Radio City Christmas Spectacular

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The Radio City Christmas Spectacular is an annual play that is held every year at New York Citys Radio City Music Hall.The purpose of it is to help audiences get into the proper mood at Christmas time.The show does this with the aid of special effects,music and dance done across various acts. Much of the dancing is done by the dance group known as the Rockettes.The show runs for six weeks from November 9 to December 30th.

The Christmas show has grown over the years.It began in 1933 as a show between movie screenings. This was just one year after the opening of the music hall in 1932.The Parade of the Wooden Soldiers and the living Nativity were the show's only acts.

It was in 1979 that the Christmas show was expanded to 90-minutes to accommodate a number of addtional acts. Other new acts have been added to the show since. Technology that did not exist in 1933 has also expanded the show. Modern machinery has made possible many of the special effects as well as the show's opening 3-D movie.However, over the years the show's basic idea and purpose have never changed. Since 1933 the Radio City Christmas Spectacular has helped generations of people get into the spirit of Christmas.

[edit] Outline

The Christmas Spectacular begins was a 3-D movie that shows Santa Claus riding in his sleigh around some of New York Citys most beautiful attractions. The sights include The Statue of Liberty and the Empire State Building among others. We see Santa riding around each landmark as he makes his way to the Music Hall. When watching this film, it is important to wear the 3-D glasses that the Music hall gives to its patrons.

Once Santa arrives at the Music Hall the movie ends and the show really begins. Santa appears on stage and acts as host. Santa's frist act as host is to introduce the Rockettes to the audience. The dance group than preforms their recently added opening number "I see Christmas everywhere".

When the opening number ends Santa than announces the act called "every little girls dream" which is a scence from the Nutcracker. The scene involves a little girl dreaming about opening her presents on Christmas day. She than dances with the six-foot tall toy bears and rabbits that she finds in the unwrapped boxes.

Next up after that is one of the original acts from the play. One that dates all the way back to 1933. The act is "The Parade of the Wooden Soldiers". This is performed by the Rockettes and has been performed by them every year since 1933. The first time that they did this dance number it was directed by their founder Russell Markeit.

The next dance number starts with Santa trying to explan how he is able to deliver so many presents in one night. It turns out he has a legion of Santa Clauses behind him. Fifty of them come on the stage and dance.

The next act is called "Dance of the Snowflakes" which celebartes the wonders and beauties of a snowy new york night. The act captures the festive mood of the New York Holliday season and holliday shopping along Fifth Avenue.

The next two acts are humorous tours of Santas toy delivery operation and his workshop. We get to meet Mrs. Claus and all of Santas elves. We also learn how into modern technology the Clauses are. The couple shows off their use of mobile phones and fax machines. Santa quickly adds that an old fashioned letter is still the best way to talk to him.

The final act is the nativity which is one of the original acts of the christmas spectacular. It dramatises the birth of Christ. Voiceover narration describes his life and the effect that he has had on history. The act is called "One Solitary Life".

WNBC Metorologist Janice Huff will appear sayng there is little chance of a white christmas

In 2006 the show will be updated with a new dance number, new costumes and new visual effects.

[edit] External links

• Radio City Christmas Spectacular now showing at Radio City Music Hall New York