At a press conference in New York earlier this month, Carnival Cruise Lines unveiled an exciting new entertainment concept called “Playlist Productions” —  a dramatic retooling of the line’s legendary revues that combine captivating live performances with high-tech LED staging and special effects that set a new standard in seagoing productions.  

Developed by top talent in the entertainment industry, Playlist Productions are music-driven revues featuring a diversity of musical styles, genres and eras and are designed to appeal to a broad cross-section of guests.         

Part of the Fun Ship 2.0 initiative, Playlist Productions will debut on the Carnival Breeze when it enters service in June 2012 and will be rolled out to other ships in the fleet over the next few years.

Playlist Productions’ towering LED screens on Carnival Breeze will be used to blend video, still photography and dazzling special effects with live on-stage action to deliver unforgettable performances of high-energy musical entertainment. Actors, dancers and singers will interact with automated movements of the screens, stage, lifts and scenic elements to create a constantly changing environment.

Initially, four Playlist Productions are planned, each exploring a different musical genre. “Divas” is a captivating mix of music, fashion, and dance and features such popular “one-name” female artists as Barbra, Beyonce, Celine, Cher, Madonna and Whitney. “Latin Nights” brings the passionate Latin culture to life through the fusion music of Gloria Estefan, Enrique Iglesias, Jennifer Lopez, Santana and Shakira. “Motor City” celebrates the R&B Motown sound of the 1960s and ‘70s, with hits from the Commodores, Lionel Richie, Martha and the Vandellas, Marvin Gaye, The Supremes and Stevie Wonder. “The Brits!” is a colorful musical tribute to the British invasion featuring a stunning mix of live action and animation and songs by The Beatles, The Who, Herman’s Hermits and Elton John.        

Carnival is working with big-name talent to create the Playlist Productions and to maximize the effects of the LED technology. Creative Director Peter Flynn of New York has an impressive resume of Broadway Performances and is artistic director of the Hangar Theatre in Ithaca, N.Y.  Creative Director Paul Robert of the United Kingdom brings extensive experience in music videos and television. Los Angeles-based Robb Wagner has joined the team as director/creator of the multimedia segments and some of his many credits include Michael Jackson’s “This is It” Tour, the MTV Video Music Awards, Academy Awards and Disney’s “High School Musical” Concert Tour.

Playlist Productions will be about 30 minutes in length and will be offered more frequently and on multiple days compared to Carnival’s current revues. Typically, three shows will be featured on show nights — two performances of one show and one of another.  A variety of performance times, including matinees, will be offered, providing guests with greater flexibility in their entertainment options.

Once under way, Carnival plans to create more than a dozen different Playlist Productions shows, providing an exciting new complement to the line’s already impressive entertainment lineup.

Playlist Productions will debut on the line’s newest “Fun Ship” Carnival Breeze, when the 3,690-guest ship begins a summer schedule of Mediterranean cruises June 3, 2012. 

Playlist Productions is part of Fun Ship 2.0, a multi-year initiative valued at more than $500 million that will completely transform the Carnival guest experience and is the largest and most ambitious project the company has ever undertaken.

Additional information on the Fun Ship 2.0 initiative is available at www.carnival.com/funship2.