New Stage Show Aboard Disney Cruise Line Creates a Twist on Cinderella's Happily Ever After Story

New Stage Show Aboard Disney Cruise Line Creates a Twist on Cinderella's
Happily Ever After Story


CELEBRATION, FL, June 6 -- With a swish of a wand, several Bibbidi Bobbidi
Boos and the turning of storybook pages, the brand new stage show aboard
Disney Cruise Line -- "Twice Charmed: An Original Twist on the Cinderella
Story" -- immerses audiences in a new rendition of the happily ever after
story of Cinderella and her Prince Charming. Giving guests an opportunity to
experience the story of Cinderella in a whole new way, the Broadway-style
show recently made its theatrical debut in the Walt Disney Theatre aboard
the Disney Magic cruise ship, just in time for the ship's special West Coast
cruises honoring the 50th anniversary of the Disneyland park.


"This enchanting production brings some of the most beloved Disney
characters to life in a compelling story the entire family can enjoy
together," said Jim Urry, Director of Entertainment for Disney Cruise Line.
"Everything from the music to the choreography to the incredible set designs
and the humor and romance of the story will delight our guests."


With the story beginning where the original ended -- during the wedding
celebration of Cinderella and Prince Charming, good fortune takes a turn
when a new character, evil Fairy Godfather Franco DiFortunato, enters the
picture on behalf of Lady Tremaine, Cinderella's stepmother. Granting Lady
Tremaine's wish, he sends the family back in time to break Cinderella's
glass slipper, thus destroying her chances of marrying the prince and
writing a whole new story for Cinderella. The 52-minute production features
a rich musical score with six original compositions and two classic Disney
songs including the beloved "Bibbidi Bobbidi Boo" and "A Dream is a Wish
Your Heart Makes." With an accomplished cast, lavish costumes, elaborate set
designs and special effects that cleverly turn back the pages of time, the
combination seamlessly transitions the show from scene to scene.


"Twice Charmed" was created by Disney Creative Entertainment, which has also
been responsible for the creation of "The Golden Mickeys" currently showing
aboard Disney Cruise Line and two recent Disneyland productions, "Disney's
Aladdin -- A Musical Spectacular" and "Snow White -- An Enchanting New
Musical." Executive Vice President Anne Hamburger heads the group. Hamburger
said, "The goal of our division, Disney Creative Entertainment, is to create
great shows that will delight our guests in ways they have never before
experienced. It is a combination of moving stories, heartfelt music and
unforgettable stage imagery and design, which we bring to our guests at
every performance."


As Disney's largest theatrical production ever aboard, the show includes a
repertory cast of 21 performers who are well-versed in acting, singing and
dancing. This cast not only performs "Twice Charmed," but is also
responsible for the two other main stage shows performed in the Walt Disney
Theatre throughout the cruise -- "The Golden Mickeys" and "Disney Dreams."
Urry said, "We searched for a long time for the absolute best artistic
talent we could find for the creation and production of 'Twice Charmed.' In
addition, because the range of acting ability required to perform several
shows on a ship is significant, we look for the best actors in the
business." There are an additional nine crew members who perform technical
roles backstage as part of these three shows helping to bring the Walt
Disney Theatre to life. With 977 seats, the theatre is magnificent within
itself, as the most technologically equipped show place at sea.


The book, lyrics and score for "Twice Charmed" were composed by Alan Zachary
and Michael Weiner, who are among the most promising new composers and
lyricists for musical theatre and are currently collaborating on an upcoming
Broadway musical. The orchestrations and arrangements were by Alan Lee Silva
and Timothy Mark Williams. "Twice Charmed" was directed by Joe Calarco,
whose "Shakespeare's R & J," a re-telling of "Romeo and Juliet," was a hit
off-Broadway in New York and was critically praised in Chicago, Washington,
D.C., London and Tokyo. Karma Camp, who has both Broadway and off-Broadway
credits, choreographed the show. She has choreographed more than 20
productions at Signature Theatre of Arlington, Va., and also developed the
choreography for "Snow White -- An Enchanting New Musical" at Disneyland.


After its debut, "Twice Charmed: An Original Twist on the Cinderella Story"
will continue to run aboard the Disney Magic cruise ship throughout 2005, as
the ship returns back to her East Coast Caribbean itineraries. In addition
to its special West Coast seven-night itinerary to the Mexican Riviera this
summer, Disney Cruise Line offers seven-night eastern and western Caribbean
cruise vacations, three- and four-night cruises to the Bahamas, and land/sea
packages that combine the fun and excitement of the Walt Disney World Resort
with the enchantment of a Disney Cruise Line voyage to the Bahamas. To learn
more about Disney Cruise Line or to book a Disney Cruise Line vacation,
guests can contact their travel agent, visit www.disneycruise.com or call
Disney Cruise Line at (888) DCL-2500.

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Eric I.

www.cruise-reviews.com