The Stars of our Theatre at Sea Cruise

Ed Asner is perhaps best known for his comedic and dramatic portrayal of Lou Grant, the role he originated on the landmark "Mary Tyler Moore Show" and continued in the newspaper-set drama "Lou Grant", which earned him five Emmys and three Golden Globe Awards. One of the most honored actors in television history, Ed Asner has been the recipient of seven Emmy Awards and 16 nominations, as well as five Golden Globe Awards, and has served as the National President of the Screen Actors Guild for two terms. He was inducted into the TV Academy Hall of Fame in 1996. Asner's dozens of motion pictures include THEY CALL ME MISTER TIBBS!, FORT APACHE THE BRONX, JFK, THE BACHELOR, MISSING BRENDAN, and ELF.

Barbara Cook has delighted audiences around the world with her pure, silvery soprano voice. She has been the recipient of a Tony, a Grammy, and a Drama Desk Award, and has been recently inducted into the Broadway Hall of Fame. Once considered “Broadway’s favorite ingénue,” she has sung with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra in the Albert Hall in London, in Carnegie Hall (twice), and is one of the only American performers chosen to perform in the Sidney Opera House during the Sydney 2000 Olympic Arts Festival. Her Broadway appearances have included OKLAHOMA!, CANDIDE, THE MUSIC MAN, for which she won her Tony, THE KING AND I, and CAROUSEL.

Kitty Carlisle Hart has just been seen at New York’s famous Feinstein’s at the Regency in her cabaret show I WALK WITH MUSIC, which received rave reviews in San Francisco earlier this year. Mrs. Hart’s first appearance on Broadway was in CHAMPAGNE SEC. In opera, she created the role of Lucretia in the American premiere of Benjamin Britten’s RAPE OF LUCRETIA, and she made her debut with the Metropolitan Opera in 1967 as Prince Orlofsky in DIE FLEDERMAUS. Her film appearances include A NIGHT AT THE OPERA, with the Marx Brothers and two films with Bing Crosby, SHE LOVES ME NOT and HERE IS MY HEART. Later film appearances include RADIO DAYS and SIX DEGREES OF SEPARATION. She was a regular panelist for fifteen years on the long running television show, TO TELL THE TRUTH. Mrs. Hart is Chairman Emeritus of the New York State Council of the Arts. She is the author of "Kitty: An Autobiography".

The Academy-Award winning Rita Moreno is the first and only Hispanic actress in history to have won an Emmy, a Grammy, an Oscar, and a Tony award. Winner of the Oscar for her role as Anita in the film adaptation of WEST SIDE STORY, Ms. Moreno has appeared in such films as SINGIN’ In THE RAIN, THE KING AND I, and CARNAL KNOWLEDGE. In the 70’s and 80’s she appeared on the PBS children’s series THE ELECTRIC COMPANY and the popular THE MUPPET SHOW. She has made appearances on series such as THE ROCKFORD FILES, THE LOVE BOAT, THE COSBY SHOW, THE GOLDEN GIRLS, and MIAMI VICE. Mrs. Moreno has also received the Special Recognition Award from the International Latin Music Hall of Fame, a Presidential Medal of Freedom from President George W. Bush, and a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

Patricia Neal, who won an Oscar as Best Actress for the film HUD, is celebrated for a wide range of starring motion picture roles. She has also appeared on Broadway and earned a Tony Award for her performance in ANOTHER PART OF THE FOREST. Other Broadway credits include THE CHILDREN'S HOUR, THE MIRACLE WORKER, and JOHN LOVES MARY. Some of her film roles were in THE FOUNTAINHEAD, HUD, and THE SUBJECT WAS ROSES, for which she was once again nominated for an Oscar. Her most recent film appearance was in the hit film COOKIES FORTUNE with Charles Dutton and Glenn Close. Ms. Neal is also known throughout the country for her inspirational lectures and dedication to medical causes. A hospital has been named after her in Knoxville, Tennessee. She is the Grand Dame of Theatre at Sea.

Lee Roy Reams can currently be seen on Broadway as Roger Debris in the massive hit, THE PRODUCERS. The New York Times hails him as “Broadway’s song and dance man nonpareil” because of his leading roles in David Merrick’s legendary 42ND STREET (Tony and Drama Desk nominations), Lumiere in Disney’s BEAUTY AND THE BEAST, Albin/Zaza in LA CAGE AUX FOLLES, Cornelius Hackl in HELLO DOLLY! and Henry Spofford in LORELEI (both starring Carol Channing), Duane Fox in APPLAUSE, starring Lauren Bacall, Will Parker in Richard Rodgers’ revival of OKLAHOMA!, and Sweet Charity starring GWEN VERDON. This is Mr. Reams’ 18th THEATRE AT SEA CRUISE.

Gena Rowlands' latest film, PARIS, JE T'AIME, was an official selection at this year's Cannes Film Festival. She has also recently been seen in the blockbuster hits THE SKELETON KEY with Kate Hudson and THE NOTEBOOK, co-starring James Garner. Her other film credits include THE HIGH COST OF LIVING, LONELY ARE THE BRAVE, A WOMAN UNDER THE INFLUENCE (Academy Award Nominated) directed by her late husband, John Cassavetes; Woody Allen's ANOTHER WOMAN, ONCE AROUND with Richard Dreyfus, and HOPE FLOATS with Sandra Bullock. She has just received rave reviews in the New York Times for her performance in Showtime's WILD IRIS.