Carnival's Epic Rock Show Takes Top Honors in Annual Live Design Awards

Apr 29, 2014 3:45 PM ET

The results are in — and Carnival rocks!

Carnival Cruise Lines’ high-energy Epic Rock – part of the line’s highly popular Playlist Productions shows – has earned top honors in the Seventh Annual Live Design Awards, which are based on reader surveys and recognizes excellence in variety of entertainment-related categories.

Epic Rock took home the top prize in the Theater Production category with more readers voting for Carnival than any other entry.

One of the most popular titles in the Playlist Productions lineup, Epic Rock debuted to standing-room-only crowds on Carnival Sunshine last year and has since been added to other vessels within the fleet, including Carnival Imagination, Carnival Legend and Carnival Glory.

The fast-paced 30-minute show celebrates the glam days of the 1970s and 1980s with hard-driving tunes by Aerosmith, Led Zeppelin and Guns ’n Roses and arena rock staples by artists like Journey and Bon Jovi – all backed by dazzling pyrotechnics, lasers and shooting flames associated with over-the-top rock-and-roll shows. Epic Rock brings back the days when rock ruled the airwaves while providing guests a chance to sing along and channel their inner rock star.

Part of the line’s Fun Ship 2.0 product enhancement program, Playlist Productions utilize towering LED screens to blend video, still photography and dazzling special effects with live on-stage action to deliver unforgettable performances of musical entertainment. Actors, dancers and singers interact with automated movements of the screens, stage, lifts and scenic elements to create a constantly changing environment.

The groundbreaking Epic Rock show was created by Carnival’s in-house entertainment development department led by Director Kerry Stables and a team of talented professionals that were bought together to design and create this magnificent show:  Paul Roberts – creative director/choreographer (www.paulrobertsdance.com); Robb Wagner – media director and producer (Stimulated, Inc. – www.stimulated-inc.com); Brian Monahan – lighting designer (BPM Designs); Lucio Bolivar – costume designer (Dynamx, Inc.); Nick Thorpe – music director and producer (Westwind Music Group); Michael Barone – scenic designer (Scenery First); Matt Dillingham – EFX designer (Advanced Entertainment Services); and David Walker, laser design (LaserNet).

For additional information on the production of Epic Rock, click here.