Is this old news- No more Jean Ann Ryan prductions?

[LBS1]

During a Capitan's and Cruise Director's question and answer session, Andy, the Cruise Director on the Pearl, said in the near future that shows on board will be produced by "NCL Productions". I got the idea he was speaking to next year.

[LJH1]

During a Capitan's and Cruise Director's question and answer session, Andy, the Cruise Director on the Pearl, said in the near future that shows on board will be produced by "NCL Productions". I got the idea he was speaking to next year.

 

This was suppose to happen a couple years ago but they had gotten rid of the VIP in charge (resigned/quit don't know) that was heading up the change. NCL Productions have/had been on the Hawaii ships and I know they were not getting good reviews and everyone kept telling the crew to go with JAR.

 

But I guess it has come down to profits again, so no surprise.

 

Personally this is a big blow to NCL's reputation about how good there entertainment is compared to other lines. I also believe that JAR is on other lines not sure which one's.

 

BAD BAD MOVE! JMO

[mpk218]

It may be bad move , but to be honest Im looking forward to somthing new or different. I guess we shall see ;)

[Micchi]

Here's to hoping it really doesn't happen until next year!

[Darthdaddy]

It's six of one, half dozen of the other as far as I'm concerned. One bunch of folks wearing spandex, feathers and sequins is just about the same as another.

 

The big stage shows do nothing for me. They are the WORST of NCL's entertainment offerings. Bollywood? Blah. Sea Legs? Terrible. South Beach Rave? Yawn.

[DebbieCruises]

I always enjoyed the plays performed on the Norway. I thought the JAR people put them on and it was so much better than the same old same old we see on every cruise now. Actually, we rarely go to them because we know what they will be before we get there. Is it really that much harder to put on a good musical? Maybe the sets cost too much, but I wish they would try it again.

[wishfultraveler]

I always enjoyed the plays performed on the Norway. I thought the JAR people put them on and it was so much better than the same old same old we see on every cruise now. Actually, we rarely go to them because we know what they will be before we get there. Is it really that much harder to put on a good musical? Maybe the sets cost too much, but I wish they would try it again.

 

I agree with you! We loved back in the days where they did musicals like Grease! It was a very enjoyable evening. I love JAR shows, but if you cruise often, they all begin to look the same.

[DAGVBSB]

It's six of one, half dozen of the other as far as I'm concerned. One bunch of folks wearing spandex, feathers and sequins is just about the same as another.

 

The big stage shows do nothing for me. They are the WORST of NCL's entertainment offerings. Bollywood? Blah. Sea Legs? Terrible. South Beach Rave? Yawn.

 

Oh I quite agree! During Bollywood on the Dawn, I got one of the best naps that I have ever taken. (and I am not kidding)

 

South Beach Rave was also very, very bad.

 

JAR shows really went downhill the last few years. It seemed that they turned into featuring one or two singers showing off. (and most were not that good singers.)

[alwayssingin]

I always thought the shows were the same. All they did was change the outfits and music.

[kingrobby25]

Well, as a former JAR employee off and on over the last 10yrs I will say this. Rumors of JAR's demise have circulated for 10yrs, since my first job. Only now is it really happening, although all the current casts have been asked to extend for about 2 months because NCL PROD isn't quite ready to take over yet. I heard the EPIC is to blame.

In between JAR contracts I worked for another company and they switched production companies every 3 yrs, which meant new shows every 3 years. NCL wants shows to last between 5-7yrs and sometimes much longer. As a performer we would like them to change over much more often too, but money is the ruler of everything.

FYI, performing is a job just like any other and we don't necessarily always like what we have to do, or have the best people in the right places. But, we have to do the best we can with what we got. Hope this sheds some light on the subject. Later

[dockrocker]

It's six of one, half dozen of the other as far as I'm concerned. One bunch of folks wearing spandex, feathers and sequins is just about the same as another.

 

Now that cracked me up. You forgot: "...and, for the most part, singing really badly."

 

But hey, a lot of people love these shows, and it's not like we're forced to go to them. I just skip 'em and no harm done. I do wish that there were better individual musicians on board -- every once in a while you get someone really good singing and/or playing in the lounges -- but mostly they're pretty mediocre. But it is a cruise ship, so that's not unexpected.

[dockrocker]

FYI, performing is a job just like any other and we don't necessarily always like what we have to do, or have the best people in the right places. But, we have to do the best we can with what we got. Hope this sheds some light on the subject. Later

 

That's a really good point and we do understand what the cast is dealing with.

[SnootieTootie]

WE are NOT fans of the JAR productions.

 

But, now I guess we have to prepare for the productions to be even worse? Hope not.

[clarkg]

We went to the Jar production of Guys and Dolls on the Norway. Loved it. But I have always loved that show. Other than that, I never much cared for what they did. It has gotten worse in recent years.

[Dolphins]

After all these years, is it possible I won't have to endure Bollywood again when I board the Dawn in September?

[CruisinMaterial]

NCL Productions or some other production company is on the Norwegian Spirit right now and the show ELEMENTS was great!

