Search

A Dazzling New Finale for the 2018 Christmas Spectacular Starring the Radio City Rockettes

The Christmas Spectacular Starring the Radio City Rockettes® has been lighting up Radio City Music Hall since 1933. To this day, Santa and the legendary dancing troupe, the Rockettes, entertain, engage, and inspire families from around the world each holiday season. By New Year's Day 2019, over a million people will have seen the show during this season alone!

The Rockettes

But there are a few new surprises around the corner. Whether you’ve never seen Christmas Spectacular® or are a veteran audience member, you’re sure to be wowed by the brand-new final number, “Christmas Lights,” premiering at the 2018 show.   

The penultimate number is “Living Nativity,” a recreation of the birth of Jesus during the very first Christmas. Mary, Joseph, the shepherds, and the angels sit in wonder beneath the North Star. Then the lights will fade, and the star will be joined by 100 drones. These flying lights will create a display to take your breath away.

These drones will dazzle the wide expanse of Radio City Music Hall, gathering around Santa then reassembling so the Rockettes can perform their final dance. This exhilarating new number has been added to the show thanks to Tony, Drama Desk and Olivier Award-nominated director Sam Buntrock. The new Rockettes costumes for “Christmas Lights” are designed by the Tony and Drama Desk Award-nominated Emilio Sosa.

“As the number one holiday show in America, the Christmas Spectacular has been a beloved holiday tradition for generations and we want to ensure we’re doing everything we can, including pushing artistic boundaries, creating new experiences and embracing innovation, to capture the enthusiasm and allegiance of generations to come,” said Victoria Parker, executive vice president, productions, The Madison Square Garden Company. 

Radio City Christmas Spectacular

As with last year’s Christmas Spectacular, this performance will utilize the gigantic LED wall at the back of the stage (one of the largest in the world, in fact). These lights will enliven classic numbers like “The 12 Days of Christmas,” “Nutcracker,” and “Here Comes Santa Claus.” Projected images of the North Pole, Central Park, and Bethlehem will echo on the wide proscenium arches surrounding the stage. These enhancements have been added by the design firms Obscura Digital and batwin + robin. You’ll dive into the world of the show like never before!   

The 2018 Christmas Spectacular is presented by Chase, offering Chase Preferred Seating to its customers at Radio City Music Hall for this show. Talbots is the Official Women’s Fashion and Footwear Partner this year. In one of the show’s magical numbers, the row of storefronts onstage will now include Talbots as two brothers shop for a Christmas gift for their sister. Stay tuned for Rockettes appearances in Talbots promotional materials and in-person at the Talbots store on Madison Avenue.

The Christmas Spectacular will run from November 9 to January 1, 2019 this holiday season. Tickets are on sale now!

The Radio City box office is located at 1260 6th Avenue between W. 50th and 51st Streets. Call Ticketmaster at 1-866-858-0007 or visit rockettes.com/christmas for tickets and more.

About the Author

Merrill Lee Girardeau lives and writes in Brooklyn.

Bringing a group to NYC? Free planning services

Let us know what you are looking for and we will try to connect you directly and get discounts.

Enter the code: 3972

More Articles