Sister companies TOMCAT USA and Brilliant Stages recently came together to create a stage system for the show Curtain Up show designed by Joe Ragey for Princess Cruise Lines. One of the challenges that accompanied this project was the demands of the stage system. Its complexities included the need to change several times during the run of the cruise. With this in mind, the design teams of TOMCAT Global created a system that could be easily assembled and disassembled using the company's own bolt free hook and channel system.
The multi-level stage system is made of a series of decks on aluminum frames. Each deck has a birch plywood surface covered with a black dance floor surface from Harlequin Flooring. As space is limited, two of the main upstage risers may be turned on their sides and used as dollies to store the remainder of the stage.
Fourteen collapsible 2' x 2' x 6' dressing room lockers were also constructed for this project for use by the performers on stage to store the wardrobe that will be used throughout the show. Because center stage is “split”, the doors on the lockers were attached to open towards center stage. The stage system’s maiden voyage set sail January 23rd to the Panama Canal.
Brilliant Stages enjoys an extensive history with Princess Cruises having made sets for several of the ships including, Grand Princess, Golden Princess, Star Princess, Royal Princess, Pacific Princess, Tahitian Princess & Coral Princess. The set for the Island Princess was built in St. Nazaire, France. Sets for the Diamond Princess and others will begin production later this year in Japan.