NCL ANNOUNCES PARTNERSHIP
WITH FAMED SECOND CITY TROUPE
Norwegian Dawn is First Cruise Ship to Feature
Renowned Improvisational Ensemble
MIAMI - January 17, 2005 - Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL) today
announced its exclusive partnership with the famed sketch
and improvisation troupe, The Second City. Beginning this
month, six performers from the storied comedy empire will
quip, sing and laugh their way through a special customized
comedy revue aboard Norwegian Dawn on each of her roundtrip
sailings from New York City.
Performing an inventive and hilarious medley of satirical
skits, songs, and improvisation, The Second City is always
original, daring, and wildly entertaining. A world-class comedic
troupe, The Second City has long been recognized as incubator
for celebrities and is famous for encouraging the talents
of many great performers, including: Bill Murray, Bonnie Hunt,
Chris Farley, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Jeremy Piven, George Wendt,
Mike Myers, Gilda Radner, John Belushi, Tim Meadows and Tina
Fey.
“There’s nothing better than a great laugh –
especially while on vacation - which is why we’re proud
to be the first cruise line to offer such high-level comedic
performances aboard one of our ships,” said Colin Veitch,
NCL's president and CEO. “In addition to great restaurants,
amenities, itineraries, shore excursions and accommodations,
we also want to offer our passengers the best and most creative
entertainment options possible. This partnership helps us
do just that.”
“The Second City has spent 45 years entertaining audiences
from Chicago to Toronto, Las Vegas to London, Bahrain to Baghdad.
It only seems fitting that in our anniversary year we would
be provided the opportunity to extend our comic reach to the
seas,” said Kelly Leonard, vice president of The Second
City. “We are thrilled to partner with Norwegian Cruise
Line - their dedication to excellence sets a standard we are
proud to meet.”
In addition to performing one night each sailing, The Second
City ensemble will introduce the art and philosophy of improvisation
to Norwegian Dawn passengers by hosting onboard workshops.
Drawing on The Second City’s history of ensemble improvisation,
satire and revue comedy, these workshops will be dedicated
to exploring passengers’ artistic voices and providing
the tools and techniques needed to express those voices.
“The Second City troupe will also offer children’s
workshops through NCL’s popular Kids Crew program,”
said Keith Cox, NCL’s vice president of entertainment
and onboard programming. “In addition to being fun and
interactive, these workshops will introduce youngsters to
many of the important principles of improvisation, such as
the value of listening, working as a team and the amazing
results of saying ‘yes, and’ rather than ‘no,
but.’”
The touring troupe onboard Norwegian Dawn will be comprised
of Brian Morris (Musical Director); Joe Canale; Molly Erdman;
Paul Grondy; Kevin McGeehan; and Sue Salvi.
“The Best of Second City” will replace Norwegian
Dawn’s current Music of the Night performance, which
features the musical scores of Sir Andrew Lloyd Webber.
One of NCL’s largest ships, accommodating 2,224 passengers
and 1,112 crew, Norwegian Dawn sails round-trip from New York
to the Caribbean year-round. She features more dining options
than any other ship in the world, with the flexibility of
10 different restaurants, as well as one of the most impressive
art collections at sea including original works from van Gogh,
Matisse, Monet and Renoir. She also features one of the biggest
facility for kids (almost 5,500 square feet), spectacular
Garden Villa suites, and like all NCL ships, she offers Freestyle
Cruising, a more relaxed, resort-style cruise experience with
complete flexibility and non-intrusive service of the highest
standard.
NCL Corporation is an innovative cruise company headquartered
in Miami, Florida. With a fleet of 14 ships in service and
under construction, the corporation oversees the operations
of NCL, NCL America and Orient Lines.
For further information on NCL, agents in the U.S. and Canada
may contact NCL at (800) 327-7030; visit NCL’s website
at www.ncl.com or on AOL at keyword: NCL; or to download high
resolution photography visit www.ncl.com/hires.
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