They're about to go the distance, literally. Disney Cruise Line's newest ship, the Destiny, will sail on its maiden voyage November 20, and Playbill has a first look at its version of Hercules. No, this isn't the version that's playing in the West End, it's the one specially created for the Destiny. Though judging from the production photos, which includes formidable-looking Hydras, a centaur, and Titans—it's certainly not lacking in production value.

This version of the show is directed and choreographed by brothers Marcel and Kevin Williams, and stars Corey J Bradford as Hercules and Matthew Patrick Quinn as Hades. And in a twist of fate, Quinn actually played the role before—he did over 600 performances as the god of the underworld in Hadestown on Broadway and on tour. Though there's a key difference between Hades in Hadestown and in Hercules. For one, Quinn does not sing in Hercules. He doesn't mind though. 

As he tells Playbill the morning after performing for an audience onboard the Destiny: "I love having the ability to come from playing Hades in Hadestown; he just seemed very tortured, and he was very preoccupied with proving his love to Persephone. And here it's just more humorous with an edge, if that makes sense. And it definitely requires a different skill set as an actor to have that comedic timing and that quick wit." He then adds with a mischievous chuckle, "I've had people write to me on Instagram that saw Hadestown saying, 'Oh, we're so excited. We're gonna book a cruise to hear you sing again. Maybe karaoke, somewhere on the ship."

See footage from Hercules below.

While in Hercules, Quinn is decked out in robes, a wig that changes colors throughout the show, and even looks like he's floating across the stage at one point, his co-star Bradford has a different challenge as Hercules. This is his first time leading a show, having done supporting and ensemble roles on five prior Disney cruise shows. Here, though the show clocks in at an hour and 15 minutes (about the same length as the film), and Bradford is onstage almost the entire time. "As soon as I get on stage, it's like, okay, I ain't using the bathroom. But it's one of those things that's like, if you don't go full out, it's going to be a horrible show for you."

Quinn chimes in: "His skill set is literally unmatched, the things that he has to do, not only with the vocals ... But there's a moment in this show where he comes over to me at the end of the Titan battle, and I'm kind of looking away, and then I say a line. And it's just sweat." Here, Quinn gestures from his head to his body. "It's just dripping, because he's just not stopping. It's so impressive to watch."

What's also impressive, besides singing, delivering fight choreography, and acting—it's all done on a stage that is literally moving. If the seas are rough for one performance, they may nix the puppets or using lifts. "You might not land exactly where you thought you were [going to], because now the ship is listing to another side," remarks Bradford.

But to Bradford, it's all worth it because on the Destiny, he's able to create a Hercules that is entirely his. This stage show is a not a recreation of the film. Instead, its directors have taken the source material and put a fresh spin on it, with a scene-stealing Pegasus played by Oakley Thacker who flies into the show on a wire. Musically, the classic Alan Menken and David Zippel songs have been infused with a new beat. "Go the Distance" has been given an R&B spin (with plenty of melisma on Bradford's part), and "I Won't Say (I'm In Love)" has a Motown feel. Bradford also sings a new song "Shooting Star," that had been cut from the film but reinstated here. 

READ: While Hercules Is Running in the West End, Disney Is Readying a New Production for Its Cruise Ship

Then there's his love for the character, whose journey in the story is finding where he belongs and confidence in himself. "I think we all sometimes can go through times where we don't necessarily think that we can fulfill our dreams, and so that part of the story was never too hard for me to connect to, because I've definitely had those moments of doubt," Bradford notes, his voice filled with emotion. "And finding that sense of acceptance or community or belonging—I think a lot of Black boys especially can relate to that feeling of, 'Okay, well, I've been put in this box. When I know who I really am, how can I literally break those barriers?' It really is a story near and dear to my heart."

Besides leading Hercules, the entire 24-member acting company on the Destiny also perform in another show Frozen (in that one, Quinn plays the leader of the trolls, while Bradford plays Anna and Elsa's father). The shows alternate; one night they may do two performances of Hercules (sometimes three), and the next night, they'll do two performances of Frozen. 

Quinn compares it to a two-show day on Broadway, mixed in with being a repertory theatre. "When you're able to do a multitude of different shows on Disney Cruise Line, it gives you the opportunity to step away from a show for a few days and then come back and feel like, 'Oh, I'm excited to get back into this.'"

When they're not performing, the actors on the Destiny are able to take advantage of the ship's amenities, such as the restaurants, the pools, and the ocean view. It's the kind of perks that keep actors coming back; this is Quinn's fifth contract with Disney Cruise Line while it's Bradford's sixth. Bradford admits he spends a lot of time in the ship's gym (quips Quinn: "This one definitely has a reputation to uphold"). But it also means that he does get recognized by passengers—even that morning, after having done Hercules the night before, he already had audience members come up to him. 

As Bradford says, with palpable excitement: "You can see the reward of the work that you've put into these shows, how much the guests are loving it. And all the compliments that we're getting already, especially on Hercules ... Honestly, I just try to meet it, with just so much gratitude. Because we put a lot of our blood, sweat, and tears into the show."

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Photos: Disney Hercules on the Disney Destiny

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