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Radio City Christmas Spectacular

Celebrating 85 years of the Rockettes in New York

By Lynn Marie

When you think of Christmas and New York, you automatically think of the world famous Rockettes.  The show is fast-paced and doesn't miss a beat.  

The plot, narrated by Santa, is adorable and the Rockettes take audiences on a whimsical journey battling "humbugs," gingerbread men, and a ice monster who have stolen all the Christmas toys.  The Rockettes are not only gorgeous, but they are ever so talented.  Their precision and synchronicity is beyond reproach.  The production also utilizes video screens and 3-D technology which really is a wow factor in the performance.

The action shifts to a 3-D film where the audience, wearing their 3D glasses, watches Santa fly to New York City from the North Pole in his magic sleigh.  Once he arrives, he flies around some of New York City's landmarks including the Statue of Liberty and the Empire State Building before finally heading toward the Radio City Music Hall for his annual visit.

The Radio City Christmas Spectacular is an annual musical holiday stage show presented at Radio City Music Hall in New York City.  The show features over 140 performers, lavish sets and costumes and an original musical score.  The show is backed by larger-than-life scenery and a 40 piece orchestra.  

The 90 minute revue combines singing, dancing and humor with traditional scenes in a spectacular stage settings.  The star performers are the women's precision dance troupe known as the Rockettes.  Since the first version was presented in 1933, the show has become a New York Christmas tradition seen by more than a million visitors a year.

The 2012 production, titled The Rockettes Celebration! celebrated the 85th anniversary of the Rockettes and the 80th anniversary of the Christmas Spectacular.

Fan-favorite numbers including "New York at Christmas," where the Rockettes board a real double decker Gray Line bus taking audiences on a tour of Manhattan, and the high-energy tap-infused number, "Twelve Days of Christmas," which dazzles audiences as the Rockettes performance style continues to be both complex and entirely glamorous.  A brand new showcase in the 2012 performance was an excursion back in time where the Rockettes came out in some of the costumes worn in the various decades since they've been performing.

Beloved numbers that have been performed since the show's inception such as "Parade of the Wooden Soldiers" continues to set the standard as the signature Rockettes number for precision performance, and "The Living Nativity" remains a vital part of the production.

The Rockettes always bring the audience to their feet with a Rockettes finale, "Let Christmas Shine," honoring and celebrating the Rockettes as the stars of the show.  The Rockettes sparkle from the stage as each of their costumes are crystallized with more than 3,000 Swarovski crystals.  

The Rockettes are such an important part of the fabric of New York commemorating a legacy spanning more than eight decades of unrivaled talent, rich history, precision and athleticism.  They have made appearances in some of the most prominent events in the entertainment landscape including award shows, national television appearances, sporting events such as the Superbowl Halftime show as well as Presidential inaugurations.  The Rockettes are a legendary dance company and have been beloved by millions of fans since their inception.

The Rockettes celebrate everything about the Christmas season.  The show ran from November 9, 2012 through December 30, 2012.  Put a reminder note in your iPhone now to attend a 2013 performance of the Radio City Christmas Spectacular The Rockettes.

The Rockettes will kick up your holidays next season.

Visit www.RadioCityChristmas.com.  Radio City's Box Office is located at (50th Street and Avenue of the Americas)  See you in New York for the 2013 Holiday Season.

Photos credit: MSG ENTERTAINMENT