Royal Caribbean shares first look at its new Broadway show
When Royal Caribbean's highly anticipated new Icon Class ship, Star of the Seas, sets sail from Port Canaveral, Florida beginning in August, families will get to experience an all-new entertainment lineup worthy of the ship's name and class.
For its newest Icon of family vacations, Royal Caribbean isn't settling for just any old Broadway show for its headliner. The cruise line is breaking barriers in family cruise ship entertainment (and breaking the time barrier) as it brings 'Back to the Future: The Musical' direct from Broadway to the Royal Theater.Transporting 'Back to the Future: The Musical' straight from Broadway to Star of the Seas isn't instantaneous, however. Royal Caribbean's entertainment team couldn't just jump in Doc Brown's DeLorean time machine and hit 88 miles per hour.
The show's cast and crew have been rehearsing for several weeks, and as they finally move their rehearsals to the stage at sea and count down to opening night, Royal Caribbean shared a sneak peek of the show as the production completed its final studio run-through.Royal Caribbean shares look at 'Back to the Future' rehearsals
Transcript:
Christi Coachman, VP, Royal Caribbean Entertainment: The rehearsal process here over the last several weeks has been intense. We only have a few weeks to get all the material out, so it's really important that we stay on track.
JP Christensen, Sr. Director, Royal Caribbean Productions: The Back to the Future team is at a point with the cast now, that they're really working through who their characters are, learning their choreography, learning their staging, learning their script and score. It continues to change. Just a few days ago, they're making edits to the script because we've got to fit it into our timeline that we can show on board to our guests.
Christi Coachman: So, today is the final run of Back to the Future, and the cast have really found their way.
Greg Graham, Sr. Manager, Casting Operations: Cast members walked in here ready to go, ready to fire on all cylinders. They have a lot of information that they're trying to apply.
Christi Coachman: The energy with this cast is electrifying. They're really playing off with each other, and that's what makes the work come to life on stage, is that camaraderie and that passion that they have for each other.Original 'Back to the Future' creators shaped Royal Caribbean production
Greg Graham: 'Back to the Future' is so successful because of the brilliance behind it and what the writers originally created, and we're doing it in a truncated version.
JP Christensen: Condensing the story of Back to the Future is actually a very interesting process. We have John Rando here, who's the original director for the West End and Broadway production, Tony winner. We have Bob Gale, who also wrote the book, Oscar nominee. He is hands-on in the trenches to make the story work in a 90-minute version.
Christi Coachman: Not many people have the opportunity to say that they've worked with the original writer and creator of a movie. Making an adaptation of an original score and script, it's important for us to make sure we get it right, to keep the standards high, to keep the integrity high. We know that we are going to have a really curated, bespoke production, specifically created just for Star of the Seas.
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Royal Caribbean's 'Back to the Future' gets strong first response
Alex Marchant, Sr. Director, Royal Caribbean Entertainment: We just saw the first rendition of Royal Caribbean's production of 'Back to the Future: The Musical.' It was just spectacular.
Christi Coachman: I just can't believe what I saw. This production is by far the best thing that we've ever done. The talent, the choreography, everything that we really imagined has come together perfectly, and I am so proud of the entire team.
Jacob Beresford, 'Marty McFly': It was so great to have some energy being thrown at us from moments that we actually might not have ever known would get a laugh or a response.
Justin R.G. Holcomb, 'Doc Brown': When you get that live audience, you start getting a response. Having hundreds of people watching you and loving what you're doing and responding, that really boosts everything on stage.
Jason Capewell, Resident Artistic Director: That was really incredible. It was such a great first run with an audience, and the audience seemed so receptive and so behind it. They were laughing in all the right moments, applauding when we wanted them to applaud, and the cast did a wonderful job, so I am so ecstatic.Star of the Seas' musical set to electrify audiences
Christi Coachman: I cannot wait for our guests to experience this live on the stage, multi-generational, everybody's going to love it.
Alex Marchant: Lead characters all the way through the ensemble, they are just selling every single character they're playing. I think the audience are buying into every moment of the show. This is an incredible piece of work.
Jason Capewell: I'm immensely proud, and I kept looking over at Bob and I kept looking over at John, and they were beaming throughout as well. They've done such a great job with cutting the show to how we need it to be.
John Rando, Director: This is a great cast, and I was really surprised and happy with how much effort and energy they put not only into the performance today, but into the weeks of rehearsal they've been in.
Bob Gale, Writer: It's been a joy to work with them. They're really focused, they're really energized, and they want to share that with audiences. It was one of the best reactions we've ever had to the show. The quality of what Royal Caribbean is delivering is incredible. The audience is going to have one of the best experiences they could imagine in seeing an absolutely fabulous musical really done well.'Back to the Future' heads to the stage on board Star of the Seas
Christi Coachman: After today's run, we have a lot of work to do still. The cast will head back, start packing, and we are on our way to Finland in Turku, where we'll be joining Star of the Seas.
JP Christensen: The next big step with the show is marrying the cast with the environment, with the set, with the costumes, with the props, with the lighting, with the sound, all the other variables that come into creating a show of this caliber. I hope that when audiences see our production of Back to the Future, that they get the same thrill that we got 40 years ago in the theater, falling in love with these characters. And after seeing a few of those rehearsal runs, I know we're on our way to giving that to them.
Alex Marchant: I think the audience reaction will be so overwhelming that they will step back from that curtain, it will close, and I wouldn't be surprised if we see the entire cast in tears because it's going to be amazing.
Christi Coachman: Stay tuned for more behind-the-scenes content from now until opening night.(The Arena Group will earn a commission if you book a cruise.)
, or email Amy Post at or call or text her at 386-383-2472.
This story was originally reported by TravelHost on Jul 26, 2025, where it first appeared.
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