Updated at 3:24 p.m., Monday, June 25, 2007
Pride of Hawaii adds off-Broadway show during cruise
Advertiser Staff
Hawai'i cruise ship passengers on Norwegian Cruise Lines ships in Hawai'i are getting a side order of an off-Broadway hit on Maui.A Miami spokeswoman for the company said this morning that the Pride of Hawai'i began offering the theatrical show "Tony n' Tina's Wedding," a month ago and the Pride of America and Pride of Aloha just added the entertainment.
The 25-member cast of "Tony n' Tina's Wedding" satirizes a traditional Italian wedding with passengers as invited guests to the nuptials of the Vitale and Nunzio families. The wedding and reception is held in an on-board lounge, which is transformed into a classic Italian wedding hall.
Colin Veitch, president and CEO for NCL Corporation, said the event is another way to enhance the cruise for passengers. " 'Tony n' Tina's Wedding' is the ultimate experience combining fantastic food and drinks with a fun and unique theatrical show."
At the start of the evening, passengers become part of the family, greeted by members of the wedding party and are immediately immersed into the show. Guests eat, drink, dance, as well as interact with the wedding party, eccentric friends and relatives.
Pride of Aloha, Pride of America and Pride of Hawai'i are the first and the only cruise ships to offer this unique show, Veitch said.
"Initial feedback from guests has been extremely positive. They come to the 'wedding' ready to have a good time and the show delivers," Veitch continued.
"Tony n' Tina's Wedding," which is sold as a ship excursion, is held on the evenings when the ships are docked in Maui and in addition to the shows currently on board the vessels. Tickets for the show are $24.95 per person and can be purchased at the shore excursion desk on board each ship. VIP seating will be available. Tickets are limited to approximately 250 to 350 guests per show, depending on the ship.
Since its original New York opening in 1987, "Tony n' Tina's Wedding" has garnered rave reviews and is currently playing in venues across the country. This production was supervised by Jeff Gitlin and Larry Pellegrini, the original creators and producers of the New York/Las Vegas "Tony n' Tina's Wedding." NCL Corporation has the exclusive rights to produce the show at sea. A cast of twenty-five professional actors portray the many characters involved in the show.
