Rockettes take their show on the road
Theater Christmas event features flying Santas and classic favorites

By The Associated Press

Published: November 14, 2008

CINCINNATI — The Rockettes — the world-famous precision dance troupe that has entertained audiences at New York’s Radio City Music Hall for 76 years — are bringing their flashy high kicks and precision tapping for the first time to arenas — including Dec. 26-28 at the Ford Center in Oklahoma City.

Featured Gallery

 

Advertisement

The large-scale version of the "Radio City Christmas Spectacular” designed specifically for arena settings recently made its world premiere at Minneapolis’ Target Center.

The cast and crew recently were in Cincinnati rehearsing before the whirlwind 60-day tour brings them back to this city in late November.

The leggy chorus line of Rockettes — along with Santas flying over the audience, ice skaters, live fireworks and a living Nativity scene with live camels — descends on arenas in 18 cities across the Midwest and South.

Smaller, edited versions of previous Radio City Christmas shows have toured before in a few cities, but always in theater settings, said Jonathan Hochwald, executive vice president of productions for Madison Square Garden Entertainment, which owns and operates Radio City, the Rockettes and the Christmas show.

"We wanted to duplicate what we do in New York, but in a one-of-a-kind live entertainment experience, and using large-scale venues like arenas holding 7,000 to 12,000 people was the only way to do it right,” Hochwald said.

Billed as the largest, most ambitious production of the famed holiday extravaganza, the multimillion-dollar touring version replicates last year’s 75th anniversary spectacular while adding a secondary stage and special effects not possible in theater settings. The secondary stage where ice skaters entertain extends into the audience, and Santas fly overhead, providing a three-dimensional perspective not found in theaters, Hochwald said.

Moving a live show with more than 175 cast and crew members, 1,300 costumes, 10 live animals, 2,500 pounds of artificial snow, flying sequences, and special effects requires a lot of logistical planning, said Jeff Capitola, vice president of touring productions for MSG Entertainment. He said 34 trucks and 13 buses are needed to transports sets, cast and crew over 4,900 miles during the tour.

MSG Entertainment turned to Tait Towers Inc., which has designed staging for rock tours by U2, the Rolling Stones and Madonna, to build the complex stage set.

"We had to create a structure that can be dismantled in four hours,” said James Fairorth, president of Tait Towers. "I think this rivals any spectacular that U2 or the Rolling Stones have put on.”

Backstage is a beehive of activity with Rockettes required to change costumes eight times during the show — sometimes in as little as 78 seconds.

Onstage, traditional favorites such as the precision tap routine with Rockettes dressed as toy soldiers in crisp red and white military uniforms topped with tall black hats remain an essential part of the spectacular.

Rockette Marcella Seymour sat at the Cincinnati rehearsals watching her fellow dancers perform the toy soldier routine that she says she never tires of watching or performing.

"I was 5 when my father took me to see my first Christmas show at Radio City, and my eyes lit up when I saw those beautiful ladies performing,” said Seymour, who said that was when she decided to be a Rockette. "I think this new show will just blow the audience away.”

New routines add more modern choreography and high-tech backdrops and effects.

The arena tour is exciting for the Rockettes. Jaime Windrow previously has performed only in the New York show but asked to be part of the new tour. "It’s a chance to be part of history with this brand-new, huge production,” Windrow said.

Other U.S. and Canadian cities could be added over the next two years, with an international tour a possibility, Hochwald said.

Your thoughts!