by Jason Leppert
Last updated: 11:00 AM ET, Tue September 20, 2016
Royal Caribbean International may be reinventing entertainment at sea, but it takes the mammoth Royal Caribbean Production Studio ashore to support the fleet and its growing list of live shows.
To learn more about the 132,500-square-foot facility and its 300-seat theater, 14 full-size stage studios, 10 rehearsal studios, 20,000-square-foot costume-making area, audio rooms, gym and housing, watch a behind-the-scenes video released by the line, hosted at my Popular Cruising YouTube channel and embedded below.
The biggest entertainment producer in the world requires the complex that is actually situated at Florida International University's Biscayne Bay campus in Miami, Florida - complete with adjacent dormitories for about 500 cast members, singers, dancers and choreographers.
"Our entertainment operation is so huge," said Nick Weir, VP, Entertainment, Royal Caribbean International. "Here, this is a 130,000 square foot studio. I don't think there's a bigger studio in the world unless you go to Hollywood and you go to the big film studios."
As to the physical scale, the studios include ones that are three decks in height. Weir added, "We've got the headroom to do any kind of flying show anywhere in the world. Doesn't matter what show it is, we've got the facility and the equipment for it."
[READMORE]RELATED VIDEO: Behind-the-Scenes of Harmony of the Seas' Entertainment[/READMORE]
In fact, Royal Caribbean Cruises Limited (RCCL) has built studios that are indicative of the exact size of the venues aboard the ships - the largest cruise ship in the world, Harmony of the Seas' included - that will host the shows practiced here.
"This facility here at the RCCL entertainment studios is a one-of-a-kind," explained Christi Coachman-Orengo, Director, Entertainment, Royal Caribbean Productions. "It's a state-of-the-art facility where we produce all of our theater shows, aqua shows, centrum vignettes, you name it. We do it all here."
The facility even includes specific vocal rooms and a recording studio, and the costuming department makes all the wardrobe, maintains some 30,000 pieces and manages about 4,000 pairs of shoes. Plus, there is an enlarged storage area that can accommodate far more actual rehearsal scenery than the company ever could before.
[READMORE]RELATED VIDEO: WATCH: Royal Caribbean International's Harmony of the Seas Review[/READMORE]
"I think for the cast members that come here, coming to a professional environment like this really helps up everybody's game, said Alison Frazier, Entertainment Consultant. "It's very special to work in a fantastic facility like this."
Specific shows that have been produced here encompass the likes of "Grease" and "The Fine Line" that are now housed in Harmony of the Seas' Royal Theater and AquaTheater respectively.
For the latest travel news, updates and deals, subscribe to the daily TravelPulse newsletter.
Topics From This Article to Explore
