Rosie's Cruise Journal Part 4: Love Will Keep Us Together

By: Haviland Stillwell Mar. 24, 2008

BroadwayWorld.com's newest TV host Haviland Stillwell is moonlighting for our readers, covering the latest R Family Vacation cruise! "Spring Break on the Mexican Riviera" is the cruise line's first trip to Mexico and Haviland will be giving a first hand account of all the going ons. It's your special backstage pass to all the fun and excitement right here on BroadwayWorld.com! For more information on R Family Vacations, including details on their upcoming Summer Cruise, click here!

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Diary Entry #4:

On the last day of the Rosie Cruise, everyone trudges around, partly hungover and partly depressed, not wanting it to end! When you're on this boat for a week, by about day four, it becomes the norm, and you start to assume you'll always be in Utopia, with the same people and the same organic atmosphere (I know, this is an oxymoron being on a cruise ship).

The penultimate evening was "Heroes" night. The kids (and some enthusiastic adults) dressed up in a multitude of best costumes for the day, including all the superheroes, firefighters, and random pop icons. Gregg and Kelli, in gorgeous threads designed by Tony Award Nominee Bobby Pearce, were Mighty Mouse and Wonder Woman. They are always inspiring, the two of them, like the coolest camp councelors you've ever met.

I wore my own clothes and said I was Claire Bennet, Hayden Panettiere's character on the series, "Heroes." I could be an indestructible high school cheerleader, right?

That night in the theatre, Colin Sheehan hosted "Kids Broadway Belters," which began on last summer's cruise, and included me singing, "part of your world." This year was even bigger and better, opening with "Circle of Life" from The Lion King.

Jimmy Smagula donned a chef's hat and performed "Le Poisson" from THE LITTLE MERMAID, followed by Shoshana Bean's rendition of "Part of your World."

Other shows represented were PETER PAN, TARZAN, and THE SOUND OF MUSIC. Original cast members from SEUSSICAL, Kevin Chamberlain and Andrew Keenan-Bolger reprised their duet "Alone in the Universe." (yes, Andrew can still hit those notes! Very cool to hang out with him, after knowing what a sweetheart his sister is. What a family, those K-Bs!)

Kate Pazakis sang "Colors of the Wind," the song Judy Kuhn made famous in Disney's POCOHONTAS. Gavin Creel sang a sweet, "Rainbow Connection," and the show closed with a very upbeat song from HIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL. The Belters show has generally been the passenger favorite, because what other cruise ship boasts true Broadway stars? The first year I was on board I performed right before Audra McDonald and Norm Lewis sang, "Wheels of a Dream," from RAGTIME, and then I saw them later in the Dining Hall. (well, it's not called the Dining Hall, but it reminds me of college-the informality of it all.)

It's just really cool, actually. I can't imagine a more fun vacay for anyone – especially someone who loves musical theatre, sunshine, chill people, and the freedom to just BE. It would have been amazing had these cruises existed when I was a kid. Seriously, everyone just go! You'll love it!

After the kids were tucked away to bed, Jessica Kirson performed her very funny stand-up to a packed house, then we all hit the piano bar to hear Gavin sing, and then to the "northern lights" disco to dance the night away. Really, you have to power up to go on this trip, because you go pretty much non-stop. You really want to meet everyone, to hear everyone's story.

Craig Ramsay said to me, "Everyone on board is documentary-worthy." The struggles that most people have had to go through, the challenges…well, it just makes you really grateful that r Family exists. They really are pioneers. I always wish the most conservative Republicans could experience the beauty of this vacation – the love and light and sheer normalcy of parents who love each other and their children. It's remarkable to see how very ordinary the families are, even in such individually extraordinary circumstances.

For the final show, Seth Rudetsky hosted and played a fantastic 70s themed concert. The afros were flying, Gavin Creel was wearing hot pants and tube socks, and most of the girls had some form of lamay on their persons, which, obviously, I love. (see the pics of me on my website for evidence of my love for metallic)

Jimmy Smagula opened with "Love will keep us Together," with that hot bassline that gets everyone going, so to speak. What is it about 70s pop music that makes everyone smile, even those of us who weren't alive then?

Other fabulous songs from the night included "I Will Survive," "Enough is Enough," and a soulful version of Linda Ronstadt's "You're No Good," sung by Julia Murney. (Go see her in Playwrights Horizon's upcoming musical, SAVED! I saw the workshop and it's a must-see, for reals!)

After the last shows, everyone ran around, frantically saying their goodbyes and packing, trying to make it to the piano bar and disco for their final hurrahs. Cortney Wolfson, Dani Spieler, Andrew Keenan-Bolger and I sang in the piano bar. Cortney, who I worked with in LES MIS, jokingly dedicated "On My Own" to me.

On my way to the Northern Lights, as I was waiting for the elevator, I struck up a convo with an adorable older (hetero!) couple. I assumed they were grandparents with gay children on board.

"Tell her what today is, sweetheart," the man said to his wife.

"He's making me tell everyone! It's our anniversary – 55 years!" I smiled, congratulating them, and asked, "Are you on board with your children?"

"No. We have four kids, and many grandchildren, but it's just the two of us…" I'm sure I looked perplexed, wondering why a straight couple on their 55th wedding anniversary would choose to go on a gay family cruise.

The woman answered my look with, "We are here to support. We love Rosie, and love what she does. It's important to support."

And there you go, kiddos. That's the Rosie Cruise. It's important, fresh - extraordinary in it's ordinary. I hope to see you there this summer!

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