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Second City and NCL ending contract

pnm655

By pnm655,
in Norwegian Cruise Line

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pnm655

pnm655

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Just saw this article posted about the termination of the Second City Contract with NCL.

 

http://chicago.suntimes.com/entertainment/seas-a-little-less-funny-as-second-city-norwegian-cruise-deal-ends/

 

Here is the body of the article:

 

The long tradition of Second City actors entertaining passengers on Norwegian Cruise Line boats is coming to an end.

The Chicago-based comedy company’s contract with the cruise ship line will conclude in early 2018, Second City confirmed on Thursday.

Second City troupes have been a fixture of the entertainment for NCL ships since 2005, with trained comic actors performing sketches and improv at onboard comedy clubs. Three of the line’s boats — Breakaway, Dawn and Gem — now feature Second City ensembles.

Along with roaming from town to town in a touring company, performing on a ship is a rite of passage for up-and-coming Second City actors, who also give improv lessons to passengers. So established is the tradition that when Liz Lemon, the comedy writer played by Second City alum Tina Fey on “30 Rock,” was asked where she’d be in five years, her reply was, “Realistically? Teaching improv on cruise ships.”

Traditionally a troupe consists of five or six actors and a musical director, with a director staying briefly on board to set up the show. According to Beth Kligerman, a producer who oversees casting for the cruise line shows, the material performed on shipboard is “mostly on classic Second City themes, like relationships. We don’t hit those audiences hard” with edgy political material.

Three more cast changeovers on cruises will take place between now and Jan. 3.

“Not long ago NCL built its own facility in Tampa, Florida, and they have been producing in-house creations, including productions of such musicals as ‘Priscilla, Queen of the Desert’ and ‘Rock of Ages,’ ” said Kligerman. “As for finding alternatives for the Second City, we are just beginning to work on that. But we are very proud of the fact that we have had a successful run with NCL for 13 years.”

Kligerman said she was unable to speak about what the potential loss of revenue would be with the cessation of Second City’s contract with NCL.

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Minoushka

Minoushka

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I liked the comedians on Carnival ships they were very good

So turn it into comedy club ...different guys or girls every ship ...great stuff

I too saw second city on many ships ...they tried hard ..not always successful

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LrgPizza

LrgPizza

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The Levity Entertainment Group (similar to Second City) are on the other ships. Maybe they will expand that contract and you will have similar improv back.

How do you figure they are similar? Second City is improv. Levity are stand-up comics. They are completely different.

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NYcruzzer

NYcruzzer

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I liked the comedians on Carnival ships they were very good

So turn it into comedy club ...different guys or girls every ship ...great stuff

I too saw second city on many ships ...they tried hard ..not always successful

 

I agree. I love the stand up comedy shows on Carnival.

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Maraprince

Maraprince

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Found their shows to be boring and not funny at all. We no longer go to them.

 

Comedy shows (with only one performers) on Carnival are at least funny and geared to family or adults. Material is not the same for all the shows.

 

NCL should consider either bringing back Blue Man Group or adding another Cirque show (without dinner and free of charge).

 

MARAPRINCE

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uneamie Great Review Rare

uneamie

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Maybe they were better at first. Our cruise on Dawn back in 2005 or maybe it was the Gem in 2010, can't remember the year, but Second City was great back then. Things must have gone downhill fast from all the negative comments. Also, I think a show would definitely get old if you cruise on the same cruise line year after year or several times a year. I hope they replace it with a "comedy club". We are on the Breakaway Jan 19th and was looking forward to something with "comedy".

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CruisingUS

CruisingUS

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Just saw this article posted about the termination of the Second City Contract with NCL.

 

http://chicago.suntimes.com/entertainment/seas-a-little-less-funny-as-second-city-norwegian-cruise-deal-ends/

 

Here is the body of the article:

 

The long tradition of Second City actors entertaining passengers on Norwegian Cruise Line boats is coming to an end.

The Chicago-based comedy company’s contract with the cruise ship line will conclude in early 2018, Second City confirmed on Thursday.

Second City troupes have been a fixture of the entertainment for NCL ships since 2005, with trained comic actors performing sketches and improv at onboard comedy clubs. Three of the line’s boats — Breakaway, Dawn and Gem — now feature Second City ensembles.

Along with roaming from town to town in a touring company, performing on a ship is a rite of passage for up-and-coming Second City actors, who also give improv lessons to passengers. So established is the tradition that when Liz Lemon, the comedy writer played by Second City alum Tina Fey on “30 Rock,” was asked where she’d be in five years, her reply was, “Realistically? Teaching improv on cruise ships.”

Traditionally a troupe consists of five or six actors and a musical director, with a director staying briefly on board to set up the show. According to Beth Kligerman, a producer who oversees casting for the cruise line shows, the material performed on shipboard is “mostly on classic Second City themes, like relationships. We don’t hit those audiences hard” with edgy political material.

Three more cast changeovers on cruises will take place between now and Jan. 3.

“Not long ago NCL built its own facility in Tampa, Florida, and they have been producing in-house creations, including productions of such musicals as ‘Priscilla, Queen of the Desert’ and ‘Rock of Ages,’ ” said Kligerman. “As for finding alternatives for the Second City, we are just beginning to work on that. But we are very proud of the fact that we have had a successful run with NCL for 13 years.”

Kligerman said she was unable to speak about what the potential loss of revenue would be with the cessation of Second City’s contract with NCL.

...I am not a fan of people using the stage on a cruise to learning how to do improv...It just sounds so unprofessional to me.

 

 

Go bomb a few more times on land or go to school b4 you hit the stage as a paid entertainer...it reeks of unprofessionalism.

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Mike_DeA

Mike_DeA

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Second City was meh at best. I've had good and bad experiences. I will surely miss it. I hope they bring back Blueman group. Everyone loved it.

I saw BMG in Las Vegas... I guess I just don't "get it". Not a fan.

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Sauer-kraut

Sauer-kraut

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Second City was meh at best. I've had good and bad experiences. I will surely miss it. I hope they bring back Blueman group. Everyone loved it.

 

I saw BMG in Las Vegas... I guess I just don't "get it". Not a fan.

 

The company that owns Cirque du Soleli (partly owned by a Chinese company) just bought Blue Man Group so they could open up more global venues, South Africa, China and the Middle East. I doubt they will be brought back on board.

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