NEW YORK — It’s not unusual to hear of top entertainers getting their start on a cruise ship. On Thursday, the renowned composer of hits like “Godspell,” “Wicked” and “Pippin” announced that he was going in the other direction: taking his talents from Broadway to a cruise line.
Composer Stephen Schwartz, who’s also won Oscars for his work on “Pocahontas” and “The Prince of Egypt,” said he will create four musicals to debut onboard Princess cruise ships. Princess Cruises called it a “first-of-its-kind cruise industry partnership” with such a big name from Broadway and Hollywood.
Schwartz acknowledged the temptation to mock cruise ship entertainment as mediocre but said he was impressed by the Broadway-quality venues and technical capabilities on the ships. He seemed to be genuinely enthusiastic about the possibilities, saying, “I saw it as an untapped resource and a great adventure.” Asked if he was doing it just for the money, he laughed and said, “It’s not that much money.”
Schwartz played some of his biggest hits — including “Day by Day” from “Godspell” and “Corner of the Sky” from “Pippin” — on piano at a Manhattan event announcing the partnership. On hand to sing as he played were Tony Award winners Ben Vereen and Debbie Gravitte, along with cabaret singer Scott Coulter. Gravitte got her start on a Princess ship. (Another famous singer who once worked in the cruise industry is Jennifer Hudson, who had a stint on a Disney ship.)
