Golden Flashes Making Waves in the Cruise Industry

Meagan Eishen, ’15, Performer, Holland America Line

From a Talented Kent Clark Member to Headline Cruise Performer 
 

Meagan Eishen’s excitement for music took off when she came to Kent State for the musical theater program. Her passion, energy and drive for the arts took her to center stage as she became the lead for the Kent Clarks, an a cappella group.

“I absolutely loved the a cappella group,” Meagan says. “I spent hours honing my vocal skills and artistic talents, and leading the group is where my music directing skills grew and grew.”

Megan even performed at the White House with this group during “The Today Show” and at many campus events.  She also attended a theatre conference in Hershey, Pennsylvania, where she made one connection that would change her future.

“I met the owner of Windish Entertainment, who cast me in a band at Hershey Park for the summer between semesters,” Meagan says. “After graduating and moving to New York City, I was offered another project they were creating, a duo singing-piano show on the Holland America Line.”

Since taking this job, Meagan has traveled to more than 70 countries, performing three high-energy shows, six nights a week in a dueling piano show called Billboard Onboard.

“My partner and I employ a repertoire of more than 2,000 songs to create a high-energy show filled with music, artist and song history that align with the Billboard charts on Holland America Line.”

Meagan takes pride in her job and finds it rewarding. “We cater to an ever-changing, international audience as we sail around the world. It’s my job to not only create long-lasting, positive memories for guests on board, but to help them relive memories that they associate with certain songs and eras.”

Music is powerful, and Meagan has found her performances have had positive impacts on her guests.

“There have been a few intimate moments shared with me over the years where a guest has grieved through our performance. A song reminded them of a loved one lost, the memory, the tune, the lyrics healing them,” Meagan says. “One guest sailing with a family member suffered from a mental degenerative disease like Alzheimer's and, while listening to their favorite songs, they were brought back to the present day, singing along and speaking with their partners, their children and loved ones. Being thanked for giving someone more time with their loved one will forever be the thing I cherish the most about this chapter of my life. Music heals.”

Life on the sea has also brought Meagan unique experiences, and she feels grateful to perform on a cruise ship.

“I built my endurance and honed my skills as a performer on board a ship, growing in confidence and in skill while meeting some of the best people I’ve ever met, gained friends in most of the major cities in the world and truly traveled the entire globe,” Meagan says. “I’ve grown immensely as an artist and a person, and nothing could be better than that.”

Hannah Graham, ’16, Technician Casting and Booking Supervisor

Hiring Talent to Help Deliver the Best Cruise Shows

Theatre was a big part of Hannah Graham’s life in high school, and she was set on pursuing it as her major by the time she was a high school senior. The outstanding reputation of Kent State’s theatre program is one of the main reasons why Hannah chose the university.

“I went to visit and was immediately enthralled with the facilities and faculty. I was given a fantastic tour and met many of the students,” Hannah says. “They informed me that I would be able to have a lot of hands-on experience in productions outside of classes throughout my four years there, more than other university programs where I was looking.”

At the time, she wasn’t aware of career opportunities in theatre on a cruise ship. “I learned about my current company, Carnival Cruise Line, through someone I met at Kent State at Porthouse. I met Liz Talaba, ’08, who was the equity stage manager my freshman year when I was a stage management intern. She was working for Carnival during the year as a stage technician and spoke to us about the incredible opportunities on a cruise ship.”

Once she graduated, Hannah’s career took off as an automation technician, where she worked on different Carnival Cruise productions. Her background in stage management and technology helped her land this job and dive into the role.

After working in that role for a few years, she returned to land to take a position as an automation technician with Cirque du Soleil in Las Vegas. When COVID shut down all theatrical performances in 2020, Hannah took a job as a retail store manager and gained some new skills valuable to her next job as a technician, casting and booking supervisor with Carnival. Hannah hires cruise technicians as well as produces their contracts and schedules. 

“I build a recruitment plan based on trends in the industry, DEI stats and needed skill levels. Carnival hires technicians from all over the world, so I get to travel for recruitment, finding the best talent and hiring them to work for us,” Hannah says.

She says the best part about her job is changing people’s lives.

“The most rewarding thing about my job is when I see someone I hired as a technician advance their career in our company. We have so many leadership and management opportunities available, and getting to see someone step up into one of those opportunities after having been with us even a short time is so gratifying.”

With so many career changes, Hannah is thankful for her Kent State education. 

“I absolutely loved my time at Kent State, and thinking back, the thing I remember most are the people. The staff and faculty at Kent State’s School of Theatre and Dance are incredible,” Hannah says. “They really care about the students and want them to succeed. Working on the productions that Kent State put on are some of my most wonderful memories.”

Alyssa Hertz, ’21, ’22, Lead Wardrobe Supervisor, Norwegian Prima

When a Love of Fashion and Cruising Blends

At 15 years old, Alyssa Hertz saw a show while on a cruise with her family. It was a pivotal moment for the teenager, who was emboldened to pursue a career in fashion on the open sea.

“I approached the cruise director and asked how I could work on costumes on the cruise ships. He informed me they only have wardrobe positions at their headquarters, and there were not any onboard positions,” Alyssa says. “After that, I wrote off the idea of working on cruise ships.”

