Royal Caribbean to bring Grease to high seas

Royal Caribbean has announced Broadway’s hit musical Grease will be debuting on its newest ship Harmony of the Seas, which launches in Europe in May 2016.

The show will then take the stage in July on-board Independence of the Seas, which returns to her homeport of Southampton in May for the summer season.

The production will be a new, never been seen before version, specially adapted by theatre royalty for Royal Caribbean.

Over 100,000 guests will have the opportunity to see the special adaptation in Europe between May and October before Harmony of the Seas departs for the Caribbean.

Cast auditions for Grease took place in London, the home of the West End, in November and are planned for New York City in January 2016, with three quarters of the cast found at the London auditions.

The rigorous process saw potential cast members put through their paces by a critically acclaimed casting team, looking for high quality talent with unique versatility to appear in the array of shows which will be performed on-board Harmony of the Seas and Independence of the Seas this summer when she begins sailing from her homeport in Southampton.

Grease is the seventh Broadway production Royal Caribbean has brought to its fleet, changing the perception of cruise ship entertainment with celebrated productions of the likes of Mamma Mia and We Will Rock You.

Nick Weir, head of entertainment, Royal Caribbean, said: “The Broadway production of Grease is renowned as the best, and this is the seventh Broadway production we have added to a Royal Caribbean ship.

“To have the support of award-winning theatre legends, ensuring the calibre of production on-board will rival any Broadway or West End production, is testament to the quality of entertainment we provide for our guests.”

This new production of Grease will be staged by award-winning director and choreographer, Karen Bruce.