Experience Moana’s Story Come to Life on Disney Cruise Line’s Disney Treasure

This year has been remarkable for Moana, as the beloved animated feature embraces a vibrant revival in 2024. Its eagerly awaited sequel, Moana 2, has already garnered over $700 million in global ticket sales. Moreover, Disney is set to enchant audiences once again with a live-action adaptation currently in development. As Disney Cruise Line gears up for the grand reveal of its newest ship, Disney Treasure, a third Moana-related project is capturing attention. Titled The Tale of Moana, this Broadway-quality production beautifully reimagines the original narrative, retaining the catchy melodies and heartfelt themes that originally captivated audiences.

The Tale of Moana features intricate animatronic designs and captivating puppetry, thanks to renowned visual artist Michael Curry, known for his previous work on Disney’s The Lion King on Broadway. The vibrant ensemble cast embodies the spirit of Motunui, while also representing the ocean’s pivotal role in Moana’s adventure. The choreography, curated by Peter Rockford Espiritu, skillfully blends Polynesian and Pacific Islander dance elements to bring the anthropomorphic water creatures to life.

Recently, ScreenRant was fortunate to preview a performance of The Tale of Moana aboard the Disney Treasure during a three-day press event ahead of the ship’s inaugural journey. This experience included a fascinating dialogue with Espiritu, alongside director Connor Gallagher, whose notable works include directing Disney’s Beauty and the Beast and Broadway’s Beetlejuice. They shared insights into the production’s extensive development process and its unique appeal to cruise audiences.

Embracing Cultural Diversity in The Tale of Moana

“You’re getting all these new voices that you wouldn’t have seen on a Disney ship, which is so cool.”

ScreenRant: How did this intricate production come together over the years and what was essential for reaching its opening night?

Connor Gallagher: The journey began back in 2017 when I directed Beauty and the Beast. After that experience, I wanted either an ambitious project that would surprise audiences or something simpler. Ultimately, this turned out to be both challenging and enjoyable.

The developmental phase was prolonged due to the pandemic, but it provided us with ample time to build and refine our concept. We traveled globally for casting, even meeting Peter and Aaron Salā [our music and cultural consultant] in Hawaii.

One major challenge was fitting Moana into a Disney cruise environment that also demands other beloved characters. We need a full roster to enchant guests while producing this culturally diverse narrative. It’s remarkable to showcase talents from diverse backgrounds showcasing their art and giving voice to characters we’ve come to love.

ScreenRant: Will your directorial vision remain consistent across future iterations on Disney ships?

Connor Gallagher: Yes, it will, which is exciting. While I directed Beauty and the Beast, I didn’t oversee this iteration. However, it’s built on the same foundation, utilizing a dedicated team that assembles the show in Toronto.

ScreenRant: At what stage did you decide about which characters, like Hei Hei and Pua, wouldn’t be part of the show?

Connor Gallagher: My initial treatment was drafted back in 2018, focusing on how much story we could convey in just an hour. The challenge lay in determining the relevance of additional characters’ appearances. We ultimately opted to exclude certain figures to maintain an authentic narrative that celebrated the culture, avoiding any portrayal that could be seen as demeaning.

ScreenRant: Which scene posed the most significant challenge for finalizing?

Connor Gallagher: The sequence featuring Te Kā and Te Fiti presented substantial challenges due to its length and complexity. The puppeteers’ limited visibility added to the difficulty since timing and orchestration had to align flawlessly for the transformation finale, which took an immense amount of effort.

Choreographic Challenges in The Tale of Moana

“When you’re actually on the ship and it’s rocking, you don’t know what that looks like.”

ScreenRant: The production effectively animates water as a character. How did the dance movements develop to highlight this aspect?

Peter Rockford Espiritu: The goal was to infuse emotion into the depiction of ocean water. The dancers needed to embody both the fluidity and ferocity of this element while illustrating its bond with Moana throughout her journey.

The ocean serves as Moana’s protector, possessing the ability to be gentle yet fierce. This duality is crucial, especially during the battle against Te Kā, when the dancers transition in their portrayal of the ocean.

ScreenRant: How do you prepare the dancers for the intricate interaction with the animatronics?

Peter Rockford Espiritu: The puppetry work comes from Michael Curry’s team, renowned for their contributions to The Lion King. This required separate training, and I had the added task of integrating movement dynamics into their choreography to ensure fluid transitions.

ScreenRant: The opening number, “Where You Are,” feels exceptionally beautiful. What’s the time investment for choreography alone?

Peter Rockford Espiritu: It’s variable; choreography can be analogous to songwriting. Some sequences occur seamlessly, while others require extensive revision. On average, each section may take around a week to finalize, followed by further adjustments.

Peter Rockford Espiritu: The battle scene with Te Kā proved to be the most challenging. With puppetry still being finalized and the fluidity needed for performances on a moving ship, we had to ensure coherent sight lines, which often require additional considerations.

Discover More About Disney Cruise Line’s Disney Treasure

Set sail toward adventure aboard the Disney Treasure, the newest addition to Disney Cruise Line’s fleet. This ship brings the essence of classic Disney narratives to life through immersive experiences inspired by beloved Disney films and themes from Disney park attractions. The Disney Treasure will embark on its maiden voyage — a seven-night Eastern Caribbean cruise from Port Canaveral, Florida — starting December 21, 2024, followed by a series of itineraries throughout the Eastern and Western Caribbean from this departure point.

For more information on Disney Treasure’s itineraries, visit the Disney Cruise Line website.

Source & Images