Famous actress and singer Elaine Paige has been named the godmother of Seabourn’s newest cruise ship, the Seabourn Ovation.
The naming ceremony will take place Friday, May 11, in the harbor of Valletta, Malta, during a ceremony that will light up the UNESCO World Heritage site and the 2018 European Capital of Culture. Seabourn enjoys a multi-year partnership with UNESCO to support their efforts to protect World Heritage at sites around the world.
Elaine Paige originated the role of Eva Peron in Evita, followed by Grizabella in Cats and Florence in Chess. She has starred in more smash hit West End and Broadway musicals than anyone else of her generation, Seabourn said, from Hair, Jesus Christ Superstar, Anything Goes, Sunset Boulevard, to The King & I; Sweeney Todd and Follies.
Paige also bears the unofficial title of "The First Lady of British Musical Theatre," Seabourn said. In 1995, she was awarded an OBE (Order of the British Empire) for services to Musical Theatre by HM Queen Elizabeth II.
Paige has also recorded 22 solo albums, has been featured on seven cast albums, and earned eight consecutive gold and four multi-platinum discs, achieving chart topping hits including signature tunes Don't Cry for Me Argentina and I Know Him So Well. Her television work includes drama on BBC & ITV, her own series on SKY Arts, and more roles to be aired on BBC & ITV this year. She continues to host her BBC Radio 2 show, Elaine Paige On Sunday, regularly attracting 2.5 million listeners every week.
When not performing, Paige works for charities including The Children's Trust. She is president of the Dan Maskell Tennis Trust, an Ambassador to the Royal Voluntary Service and an Artistic Associate of Mountview Academy of Theatre Arts. Other charities include Breast Cancer Campaign, the Royal Academy of Dance Silver Swans, and Support Dogs, amongst many others.
Seabourn Ovation is the fifth luxury ship in the Seabourn fleet. With contemporary interiors by design icon Adam D. Tihany, culinary experiences by Michelin-starred chef Thomas Keller, specially commissioned entertainment by Sir Tim Rice and a program of onboard speakers, Ovation will sail on a variety of voyages in and around Europe between May and November 2018, hailing at ports throughout Northern Europe and the Mediterranean.
Seabourn Ovation will expand and build on the line's Odyssey-class ships, which were introduced between 2009 and 2011. A sibling ship to Seabourn Encore, Seabourn Ovation will maintain the line's high ratio of space per guest, Seabourn said, enabling highly personalized service.
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