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December 11, 2021

A new show has debuted on board Costa Firenze: Essence. Let’s find out all the details of this incredible Costa Cruises show in our exclusive interview with the authors.

It’s called Essence. It’s much more than a show, something that goes beyond the concept of entertainment we are used to on board cruise ships. What was recently launched on board the Costa Firenze is the result of a series of innovations that combine choreography, visuals and special effects. All of this is designed to make you travel through time and space, even while comfortably seated in a theater.

Imagine the best of the Orient, landscapes and atmospheres from a fairy tale, enchanting places where the Costa Cruises ship will truly take you, far from our habits and our frenzy. Let yourself go to involving music, wonderful costumes and an extraordinary and completely new involvement. Luminous LED walls will transport you from old Dubai to the most modern and glittering center of the city, like the sparkling fountains with the Burj Khalifa as a backdrop.

But it is also a journey into the Dubai of the future, with scenes taken from our imagination that foresee an increasingly incredible and futuristic city. The 3D reconstruction of the environments, from the ancient souks to the most modern districts, gives the sensation of flying among the dunes of the desert or among the tallest skyscrapers, offering a unique experience.

The new show that kicked off on board Costa Cruises is the result of the joint work of great professionals in entertainment, choreography and new techniques for the realization of visuals and special effects. Andrea Celia, Executive Creative Director of Vizmo Designing Motion, tells us how this innovative “Real Time” technology has been brought to a theater on board a cruise ship for the first time, thus inaugurating a real novelty in the entertainment industry.

With ViZmo’s creative team spread in 3 different countries and 2 different time zones the only way to work on this project was remotely.
“The advancement in creative technology is exponential, and have seen within a year a growth in making the impossible possible” says Andrea Celia.

During this project we adopted a new technique where this new technology gives us the opportunity to have our CG Light Designer remotely design and operate the virtual lighting fixtures, firework display and spice explosion to name a few within the visual content under the direction of the artistic director, using DMX protocol in real time.

Visual graphics are now more creatively integrated into shows, and are just as important as the light and sound department. It is true that the production of these visual graphics can also have unforeseen delays in its design and more importantly in its rendering. With this new technology waiting now becomes a thing of the past, final results are immediate, rendered in real time.

In addition to Celia and his entire team who collaborated on the project, we interviewed the creators of this groundbreaking show. They explained to Cruising Journal about their backgrounds, specializations and how they came to the project that is enjoyed today aboard Costa Firenze. First to answer us is Executive Producer Karen Langford:

What are your previous experiences in this field of work and what gave you then the most useful lessons in the creation of this show?

Specializing in show production, I am the executive producer leading the team through the entire creative process. With over 30 years of experience in the entertainment and cruise industry, my goal today is to develop shows that enhance the new brand identity. Ideas and new concepts are conceived at my table with the collaboration of the Creative Director. It’s critical to have a close-knit team to take a project from the drawing board to the stage.

World-class Creative Director/Choreographer Nathan J. Clarke, also celebrated for his style and modern take on entertainment, agrees that synergy is key and that innovation is always the spark behind new entertainment concepts.

The show’s formula is really innovative. What do you think – Nathan – strikes the audience in the theater the most? Has the magic of the Orient and of Dubai made your work easier? Do you think it is possible to reproduce something similar in other settings and with the same success?

This particular show was conceptualized in line with this ships itinerary and thus was designed around the magic of the Middle East. Although this theme has been touched upon over and over again, we firmly believe that we are taking the audience on a journey that you have never experienced before. The show, through new technology, is extremely immersive and has the power to transport the audience into the special worlds we have created. With this new visual technology fused with special choreography and lighting effects, we are ready to take on the next theme and adventure. This system could translate into endless settings, themes and, in turn, specific cruise itineraries.

The show – we asked Karen – is the result of a very important synergy work. Technological work of video and audio, choreography, corps de ballet. I think that’s also a key element to success. How did you find working together? Do you think it’s a winning formula for future projects?

Our team for this project is one that has worked together producing many shows and events. We know and understand each other very well, and more importantly, we guide each other to really try to break the mold in onboarding entertainment. We’ve all worked in onboarding, so we understand the world we’re working in, we know what works, what doesn’t, and what extremes we can go to in order to elevate and improve entertainment without alienating any audience. This comes from pure dedication and passion for our individual skills and creates a truly unified team.

The show, with some breaks, is scheduled through at least November 2023. A very long commitment. Will you be able – we asked Karen Langford – to start it up and keep it going on your own, or will you always be there to coordinate and produce each show?

The show will debut aboard the Costa Firenze for the Dubai season and then move directly to its sister ship Costa Venezia. It is expected to run until at least the end of 2023. The creative team is in place to coordinate and execute each installation, and quality control/monitoring is done continuously by the executive producer and technical director so that the show maintains high standards and exceeds the expectations of our guests.

The show will be reproduced on the Costa Firenze until April 7, 2022 and on the Costa Venezia from May 1 until at least November of the same year, giving guests the chance to fully immerse themselves in the wonderful “Nights of the Orient”.

Essence represents both a truly sensational step forward in onboard cruise ship entertainment and an added value for passengers who will truly visit, on board Costa Cruises, the most magical places in the Orient.

Don’t miss updates and information, Reviews of Costa Firenze and Costa Cruises on Cruising Journal, with tips, opinions and cruises on offer.

Gabriele Bassi

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