If the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day parade signals the official holiday season in New York, Radio City Music Hall’s annual Christmas show remains the ticking heartbeat of the season. Now opening earlier than ever, with shows beginning in mid-November, the Christmas Spectacular runs through December 30th. It is staged at the venerable landmark which was completely renovated back in the 1990s. The Art Deco décor is burnished bright with a huge crystal chandelier in the shape of a Christmas tree hanging in the immense foyer. The building is part of Rockefeller Center which attracts thousands of visitors during the Christmas season to see the huge tree.
New Features of the Radio City Music Hall Christmas Spectacular
Those who remember the traditional Christmas show will find there a quite a few changes in this year’s spectacular. For one thing, there is a greater emphasis on light and sound. At times the ceiling is alight with circling snowflakes and special sound and light effects abound.
And as an extra treat there is a 3D scene where Christmas packages fall off Santa’s sleigh and seem to rush into the audience. The special 3D plastic glasses that are needed to experience this effect are clipped onto the programs that are handed out by the ushers when one takes a seat. There are twelve scenes in the one and one-half hour show.
The Radio City Music Hall Christmas Spectacular Scenes
- Sleigh Ride: The Rockettes don reindeer antlers and pull Santa’s sleigh in this musical number.
- Santa Flies to New York: Put on your 3D glasses for this one! A thrilling ride through the air as presents come tumbling down on the audience—at least it feels that way.
- The Twelve Days of Christmas: A rather elongated number with the Rockettes tapping out each verse of the well-known carol.
- The Nutcracker: This is not the standard ballet, but one in which a young ballerina dances with costumed characters, such as toy bears and clowns, to the familiar Tchaikovsky music.
- The Parade of the Wooden Soldiers: Precision marching from the Rockettes is featured in this favorite rendition of a number that harks back to 1933.
- New York at Christmas: Here the Rockettes dash around town in an authentic Gray Line Bus and stop at landmarks such as the Empire State Building and Broadway. Lots of visual effects in this number with a grand fireworks finish.
- Here Comes Santa Claus: How does Santa appear at so many places at Christmas time? Multiple Santas take over the stage in a clever interpretation of the answer to a child’s question.
- Magic is There: Two young boys are taken on a trip to the North Pole. Raggedy Ann dolls and lots of boxes and dancing make a colorful impression on the kids.
- Christmas Memories: The back screen is used for slides of a history of Radio City and the tradition of the Christmas show.
- Let Christmas Shine: Shimmering Swarovski crystal shine on the costumes and set of this song and dance number that culminates in a tree-shaped tableau.
- The Living Nativity: A recreation of the scene of shepherds and the Wise Men coming to worship the tableau of Mary, Joseph and the baby Jesus. Two camels, sheep and a mule are among the multitude on the stage. The question every kid asks: How do they keep the animals doing their business on the stage? Somehow, they do.
- Joy to the World: The two giant Wurlitzer organs on either side of the stage, the singers and dancers join in for a rousing rendition of Christmas songs.
2009 marks the tenth anniversary of the restoration of Radio City Music Hall. Everything – from the seats, carpets and decorative gold leafing to its high-reaching arch and huge stage –was returned to its original splendor. The foyer now sports the refurbished three-story mural that wowed the public when the hall first opened in 1932. Although the lobby is now jammed with vendors who sell popcorn, drinks, souvenirs and programs, the vaulting space still manages to impress.
Tickets for the Christmas Spectacular
- Tickets are available from the box office during the day, or online at http:www.radiocity.com.
- Location: 50th St. and Avenue of the Americas (6th Ave.), NYC.
- Telephone: 212-247-4777
For those who do not live in or near New York there are now 31 cities where productions are mounted throughout the holiday season. Such diverse venues as Hershey, Pennsylvania and Dallas, Texas can see the National Tour productions. For a list of venues and dates visit: http://www.radiocity.com
Barbara Hudgins - I am the author of Crafting the Travel Guidebook: How to Write, Publish & Sell Your Travel Book. This book was written after years of ...
