Cunard’s Newest Royal Performance
New York, NY
When Cunard’s new Queen Elizabeth enters service in October 2010 Cunard will be introducing an original concept in theatrical entertainment, the Queen Elizabeth Theatre Company – the first and only resident theatre company at sea. Guests will enjoy a brand new repertoire of shows premiered by the theatre company’s 29 singers, dancers, actors and musicians.
New shows will include the hit “Slice of Saturday Night,” a nostalgic pastiche of 1960s music. Adapted especially for the Queen Elizabeth Theatre Company by its original writers, the Heather Brothers, “Slice of Saturday Night” features all of the Theatre Company members – the largest production show that Cunard has ever staged.
Performing in the ship’s majestic Royal Court Theatre, the Queen Elizabeth Theatre Company will present a compelling variety of musical productions and abridged versions of popular plays such as a Neil Simon triple bill and Shakespeare’s “Twelfth Night.” The Simon show will feature three scenes, one each from some of the playwright’s best-loved shows – “Last of the Red Hot Lovers, Plaza Suite and The Odd Couple.” At the conclusion of each show, the audience may take part in an informal Q&A session with the actors.
The ship is still very much under construction at Fincantieri’s Monfalcone shipyard at Trieste, Italy, absolutely swarming with welders, electricians, painters and contractors. Structurally, everything is in place but a lot of imagination is required to visualize the elegant vessel that will emerge in October.
