What is The Radio City Christmas Spectacular & why you should see it

The Rockettes have been charming New York City every holiday season since 1933, and this year, too, is no different! the Radio City Christmas Spectacular is one of the city’s most popular traditions. In a 90-minute stage show that brilliantly combines singing, synchronized dancing and humor, the Christmas Spectacular will instantly get you in the holiday spirit.

In addition to famous numbers like "Rag Doll" and the “Parade of Wooden Soldiers”, get immersed in the story of two brothers who are trying to find a gift for their sister. There are also various other attractions like aerialists, spectacular lights, videos on some of the largest LED screens and more. As you might imagine, months and months of hard work and practice go into making this show happen. There’s probably a thing or two else you don’t know about this favorite New York holiday ritual. That’s why we’ve created a list of 10 impressive and amazing facts you should know about the Radio City Christmas Spectacular, the Radio City Music Hall and the talented Rockettes.

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1. Largest Indoor Theatre: Radio City Music Hall is the largest indoor theatre in the world. It has a seating capacity of 5960 that can be extended to 6,000. It is almost an entire city-block long!



2. Decades of Tradition: Some of the scenes, including “Parade of Wooden Soldiers” and the “Living Nativity” have remained nearly unchanged since the show’s first staging in 1932.



3. Musical Shoes: The Rockettes wear wireless microphones in their shoes to amplify the sounds of their tap dancing — and those mics pick up every sound, so dancers have to be extra careful with their footwork onstage!



4. Stars on Stage: Some of America’s most popular entertainers have graced the Radio City Music Hall stage, including Frank Sinatra, Ella Fitzgerald, Ray Charles and BB King.



5. Rockettes Cast: At any given season, there are 80 women who are Rockettes, 40 each on the morning and afternoon cast. Each show has 36 women on stage at a time, with four “swings”, who can fill in if required.



6. Dressing Up: Red lips, false eyelashes, and some good mascara are key makeup requirements. Oh, and double-sided tape. That’s right; the ladies get their rosy red cheeks for the toy soldier number by attaching little red felt circles to their cheeks with strips of double-sided tape.



7. Massive Scale Production: It takes more than 250 people to stage the Radio City Christmas Spectacular, including the cast, which is comprised of over 150 singers, dancers and musicians.



8. Extravagant Feasts: During the show’s run, it is estimated that the animals from the Nativity scene drink 450 bottles of water and eat 340 bales of hay and 560 loaves of 7-grain bread.



9. Rigorous Practice: The Rockettes practice six hours a day, six days a week, for six weeks. When shows are on, the dancers can kick up to 650 times in one day. That’s a whole lotta leg work!



10. Colossal Props: The double-decker bus in the “New York at Christmas” scene weighs 7 tons, is 34 feet long and 12 feet high! In the course of the show’s 8-week run, it will travel approximately 37 miles onstage!

It’s one thing to read about what is the Radio City Christmas Spectacular, but it’s another thing to see the extravaganza live! Over one million people attend the show annually. No, this is not a tourist trap. It’s just that good! Tourists, locals — doesn’t matter. This is a seasonal show you don’t want to miss. So hurry up! Book discounted Christmas Spectacular tickets.