Earlier this month, the inaugural voyage of The Broadway Cruise set sail. Before the trip aboard ended, Broadway Direct spoke with a select few “Broadway Cruisers” to discuss their Broadway-filled week and the experiences that’ll stay with them.
What was your reason for booking the cruise?
Kathy K., IN: I flew to New Jersey to meet my best friend from college who had booked the cruise and her daughter couldn’t go so I got go at the last minute. One of the things that attracted me initially was our mutual love of Broadway shows.
Aliyah M., OR: My parents picked it because we’re a huge theater family.
Jeanne G., NY: The people on it: Alan, Kristin, Laura. I had booked it originally for the year before but then it got canceled, so then we rebooked with friends on board now.
Paula C., AZ: My girlfriends and I flew into New York for it. We all love Broadway, but we follow Randy Rainbow, so he was kind of the person who alerted us to it. So, we thought it’d be really fun, the combination of Randy and Broadway sounded pretty magical.
Dolores C., FL: My daughter-in-law suggested that we go on it.
Beth D., FL: I’ve always loved Broadway and was with a group of friends who also love Broadway and appreciate theater, so it seemed like the perfect opportunity to spend time together doing something we enjoy.
Michael H., NJ: My friend and I do community theater together, and we’ve loved Broadway our whole lives, we actually travel to Broadway to see shows together. So my friend suggested, “what about this one?” and I had seen it advertised and I was like “I’d be interested in that, sure!”
Bruna F., Brazil: It’s the one opportunity in life that you get to see all those amazing people together and also because it was a meet and greet. And also Bermuda, because who doesn’t want to go to Bermuda?
Who was the star you were most excited to see?
Kathy K.: Kristin Chenoweth!
Aliyah M.: Kristin Chenoweth because she was the only one I knew before the cruise.
Paula C.: In addition to Randy Rainbow, I love them all. Kristin Chenoweth is kind of my big thing, but all of them.
Beth D.: All of them were phenomenal. I think for me being able to see Michael Cerveris was huge.
Michael H.: Oh Kristin and Alan, the lineup was really impressive, I’ve always loved Jeremy. It wasn’t hard to want to come.
Bruna F.: Jeremy Jordan.
What’s been your favorite performance on the cruise?
Kathy K: So many of them, that’s tough. I liked seeing Kristin Chenoweth and then the panel with her and Alan Cumming. That was so fun. And I really liked Laura Benanti the other afternoon, what a voice.
Aliyah M.: Kristin Chenoweth singing “Popular” because Wicked is one of my favorite shows.
Jeanne G.: Alan, Kristin, and Laura.
Paula C.: It was Kristin. It’s all been fun, but she was just perfect, the cherry on top.
Dolores C.: Alan Cumming.
Beth D.: The 11 o’clock numbers were incredible. Trista Doll – every time she sang, she showed us new dimensions. Her acting ability is equal to that phenomenal vocal talent she has. Every time she sang, she gave me goosebumps. I also have a new appreciation for Sierra Boggess, I thought she was incredible. And you can’t go wrong with Alan Cumming, he’s adorable and wonderful and I listened to his book, so I felt like I was reuniting with a friend.
Michael H.: Alan blew us out of the water. We were really impressed with what he had to do, his shows were beyond our expectations. Totally different shows, but so much energy. We knew he could sing, but didn’t realize he had that voice.
Bruna F.: Jeremy Jordan. I really liked when he sang “Run Away With Me,” it was very beautiful.
Is there an event on this trip that wasn’t on your radar before and you unexpectedly ended up loving?
Kathy K.: I actually had seen Jeremy Jordan in a Hallmark movie because I’m a Hallmark fan. We were there and I was like “Oh my gosh! I’ve seen him before!” And I enjoyed his performance too, so it was fun, and my friend is just obsessed with him.
Aliyah M.: I did really end up liking Randy Rainbow a lot.
Jeanne G.: The destination, Bermuda. I had never been to Bermuda and that was really great. I took the mini bus tour of the island and that was fabulous.
Paula C.: I knew everybody already, but I think the person I knew least was Lena Hall so I look forward to seeing more of her.
Beth D.: The panel discussions I thought were great. We did both panel discussions that dealt with behind-the-scenes aspects and I wasn’t sure what to expect but felt like I learned a lot and really loved that experience and loved getting to know those performers and musicians in a way that we wouldn’t have otherwise.
Michael H.: We weren’t that familiar with Lena. We knew her, but didn’t realized she has the talent she has and her range is insane.
Bruna F.: The people. Everyone had the same vibe, these are my people. They love Broadway so people get you, they understand you, making friends in line waiting for the shows, it was awesome.
What will you walk away from this cruise remembering most?
Kathy K.: On Monday, the seating was full so I ended up standing on the balcony, right above the piano, and I got to look into the area where all the musicians were, like Jeremy Jordan in the back watching Laura Benanti, that was really cool. And I’m a pianist, I’ve played for lots of musicals in Indiana, so it was fun for me to see that side with the piano, I’ve been watching them a lot, which also makes me very excited for [The Inner Workings of a Broadway Orchestra] panel.
Paula C.: It’s been fun to enjoy it with other fans. To meet people from all over the United States who are just so passionate about Broadway.
Beth D.: I think being in a room full of people who appreciate the same kinds of things. There was an awful lot of love going back and forth between the stage and that was incredible.
Aliyah M: Realizing I actually do like cruises.
Michael H.: The generosity of the performers. The fact that they gave as much as they gave and then gave you more. It was unbelievable how much they just wanted to please the audience and how grateful they were of us. The personal aspects too, giving us their personal stories.
Bruna F.: Oh yeah I cried this morning when I woke up [on the final day of the cruise]. I was like “I definitely want to be here again.” So I can’t wait for next year. That’s my feeling, I want to be back.
If you were put in charge of choosing the next star on the Broadway Cruise, who would it be?
Kathy K.: Alan Cumming and Jeremy Jordan, again!
Aliyah M.: Oh, that’s a tough one. I really do want to see Sutton Foster, I love her.
Jeanne G.: Oh my god. I suppose Hugh Jackman [laughter].
Michael H.: It’d be fun to have Hugh Jackman on! Oh, and Ben Platt.
Paula C.: Andrew Rannells, I would love to see him. He’d be fantastic.
Beth D.: Brian Stokes Mitchell.
Dolores C.: Yeah, I’d like to see Barbra Streisand [chuckles].
For more information on the next Broadway Cruise, head here.
