Love Boat Dinner Theatre

Love Boat is back.

Join Captain Stubbing, daughter Vicki, Julie, Gopher, Doc and Isaac along with guests as we set sail on a voyage of interactive fun.

Drama based on Love Boat television show, focusing on the theme of love, arrived at through generous dollops of silliness, yet with a great family-friendly message.

Nancy Anderson, Westoak Woods Batist Church, Texas said:
"We did "The Love Boat" Dinner theater, what a wonderfully delightful comedy. Everyone totally enjoyed it. $2300 was raised for our Amazon mission team. I thank God for your ministry. I laughed so hard, my jaws ached."

Cast: 11 m or f

• Captain Merril Stubing, 40ish
• Vicki Stubing, teen or older, daughter of Captain
• Julie McCoy, 20's or older, Cruise Director, Fran Drescher laugh
• Purser Gopher Smith, 20's or older
• Doc Bricker, 20's or older, ladies man
• Isaac Washington, 20's or older
• Norm and Norma Norman, middle age couple, sing final song
• any number of servers

Bible Reference: Romans 5:8

Set:

• although not essential, it would be advantageous to have some graphics such as portholes, ships decorations, flags around the room to give the impression of being on a ship

Sound:

• If possible, all actors should have lapel mics, if this is not possible the acting area will have to be scaled down.
• Have handheld mics for actors when interviewing audience

Song:

• lyrics written by DramaShare based on melody of “Love Boat Theme” original by P. Williams, C. Fox

Lighting: standard

SFX:

• pre-recorded ship sounds

Props:

• items found on a cruise ship would be useful

Costumes:

• Captain should have a navy type uniform as should Gopher and perhaps Doc.
• Norm and Norma should be overdressed in loud, outlandish clothing.
• Others would have leisure clothing.

Special Instructions:

• second act of this script, (which can follow a dinner or dessert), includes a time of interacting with the audience, during which there will be a great deal of improv required.
• DramaShare is available to assist you in rehearsing for this and, where required, writing some additional dialogue based on your local needs and opportunities.

Time: 60

Download LoveBoat Sample Script

Sample of script:

Scene 1

(The Captain enters the stage.)

CAPTAIN: Good evening, ladies and gentlemen, this is your Captain speaking. And a truly good evening it is, as your Love Boat, the Pacific Princess, slides gracefully through the warm, still night—the gorgeous tropical moon shimmering on the ocean around us.

(Vicki enters, singing loudly and off-key. The Captain reacts, uncomfortable.)

VICKI (singing):
Love, exciting and new!
Come aboard, we're expecting you!
Love, you’ll see it all ‘round!
It’s with you, it’s all o-ver town!
It’s LOVE! It’s LOVE! It’s LOVE!
It’s the Love Boat-ah!
It’s the Love Boat-ah!

CAPTAIN: Uh, yes, well, now then, where were we?

Oh yes, we want to remind you that the crew of the Love Boat is here for one purpose only—to ensure that this cruise is all you ever dreamed of and more. Speaking of crew, I want to introduce you to some of the Love Boat people who will be catering to your every whim throughout this cruise.

First, we have—

VICKI (singing):
La la la la la... It’s the Love Boat-ah!

CAPTAIN (ignoring Vicki): …We have our charming and efficient Cruise Director, Julie McCoy!

(Julie enters, laughing in a Fran Drescher-like manner.)

JULIE (laughing): It’s like, really, you know, like... (laughs) great to see, like, all you guys, like... (laughs) know what I mean? (laughs)

CAPTAIN (embarrassed, apprehensive): Yes, well... Julie McCoy is the person who looks after every little detail, leaving no stone unturned, she—

JULIE (confused): But, like, Captain Stubing, we are, like, out in the middle of the ocean! Like, how am I supposed to, like, find a stone to overturn out here?

CAPTAIN: Well, Julie, when I say leaving no stone unturned, it is a metaphor.

JULIE (shaking head): Oh! Now I get it! (laughs)

CAPTAIN: A metaphor. A figure of speech.

JULIE: I gotcha, Cap! (Big smile, flips her hair with fingers, then hands on hips.)
’Cause you are lookin’ at a great figure here! (laughs)

CAPTAIN: Uhhh, yeah, so anyhow... and we also have—

VICKI (singing):
La la la la la... It’s the Love Boat-ah!

CAPTAIN: Vicki, please! I am trying to introduce the Love Boat crew to our passengers!

VICKI: Yes, Father, and I am trying to sing our theme song, and it’s not going well!

JULIE: Well, Vicki, my mom always said that if you know your weaknesses, you are halfway to understanding world hunger. (laughs)

(The Captain and Vicki do a double take, looking at Julie.)

VICKI: Weaknesses? I’ll have you know that mine is a world-class voice! All I need is a break!

JULIE: Then you should be on your way! I’ve only been listening to you for a few minutes and your voice has broken several times already. (laughs)

VICKI: Daddy! Are you going to allow Julie to say things like that to your only daughter?

(The Captain appears deep in thought.)

VICKI: Well?! Are you?!

CAPTAIN: I’m thinking, I’m thinking!

VICKI: Daddddddddyyyyyy! You always said I have the voice of an angel!

CAPTAIN: So I have, sweetums! And I still say that.

But actually... I was thinking of the angel Gabriel.

(Vicki starts to cry. Julie laughs.)

VICKI: I just know I will never get my big break! Why can’t I sing at dinner tonight on Riviera Deck?

CAPTAIN: Because, kitten, we have a top-flight group booked for the Princess Theatre.

VICKI: What about at Lido’s Buffet on the Sun Deck?

CAPTAIN: Booked.

VICKI: Pacific Club?

CAPTAIN: I am truly sorry but there are just no openings for singers on the Love Boat.

JULIE: That’s okay, Vicki! You just come along with Julie, we’ll go check on the passengers on the Sun Deck. I’m sure someone up there will want to hear you sing.

VICKI (excited): Do you really think so, Julie? You know, maybe I should start warming up my vocal chords right now…

(Vicki starts singing.)

VICKI:
La la la la la... It’s the Love Boat-ah!

JULIE: No, no, don’t do that! You’ll scare the passengers off!

What I meant to say was that your voice is most effective when it kinda... sneaks up on you. (laughs)

VICKI: Oh, Julie! This is so exciting! Do you think I will be discovered?

JULIE: You start singing, honey, and there’s not a chance anyone is going to miss hearing you! (laughs)

(Julie and Vicki exit.)

CAPTAIN: Now, let’s see... who else will you want to meet? (Looks downstage.)

Oh, there’s Isaac Washington! Hey, Isaac! Come over, meet the folks!

(Isaac enters.)

*Isaac is in charge of the soda fountain and ice cream stand on the Love Boat. I am gonna tell you, his Pacific Paradise shakes are to die for!

(Isaac gives “The Isaac Salute” to the audience—holding hands out front, snapping fingers, then clapping hands and giving a double thumbs-up with a big smile.)

Since Isaac does this frequently, he should work out a smooth delivery.

CAPTAIN: Tell me, Isaac, what special concoction have you dreamed up for the passengers of the Love Boat this time?

ISAAC: For these fine folks, we have something all new! I call it the Isaac Washington Martian Marauder! (Gives Isaac Salute.)

CAPTAIN: The Isaac Washington Martian Marauder?

ISAAC: Yeppers! For the first time ever, anywhere!

Download LoveBoat Sample Script

Want to see how the story unfolds? DramaShare members get this complete script— and access to our entire library—free! Not a member? You can still grab this individual script and bring it to life.