First Look at “Revolution: A Celebration of Prince” Coming to Norwegian Aqua

A new Prima-class Norwegian ship means new onboard entertainment for cruisers – and “Revolution: A Celebration of Prince” is the show they’ll soon be lining up to see … 

… Though the creative minds behind the show would argue that guests will not only “see” the show, but experience it, when it debuts on Norwegian Aqua. From pre- and post-show activities to a dynamic set design, there are plenty of opportunities for the audience to become part of this brand-new tribute performance. 

Last week, Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL) gave TMR and other travel media and partners a behind-the-scenes tour of its Creative Studios in Tampa, Florida and a sneak peak of “Revolution.” It was the first time anyone outside of the NCL team or Prince’s estate had seen the show or witnessed the great attention to detail that goes into Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings’, including NCL’s, Regent Seven Seas’ and Oceania’s, onstage productions.

“Most people don’t even know what’s happening here; they just see what the final product looks like on the ship,” said NCL President David Herrera. “We’ve invested a lot of time and money to give the entire team everything they need to put on these amazing shows because the entertainment has been and always will be a pillar of what Norwegian Cruise Lines stands for.”

NCL’s investment includes dedicated in-house teams at the Tampa facility for show casting, music and choreography, aerials, costuming, storage, hair and makeup design, accessory design, laundry and shipping, and other operations. 

The result will be entertainment on Aqua aligned with NCL’s new “More at Sea” campaign, with “Revolution” and “Elements: The World Expanded,” an update of an existing NCL show that will also premiere on Aqua, at the forefront.

Patricia Wilcox, the shows’ creator and choreographer, hatched the idea for the Prince tribute production about seven years ago. Since then, she’s channeled her passion for the late musician into developing a show that reflects the cultural icon’s duality, she said. 

“Revolution” features four different performers – both men and women – playing the role of Prince alongside an ensemble of singers and dancers. Guests can expect to hear hit songs like “Little Red Corvette,” “Kiss,” “Purple Rain,” and more.

The show kicks off with “For You,” a song off Prince’s debut studio album of the same title, in which Prince played all 27 instruments. Otherwise, “Revolution” does not follow any chronological order; instead, Wilcox split it into three parts: Roots, Relationships, and Royalty. 

Wilcox calls it a “theatrical concert” because audience members will have the option to either stand or sit for the performance. 

“When we go to the theater, we typically sit. When we go to a concert, we typically stand. If you take those two ideas and put them together, we have a theatrical concert,” she said. “So when the guests come in, they have a choice: they can view from a balcony, or they can stand on the dance floor and participate.” 

Those who stand will have a concert-like experience and will move throughout the show, at the direction of the “Revolution” crew, around moving set pieces in the shape of Prince’s iconic logo. Therefore, those seated for the show will feel as if they’re watching a Prince concert, audience and all.

Bryan White, NCL’s vice president of entertainment production, noted that the theater on Aqua can “do it all.” There is retractable seating that allows for different configurations for each show, including the Prince show standing room. It also means that guests can attend the show more than once and have a different experience each time.

White hinted at two added elements to the show: the first is a chandelier – featured on all the Prima class ships – that will be evolved and incorporated into every show on Aqua. 

“When those chandeliers come to life, they are part of the show,” White said. “They become their own character, their own spectacle within the show.” 

Secondly, there will be a post-“Revolution” nightclub experience that transforms the space and transports guests into a late 20^th-century era MTV music video. 

“It is going to be truly exciting when we take guests late-night, all in one venue, for multiple transformative experiences,” he said. “We are really excited to continue to elevate that and give guests more great entertainment on Norwegian Aqua.”