By Rachel Goddard

 

For the past eighty-four years, the Radio City Rockettes have faithfully reminded us just how magical New York is at Christmas. In the largest indoor theater in the world, this Christmas tradition has charmed audiences of tourists and New Yorkers alike ushering in the Holiday season. The Radio City Rockettes always bring that timeless quality from the flashy costumes, the classic Christmas music, to their signature dance style. It’s a welcome break from the harsh reality of New York in winter and brings the audience to a simpler, more optimistic time. Yet, the use of cutting-edge technology in their production elements earns this Christmas show the title “spectacular” every season, increasing the wow-factor and hidden surprises for those audience members that attend every year. 

 

Unlike years past, the audience doesn’t have to wait very long for those eye-high kicks that made the Radio City Rockettes famous. Within the first number, thirty-eight reindeer-clad Rockettes show off that astonishing kick-line. Included in the many spectacular aspects is the adorable teddy bear rendition of Balanchine’s The Nutcracker, over fifty Santas taking over the stage in “Here Comes Santa Claus” and an extravagant and beautiful nativity scene. Not one aspect of the Holiday celebration is missing from this year’s Christmas Spectacular.

 

 

With lighting design by David Agress and set by Patrick Fahey the impressive details and extravagance reach every part of the theater. At Radio City, bigger is evidently better. The traditions of the Radio City Rockettes you expect are still there but as the technology increases, so does the spectacle of the special effects. A 3D screen taking us through the many sights of New York City following Santa’s sleigh is one of the first ones. They create Santa Claus’ workshop extending to the heights of the proscenium covered by larger than life toys and wrapped presents. Moments of spectacle reach the height of its energy with actual fireworks exploding across the colossal stage and giant, free-flying snowflakes glittering and floating above the audience’s heads. The projections jet past the backdrop of the stage into the sides and ceilings of the hall. A central park is replicated right on stage with ornate sets including a small skating rink with impressive figure skaters. The combination of large walls of projections with the physical sets builds a giant, spectacular world that you won’t (and can’t) get anywhere else. The aesthetics wouldn’t reach that striking level that they do without the stunning costumes. The costumes contribute just as much spark to the Christmas Spectacular as the sets and lights. There are details on each piece only noticeable to those in the first few rows of the audience but also has the flashiness and vibrancy to reach the back rows of the balconies. Whether it’s the candy cane leotards or the sparkly snowflake dresses, the Rockettes were glimmering with the rest of the lights of the music hall.

 

The precise dance and ever-changing formations that these talented and cross-trained dancers make look easy is far from effortless. Tapping, kicking and gliding across the stage with tightest of motions the Rockettes cannot have even a finger out of place. With eight different dance numbers and over two-hundred kicks per performance, not one is remotely out of sync with the other thirty-seven dancers. The choreography alters from year to year but the style and sharpness that they are known for never changes. Also featured is an ensemble of dancers and and a small group of singers that grace the stage in the scenes and songs the Rockettes are not in. These dancers were of course excellent but certainly not the reason you buy the ticket. Without the Rockettes on stage all you’re left with is the chorus of a mediocre Broadway musical. But when the Rockettes are working their foot magic, there is nothing more impressive and the energy of the audience sky-Rockettes!

 

 

Under the direction of Julie Branam and Linda Habernam, The Christmas Spectacular has the challenging task of combining all of the performance arts into one giant show with splashy dance numbers, a symphony, and a story line played out by a cast of actors and singers. The Spectacular isn’t just one entity but many performance vehicles combined into one fantastic variety show. The way the Rockettes are incorporated into each scene as different characters brings new life to what could be very repetitive dances. The story gives purpose to all of the spectacle and showy musical moments and engages the audience to invest just a little deeper past mere entertainment. 

 

Perhaps the the most necessary element in a Holiday show like this one, is of course the music. Original music was composed by Mark Waldrop, Gary Adler and Mark Hummel and together with the Christmas tunes we all know and love they serenade us into the Christmas spirit, underscoring the New York Holiday tour the show takes us on. With two large organs being played as the audience arrives and a large orchestra that is elevated from the pit. Included with the many Christmas classics are original songs to accompany a brief story throughout starting in the middle of the show. The original songs certainly endear the audience to the characters and create a nice through-line from number to number. The story and original numbers don’t exactly stand alone but the songs and scenes give the show a cohesive quality, Narrated by Santa Claus with Christmas all of our favorite characters the production can pride itself on leaving no entertainment component to the wayside.

 

With live animals, fireworks on stage and awe-inspiring sets, nothing is quite as magical as the thirty-eight dazzling dancers high-kicking in unison to our favorite holiday songs. Honoring tradition and celebrating the season is what the Radio City Rockettes do best and they’ve certainly delivered on it this year as they do every year.

 

Radio City Music Hall

1260 Avenue of the Americas

Tickets available until January 2, 2017

https://www.rockettes.com/christmas/