Event Review: Radio City Christmas Spectacular Starring the Rockettes

“The wonder of Christmas is closer than you think” hints Santa in this all-new, multifaceted holiday revue starring the world-famous Rockettes, now celebrating their 85th anniversary.Produced by MSG Entertainment, presented by Chase, and presented locally by Performing Arts Fort Worth, the family-friendly Radio City Christmas Spectacular enthralls audiences with dazzling precision dance numbers, awe-inspiring special effects, a nostalgic video tribute to the dance company’s glamorous history, and several additional surprises.

A flurry of disco-ball-light snowflakes falls across the auditorium (David Agress, Lighting Designer) before the timelessly elegant and technically versatile Rockettes are revealed as Santa’s bedazzled reindeer prancing across the stage with twinkle-light antlers and choreography so clever that you’d naturally imagine that reindeer might actually dance that way.After taking off from the North Pole and arriving in Dallas/Fort Worth, Santa (Brent Bateman) strolls through the audience and announces that he’s bearing gifts stockings filled with 180 toes of leggy, peppermint-clad, tap-dancing Rockettes who make each number look absolutely effortless as they maneuver through deceivingly complex choreography with incredible power and stamina (Linda Haberman, Supervising Director).

Delightful themed scenes include “The Nutcracker” in which Clara (ballerina Chloe Ellis) dances amidst a roomful of oversized teddy bears which have come to life, “Let Christmas Shine” spotlighting gorgeous sparkling costumes containing over 3,000 Swarovski crystals each, and perennial favorite “The Parade of The Wooden Soldiers” showcasing a regiment of rigid toy soldiers seamlessly marching in unison to create various moving formations until the “boom” flag of cannon fire precipitates an astonishingly sloooooow slow-motion fall as the Rockettes stand in profile before gently sliding to their backs like a line of dominos.

The ladies then board a life-size double-decker bus during “New York at Christmas”; and as the vehicle moves and pivots in front of a 50-foot LED screen displaying breathtaking imagery, the crowd is transported along on a festive tour of New York City landmarks.In “Here Comes Santa Claus,” jolly Santa demonstrates how he can be in more than one place at a time as he multiplies into a couple dozen replicas exhibiting a variety of masculine-type dance moves that very humorously entertain while simultaneously retaining the classical ‘Rockettes’ style.

“Magic is There” when Santa encounters cute-as-a-button Ben (Colin P. Critchley) and his skeptical older brother Patrick (Major Curda) who are seeking a gift for their sister.Santa whisks the two boys away via a ‘flight’ high over the stage, taking them to his huge toy shop which inflates right before their eyes (Patrick Fahey, Scenic Designer) where they meet Mrs. Claus (Andrea Best) and are helped along in their quest by a company of dancing rag dolls performing an impressive line of jump splits.

The Radio City Singers usher in “The Living Nativity” finale as the inspiring story of the first Christmas is told through a heart-warming Bible reading along with pomp and pageantry featuring stunningly regal new costumes (Gregg Barnes, Pete Menefee, and Frank Krenz, show Costume Designers), and beloved carols such as “The First Noel,” “We Three Kings,” “Hark the Herald,” and “Joy to the World.”

‘Kick’ your holidays into high gear with this memorable holiday production currently running at Verizon Theatre now through Saturday, December 8, 2012 with tickets starting at just $19.95.

Rockettes appearing in various roles throughout this production include:

Emily Blanchard	Bethany Blanchard	Rachel Borgman
Nirine S. Brown	Jessie Crouch	Addie Elsbecker
Melinda Farrell	Kari Gregg	Morgan Hartley
Danielle M. Horn	Laura Ann Iberg	Kerry Margolin
Margaret McPherson	Megan Miller	Stacy Paydo
Megan Peterson	Barbi Powers	Summer Renner
Tori Schelling	Becky Elizabeth Stout	Corey Whalen