/p>\n White said the show was produced with the support of John\u2019s creative team.<\/p>\n \u201cOnce Sir Elton\u2019s team saw that we have an in-house creative team and they recognized the quality of the work that we\u2019re doing, they were able to trust us,\u201d he said. \u201cThey were able to trust that we\u2019re going to deliver a high-quality, engaging creative show that they\u2019re going to be proud of.\u201d<\/p>\n In the costuming department, the show utilized more than 1,000 yards of fabric and 1\/2 mile of fringe with 90 types of fabrics represented.<\/p>\n While the name Hiko is derived from Shinatsuhiko<\/a>, the Japanese god of wind, the show takes a more sci-fi approach, blending Cirque artistry with \u201cmixed reality visuals.\u201d<\/p>\n Kai Carrier<\/a>, Norwegian Cruise Line Holding\u2019s director of theatrical creative, conceptualized the show with the idea of Hiko, the main character, adding color and energy to his dull<\/p>\n \u201cHiko completely manipulates and controls his world, and we show this through mapping and projection,\u201d he said. \u201cHe lands in this world, which is monochromatic and dull. He starts to build up this world, which our guests can see as he\u2019s controlling it and shifting things around.\u201d<\/p>\n A preview of the show had performers bouncing off a trampoline and running vertically up a wooden wall while Hiko orchestrated the scene and performers around him.<\/p>\n The show\u2019s director, Shay Kuebler, comes from a martial arts background, which helps in coordinating stunts. He\u2019s also a fan of action films.<\/p>\n \u201cOur goal is to make a cinematic epic out of this piece,\u201d he said. \u201cWhat [Christopher Nolan] does really well, as an inspiration to me, is that he marries artistic film and blockbuster appeal together. My goal is to make something artistic but accessible for everybody.\u201d<\/p>\n All of Norwegian\u2019s shows are aimed at appealing to guests through easy-to-follow narratives, recognizable music and big visual spectacle.<\/p>\n While differing in content and story, the artistry found in both the Elton show and \u201cHIKO\u201d can be appreciated by multiple generations.<\/p>\n There are also experiences on board the Norwegian Luna that appeal to age-specific segments, such as the kid-friendly \u201cSea of Discovery! An Under-the-Sea Festival\u201d or the adults-only \u201cLunaTique: Pop Circus.\u201d<\/p>\n The latter draws inspiration from circus characters with themed cocktails and interactive components.<\/p>\n \u201c[The audience] is going to walk out of there feeling really good about the time that they just had,\u201d White said. \u201cThey\u2019re gonna have some cheeky fun, but it\u2019s not going to feel juvenile. It\u2019s gonna feel really sophisticated.\u201d<\/p>\n Another fan-favorite venue, Syd Norman\u2019s Pour House, is making an appearance on the Luna. This time, the pub-style stage will feature an Eagles tribute show, which also appears in a main stage format. The Syd Norman\u2019s band will also present a tribute to Fleetwood Mac\u2019s \u201cRumours\u201d aboard the ship.<\/p>\n The greatest reward of his job, White said, is seeing the moments of awe and wonder on guests\u2019 faces after the involved 18-month process of concept, pre-production and production finally lands on a stage.<\/p>\n \u201cWith all of the work that all of our hundreds of team members have gone into making these things happen, it\u2019s about the guest. We\u2019re doing it for them,\u201d he said. \u201cTo sit there next to them \u2014 and they usually don\u2019t know who I am \u2014 and to have them in awe and wonder at these things that we created, there\u2019s nothing better than that.\u201d<\/p>\n Find me @PConnPie on Instagram<\/a> or send me an email: pconnolly@orlandosentinel.com<\/a>. Stay up to date with our latest travel, arts and events coverage by subscribing to our newsletters at orlandosentinel.com\/newsletters<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\nBehind the scenes<\/h4>\n
Elton\u2019s main stage moment<\/h4>\n
HIKO<\/h4>\n
Multi-generational appeal<\/h4>\n