Yes, you’ll need a boarding pass to see Stephen Schwartz’s newest show

Famed producer, Stephen Schwartz debuted his newest production, The Secret Silk. Only, you will have to book a cruise to see it.

While many producers bring their newest endeavors to Broadway, Stephen Schwartz has been taking a different approach. You won’t have to visit your local playhouse to see his newest play. You’ll have to hit the high seas.

The newest Schwartz production, The Secret Silk, debuted on Princess Cruises in February. The show, written and directed by John Tartaglia (Avenue Q and Shrek), is based on the classic Japanese fable, The Grateful Crane. According to the production team in a press release, “the story features Lan, a beautiful, selfless young woman who possesses a magical gift, secretly creating brilliant silk fabrics.”

To bring this story to life, the production team combined various theatrical elements for an impressive theater experience. The story is told with both actors and life-size puppetry from Jim Henson’s Creature Shop. The collaboration between Jim Henson’s Creature Shop and Tartaglia is a natural one. After all, Tartaglia showcased his keen ability to blend puppetry and live actors in Avenue Q.

Cast members perform the world premiere of “The Secret Silk,” the third production exclusively for Princess Cruises in partnership with Stephen Schwartz. (PRNewsfoto/Princess Cruises)

In a video released by Princess Cruises (you can watch it below), the song appears to have a strong rhythm while conveying a sense of a mythical journey. It seems to have many qualities of a show-stopping Broadway ballad.

The idea of premiering a new musical on a cruise ship is an interesting one. Many new Broadway productions struggle to find an audience. Even with an established or known story (think Finding Neverland), the Broadway production might not be the financial success it hopes to be. For every Hamilton, there are numerous short-lived productions.

The Secret Silk is in luck, though, because it’s on a cruise. It doesn’t need an A-list celebrity to headline the show for people to show up. It’s nearly guaranteed to get a full house night after night, so long as the spectacle is there — and it truly looks like it is.

Plus, this opportunity is unique because some cruise guests may never have the opportunity to see a Broadway production in New York City. This would give them a chance to experience musical theater, all for the cost of one boarding pass.

The Secret Silk is the third production in the Stephen Schwartz and Princess Cruises collaboration. Given the increasing popularity of cruising and musical theater, it seems likely that this collaboration will continue. Whether the next production is an adaption of a previous work or a new show, the audience will be there.

With the current popularity of Broadway shows, the show’s debut shouldn’t necessarily hurt new shows. Actually, it might inspire smaller productions to explore different venues. This cruise debut scenario could spark some additional creativity in the theater world.

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For theater fans looking for the new Stephen Schwartz production, they will have to book a trip on the Princess Cruises Royal Princess or a trip later this year on Island Princess or Diamond Princess.