Christmas Spectacular
I was fortunate enough to enjoy the Christmas Spectacular at Radio City (featuring the legendary Radio City Rockettes!) with my youngest daughter during the holiday season. The show was incredible and I can certainly understand how the show is a Christmas staple for some people. It was my first time visiting Radio City and all the Christmas decorations blew me away! We made sure to arrive for our 10:00 pm show an hour early to take in all the sights and snap lots of photos.
Christmas in NYC
Is there a more magical place than NYC during the holidays? My daughter and I had plans to take in as many holiday sights as possible during our 3-day visit to the city. We hit the Plaza, Central Park, Rockefeller Center, St. Patrick’s Cathedral, Fifth Ave, The Winter Market at Bryant Park, and so much more. With such a packed schedule, I didn’t think we would have time for a show at Radio City Music Hall. I was delighted to find that the Christmas Spectacular was having a 10:00 pm showing and it fit perfectly in our schedule! The late showing allowed us to tour the city during the day, grab a nap to recharge, have a nice dinner, and then head out to see the famous Rockettes!
Radio City Music Hall
Radio City Music Hall was built in 1932, as part of the construction of Rockefeller Center. The 5,960-seat Music Hall was the larger of two venues built for Rockefeller Center’s “Radio City” section, the other being Center Theater; the “Radio City” name came to apply only to the Music Hall. It was largely successful until the 1970s when the theater nearly went bankrupt. Radio City was designated a New York City Landmark in May 1978, and it was restored and allowed to remain open. The theater was extensively renovated in 1999.
Currently Radio City hosts televised events including the Grammy Awards, the Tony Awards, the Daytime Emmy Awards, the MTV Video Music Awards, and the NFL Draft, as well as university graduation ceremonies.
Christmas Spectacular Starring the Radio City Rockettes
The Christmas Spectacular starring the Radio City Rockettes is an annual musical holiday stage show. It’s a 90-minute show that features more than 140 performers and an original musical score and combines singing, dancing, and humor with traditional scenes. The stars of the show are the Rockettes, a women’s precision dance troupe. Thanks to the Rockettes, the show has become a New York Christmas tradition since 1933!
I would be remiss if I didn’t mention the diversity struggles the Rockettes have faced in their history. The first non-white Rockette, a Japanese-born woman named Setsuko Maruhashi, was not hired until 1985. The Rockettes did not allow dark-skinned dancers into the dance line until 1987. Sadly the first African American Rockette was not selected until 1987. Jennifer Jones made her debut in 1988 at the Super Bowl XXII halftime show.
As African American women, my daughter and I were pleased to see that the Rockette lineup includes diversity. It made the Christmas Spectacular even more enjoyable.
Everything You Need To Know For The Show
The Christmas Spectacular Starring the Radio City Rockettes runs at Radio City Music Hall from November 17, 2023, to January 4, 2024. The 2024 holiday dates will be released soon so you can grab your tickets early. Most days there are 6-7 showings per day. There are morning shows, afternoon shows, and evening shows available, which makes planning your visit super convenient! I paid $160.00 (per ticket) for 2 tickets and I had great seats. We sat on the first Mezzanine and had clear, unobstructed views of the stage!
I suggest arriving at Radio City at least 1 hour before your show is scheduled. The lobby is decorated so beautifully, that you’ll want to spend time taking it all in. There are several concession stands in the lobby so be sure to grab some snacks and drinks (alcohol is available for the adults) before the show. Keep in mind that it’s NYC so don’t be shocked at the concession prices. A glass of Pinot Noir was $16.00 and I also spent $20.00 for a souvenir tub of popcorn.
Once you’ve snapped all your photos in the lobby and purchased your snacks, sit back, relax, and enjoy every second of the Christmas Spectacular!
Thanks for Reading!
Thank you so much for reading and I hope this post inspires you to add the Christmas Spectacular Starring the Radio City Rockettes to your holiday plans next year!
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