 

I like the JAR shows. I personally would like to see NCL return to Broadway productions and leave the Cirque stuff to the Epic's Spiegel Tent. The JAR performers are great - especially on the Norwegian Jewel. I've seen their shows countless times both in the Caribbean and in the Med. I wasn't a fan of Country Gold and now that SpongeBob is onboard that show is history. :) Still like "Band on the Run" and "Cirque Bijoux" although the set for Cirque Bijoux really is showing it's age. :(

 

NCL has been saying for the longest while that JAR was going off the ships but it has yet to happen. I know the Epic is causing a lot of changes and maybe we'll get some new shows on the rest of the NCL fleet. "On Broadway" changed from year to year with the new cast on the Spirit and the new cast on the Spirit also brought "Elements" onboard. :)

 

We'll see what comes of all this but here's hoping whatever they do it's new to Boston next year when the Dawn comes up! I remember seeing Bollywood when I first cruised NCL in 2003! :eek:

[stargazertechie]

We were on the Dawn last month, and I was really looking forward to the productions. However, the JAR cast members were some of the least talented performers I have ever witnessed. Their "lead" female vocalist was like listening to nails on a chalkboard. I have been performing on stage since I was 5, and I've never walked out of a show, no matter how bad it was. I walked out of South Beach Rave because I thought I was going to stab myself in the ears if I had to listen to this poor girl struggle to hit one more high note that was painfully obviously not in her vocal range.

 

Anything would be an improvement at this point.

[Got Tequila?]

NCL Productions or some other production company is on the Norwegian Spirit right now and the show ELEMENTS was great!

 

I like the JAR shows. I personally would like to see NCL return to Broadway productions and leave the Cirque stuff to the Epic's Spiegel Tent. The JAR performers are great - especially on the Norwegian Jewel. I've seen their shows countless times both in the Caribbean and in the Med. I wasn't a fan of Country Gold and now that SpongeBob is onboard that show is history. :) Still like "Band on the Run" and "Cirque Bijoux" although the set for Cirque Bijoux really is showing it's age. :(

 

NCL has been saying for the longest while that JAR was going off the ships but it has yet to happen. I know the Epic is causing a lot of changes and maybe we'll get some new shows on the rest of the NCL fleet. "On Broadway" changed from year to year with the new cast on the Spirit and the new cast on the Spirit also brought "Elements" onboard. :)

 

We'll see what comes of all this but here's hoping whatever they do it's new to Boston next year when the Dawn comes up! I remember seeing Bollywood when I first cruised NCL in 2003! :eek:

 

We also loved the ELEMENTS show, it was one of the best shows we've seen in a few years. We heard that they will be adding it to other ships. It's one show where they are going back a few years in technology and doing away with the pre-programed (computerized) lights and sound....so it takes about 4 guys to run the light/sound system instead of 1 or possibly 2.

[Richie2pies]

I don't even bother going to the JAR shows. A waste of vacation time. Good riddance to bad rubbish. Whatever they put in it's place can't be much worse. (or can it?)

[DebbieCruises]

I don't even bother going to the JAR shows. A waste of vacation time. Good riddance to bad rubbish. Whatever they put in it's place can't be much worse. (or can it?)

 

Wow! That's harsh! I can't say they are all bad, I just really wish they would give us something different. As I said, musical plays are my hope... I agree Grease, Guys & Dolls, Meet Me in St. Louis were all hits in my book.

 

I also agree tht they need better on-board singing talent. A few years ago on the Dawn or Sun or one of those wonderful cruises, they had an Elton John impersonator. He was fantastic and even put on a stage show the last night or two of the cruise. The "Oh, What a Night" group on the Pearl recently was very enjoyable, too. I even loved the "Cat's Pajamas" on the Jewel.:)

[OceanDreaming2]

I'm pretty sure Elements is a NCL production, not JAR. It was amazing - the best! They told us it's only on the Spirit for now but they hope to expand it to other ships.

[can'twaittogoagain]

Well, I guess I'm in the minority here, but we've been cruising with NCL since 2002 and have really enjoyed the JAR productions on the Sun, Dawn, Pearl and Jewel.

 

We're going on the Pearl this October....so we'll see. We could have booked on a different line and gotten a balcony cabin for not a whole lot more than we are paying for an inside, so if they downgrade the entertainment it could be a deal-breaker for us. We don't do the bars or casinos at night and like going to the show, grabbing dinner..that is our evening entertainment.

 

During the documentary Big Money on the High Seas Simon made a point that the shows aren't money makers...but his belief is that if people have a good time then they might be more apt to get out and about after the shows and spend some money.....

[Nebr.cruiser]

We've only been on one NCL cruise, a Jewel TA, but I was incredibly impressed with the JAR production shows compared to some other ships I've been on. I thought the dancing and singing was much better than the average cruise show , and the Cirque de Bijou show was outstanding. Maybe it was just on this ship; I had decided it must be better because it was the JAR performers/production.

 

So, I'm not happy to hear they will be leaving. I don't trust ship produced shows at all, given others I have seen.

 

Maybe if I saw the same shows again and again, that would be different. There other performers (non-production) were very good too.

[CruisinMaterial]

Don't get me wrong folks... I'm a fan of JAR as well. I just think the productions themselves need to change. A return to Broadway would be great. I have made many friends on JAR - especially the cast of the Norwegian Jewel. They are incredibly talented people with Betsy Padmonsky singing and the acrobats including Richard Oaxaca and Chrissy the dancer. So many are so good in that cast onboard that ship. I just really wish they'd change the productions but keep this incredibly talented cast.

 

Bring Elements to the Jewel but let the cast onboard perform it. :)

 

Here's hoping whatever NCL does they keep the incredible talent that they have and ditch the bad folks. The loss of Jaylynn from the NCL Production company on the Spirit was a huge blow for me... she was the most incredible singer I've EVER heard at sea and a total blast to hang out with as well.

[Cruiser1978]

I sailed on the Dawn last year and wasn't impressed with the JAR production, so we skipped the first one (Band on the Run) from our cruise this past week. However, the Cirque de Bijou show later in the week was one of the most amazing productions I have seen anywhere, and now am nervous that the trip we have planned for a huge family event next year won't have the same type quality production.