Curtain Call
Aboard the Disney Treasure,The Tale Of Moanashows how far a cruise line musical can go.
A retelling of the 2016 film,The Tale Of Moanastars Kaena Kekoa in the titular role.
Kekoa became involved in the production in 2020, participating via Zoom from her hometown of Honolulu, Hawaii.
Even then, we knew this was going to be special, she tells Bustle.
Taking the story from screen to stage required alteration.
He and co-choreographer Peter Rockford Espiritu cast native Pacific Island and Polynesian performers in principal roles.
In addition to starring inThe Tale Of Moana, the cast has roles in the ships other productions.
Between larger than life puppetry (Te Fiti!
), 4D visual effects (smoke-filled bubbles!
), and dynamic staging (the canoe!
), youd be forgiven for assumingMoanais more Broadway-export than cruise line original.
Which begs the question, could the show be headed to New York?
Would I love for the show to have a life [off the ship]?
Yeah, of course Id love that, says Gallagher.
[But] Im just celebrating it on the ship now.
This, Im happy with it.
Below, Gallagher, Kekoa, andAinsley Hylton(who plays Maui) reflect on their journeys so far.
And then for those that are from the Pacific culture, how do we honor them?
That was really exciting for me.
Ainsley Hylton:It was made with Hawaiian people in mind.
CG:[Theres a] safety net of doing a show on the ship.
Were doing it for an audience thats primed to love.
They come in loving these characters.
We hold hands and stand in a circle to bring our energies together.
KK:With theater on land, [after the show] you just go home, right?
But here, were living in our work, so we have to lean on each other.
I go to bed after defeating Calamity Ganon.
On Growing Up Disney:
CG:Ive always loved Mary Poppins.
I like the old Disney films.
It was my gateway into musical theater.
I have to pinch myself.
AH:My fondest Disney memory is watchingLilo and Stitchas a kid.
It was special seeing Hawaiian culture represented and watching my mom react to the film.
KK:My favorite princess is Ariel.
When I was 5, we did a meet and greet, and I just held her hand.
These interviews have been edited and condensed for clarity.