A few short years later, however, the dream career Alyssa had long considered an impossibility was suddenly within reach. While attending Kent State, she discovered a job opening for a lead wardrobe supervisor on the Norwegian Bliss.

“I asked one of my professors about the possible careers in wardrobe on ships, and she immediately said, ‘Yes, absolutely do it.’ After that, I applied, got an interview and was assigned my first contract,” Alyssa said.

As a supervisor, she is involved in the fittings, maintenance and alterations of all costumes while making sure all safety procedures are followed for the cast and in the back stage costumes areas on the ship.

One of the most rewarding aspects of her job is making a costume that is just right for a cast member. “Once I have altered the costumes based on their suggestions, putting them back into their costumes and seeing their faces light up is such a great feeling. Knowing I was able to help someone feel their best and give the best performance is very rewarding.”

Alyssa has costumed performers in headliner shows including, “Jersey Boys,” “SIX The Musical” and “Summer: The Donna Summer Musical,” while working with staff from all over the world.

“As an American, we are the minority, with about 13 of us on board my current ship. It is so fascinating to learn about other cultures from my coworkers. Picking up little bits of their language and hearing about their lives back home while we share a life onboard is an experience like no other.”

Alyssa is no stranger to traveling. Kent State provided her the opportunity to gain valuable experiences while studying abroad in Florence, Germany and New York fashion programs. 

“The study abroad programs were my favorite parts of my experience with Kent. Being in Florence opened my eyes to a multitude of different things; cultures, arts, foods, everyday life. It is what really showed me that travel was something I wanted to continue to do in my career, which ultimately led me to pursue a career on ship,” Alyssa, says. “Being able to bring all of these new things with me into the studios at the Florence school is what made me the creative I am today.”

Alyssa is grateful for these travel abroad experiences and other resources at Kent State, including the former Women’s Center and the LGBTQ+ Center, which many of her friends accessed during her time at Kent State.

“The fashion school taught me so much about the process of creation and the finite skills that go into it. It has been an instrumental part of my job as I construct and repair garments constantly. Along with all of the technical skills I acquired from my time at Kent, it also gave me my work ethic. It taught me that nothing about this industry is easy, and you have to consistently work at your craft. I am who I am because of that lesson.”

Liz Talaba, ’08, Manager, Virgin Voyages (and formerly, Manager, Carnival Studios)

Keeping the Ship Sailing Smoothly

Liz Talaba is all hands on deck in her position as manager of Entertainment Facility and Rehearsal Operations for Virgin Voyages. Though she just recently began this new role, Liz earned her sea legs long ago, working with Carnival Cruise Line for more than 15 years, where she led operations of Carnival Studios, the company’s 44,500 square foot, state-of-the-art rehearsal facility,and collaborated with the production, music, technical, development and casting teams.

Her flexibility, communication and leadership skills are key in her role as she partners with the human resources, medical, travel and legal teams. Her other responsibilities include scheduling rehearsals and working with outside vendors in housing, food and security.

While working in such an expeditious environment could be stressful, Liz embraces all of these roles.

“No two days are the same, and I thrive in that fast-paced environment. I love being at the center of such a dynamic operation—working with different departments, supporting our talent, managing a team and finding solutions on the fly.”

Liz is thankful for the skills she gained while pursuing a bachelor’s degree in technical theatre at Kent State. One of her most valuable experiences was working at Porthouse Theatre as a facilities staff member and stage manager.

“During this journey, I was sponsored to receive my Equity Card [to join the Actors’ Equity Association], marking the moment I became a true professional in the field. It was an incredible experience and a huge part of my growth in the industry.”

The Actors’ Equity Association is the union for professional actors and stage managers in the United States and membership is a monumental accomplishment in many artists careers. Prior to the union’s transition to open access membership in 2023, candidates needed to earn points or be sponsored to join and colloquially “get your equity card.”

The fact that students pursuing stage management could work toward this goal at the undergraduate level is relatively unique to Kent State’s School of Theatre and Dance and Porthouse Theatre, as stage management opportunities in many programs are filled by graduate students. This is both an opportunity for students to gain practical real-world experience and a headstart.

Liz remembers several professors and staff who made a profound impact on her during her college years.

“Terri Kent, Karl Erdmann, ’84, and Rebecca Gates, ’97, played pivotal roles in supporting me throughout my education,” Liz says. “I was a stage manager for Terri more times than I can count, and through that experience, we built a bond of trust that helped me strive for excellence. Karl and Becky offered guidance that encouraged me to explore various areas of theatre—like the box office, scene shop and department events—allowing me to expand my skills. I’m grateful to all three of them.”

This support and the experiences she had as a student helped Liz move up in her career in the cruise line industry.

“Kent State University helped me develop strong organizational and operational skills, which have proven essential in successfully managing the complexities of such a large-scale, fast-paced environment.”

For those looking to work in the cruise line industry, Liz could not recommend it enough.

“The cruise industry is creative and always evolving,” Liz says. “You’ll face challenges, but that’s what makes it exciting. You’ll also have the incredible opportunity to travel the world while building your career. You get to work with people from all over the world– I even met my wife at Carnival. If you’re passionate about entertainment and want a career that blends creativity, logistics and adventure—this is the place for you.”