Theater News

Sail Away!

Photos from this year’s R Family Cruise, which featured performances by such fab entertainers as Cyndi Lauper, John Tartaglia, Liz Callaway, and Melissa Etheridge.

New York City

SUNDAY, JULY 10: From the moment the Norwegian Dawn sailed from Manhattan as Judy Garland’s recording of “I Happen to Like New York” rang out through the sound system, all on board for the 2005 R Family Cruise knew that we were in for an unforgettable experience. Rosie O’Donnell co-founded the company and launched its first cruise last year with her spouse, Kelli Carpenter O’Donnell, and Gregg Kaminsky. This year’s cruise to Halifax, Boston, Provincetown, and Martha’s Vineyard had more than 2,000 people aboard — gay men and women with their partners, children, extended family, and friends. Here’s a shot of the cruise staff cavorting on deck just after sailing.

Opening night entertainment was provided by The Kinsey Sicks in the ship’s large, beautiful Stardust Theater.

Later that evening, in the more intimate Spinnaker Lounge, Jennifer Kruskamp (center) Stephanie Harwood (left), and Anne Steele (right) brought their thrilling harmonies to songs as varied as “Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy” and “It’s Raining Men.”

MONDAY, JULY 11: O’Donnell herself took the stage with a passel of talented performers in Rosie’s Variety Hour.

One of the performers in the variety hour was former pro football player Esera Tuaolo, who turns out to have a terrific singing voice.

Tony Award nominee Gavin Creel (right) is establishing a new career as a pop/rock singer-songwriter. He did his stuff in the Spinnaker Lounge, accompanied by Robbie Roth.

Monday was hilariously capped by Mortification Theater, in which Seth Rudetsky and Jack Plotnick shared highly embarrassing videos, photos, and audio tapes from their past.

TUESDAY, JULY 12: On deck, the cruise staff pantomimed the killing of a lobster — cute and sort of gruesome at the same time!

Later that afternoon, Sharon Gless joined Rosie for a screening of their scenes together on Queer as Folk, after which they took questions from the audience.

One of the highlights of the week was Darius de Haas in his celebration of the music of Stevie Wonder, with backup vocals provided by Capathia Jenkins and Darius’s sister, Aisha de Haas.

WEDNESDAY, JULY 13: The cruise’s headliner was that bolt of lightning known as Cyndi Lauper, who raised the roof of the Stardust Theater with a generous program of songs including her biggest hits.

THURSDAY, JULY 14: At 8:30pm, Broadway baby Liz Callaway did her fabulous ’60s show in the Spinnaker Lounge.

At 9:30, John Tartaglia held forth with his show Ad-Liberty in the Stardust Theater.

FRIDAY, JULY 15: Orfeh, advertised in the cruise’s daily newsletter as “our very own Janis Joplin,” rocked the boat with her mini-concert in the Spinnaker Lounge. (The closest thing to a show tune in her program was “If I Can’t Have You” from Saturday Night Fever, which Orfeh sang in the Broadway production of the stage musical based on that film.)

SATURDAY, JULY 16: Just when everyone on the ship was thinking that the entertainment couldn’t possibly get any better or starrier, we were treated to an amazing performance by a special guest. It was widely known that rock star Melissa Etheridge was aboard; she was not scheduled to sing but decided to do so about halfway through the cruise and gave two unforgettable performances of a half-hour set on our final night at sea. For information on upcoming R Family Cruises, click here.