One of the greatest and most beloved American holiday traditions, the Radio City Christmas Spectacular Starring The Rockettes, will be available on DVD for the first time on November 4th. Two titans of entertainment, Time Life and Madison Square Garden Entertainment, are partnering to bring this national treasure and American icon to fans everywhere. The DVD will afford viewers the opportunity to enjoy the cherished holiday show from their own homes as the world-famous Radio City Rockettes perform on the Great Stage of Radio City Music Hall. The Christmas Spectacular is America's #1 Holiday show and has played to more than 65 million people in its 76 year history. In 2008, more than 1.2 million fans will attend the New York City production and an additional 1 million patrons are expected to see the debut of the brand new Arena tour production and the theatre's touring version of The Christmas Spectacular this year.
"The Christmas Spectacular is a meticulously produced and beautifully unique celebration of the holiday season," says Mike Jason, Senior V.P. Audio & Video Retail at Time Life. "It has been a Christmas tradition for three generations in my family and we at Time Life are honored to be sharing the show with new and old fans."
"MSG Entertainment is proud to partner with Time Life to distribute the first ever DVD of the Radio City Christmas Spectacular," added Jonathan Hochwald, EVP Productions, MSG Entertainment. "The Christmas Spectacular is a cherished holiday tradition and this beautiful recording will bring the spirit and warmth of our holiday production right into the homes of families nationwide."
The Radio City Christmas Spectacular was filmed last year as part of the 75th celebration and was broadcast as a primetime special on NBC, produced by
Don Hewitt of 60 Minutes. The Radio City Christmas Spectacular Starring The Rockettes DVD will include the entire 90 minute live show featuring the world famous Radio City Rockettes with their signature eye high kicks and astounding precision choreography. Traditional fan-favorites like the "Living Nativity" and the "Parade of the Wooden Soldiers," which have been in the show since 1933, remain a vital part of the show's core. The new scene, "New York at Christmas," showcases the world-famous Rockettes onboard a REAL double-decker gray line tour bus for a once in a lifetime tour of Manhattan. The Rockettes and audience take a tour of historic landmarks such as the Empire State Building, 5th Avenue's store windows and even Central Park. They arrive in Time Square, where they perform a show-stopping number surrounded by all the lights and excitement that only New York City can generate. The number climaxes with a live fireworks display onstage! The Christmas Spectacular includes dramatic theatrical lighting effects, breathtaking imagery, flying characters and an array of glamorous costumes, leaving no doubts about the magic of Christmas at Radio City.
The Radio City Christmas Spectacular has been a holiday tradition since its inception in 1933, when it was originally performed as a holiday "gift" between movie screenings. It has long since become the main event and draws people from all over the world who have made it a holiday tradition. In 1994, due to popular demand, MSG Entertainment broadened the beloved holiday theatrical's schedule for the first time to encompass markets outside of New York, while running simultaneously with the New York production. Since then, the Radio City Christmas Spectacular has performed in top cities across North America. In its 14-year combined history outside of New York, as well as the production at Radio City Music Hall, the Radio City Christmas Spectacular has played to more than 65 million people in 31 different cities. In 2008, The Christmas Spectacular touring production will entertain audiences once again in 5 cities including Buffalo, Cleveland, Chicago, St. Louis and Nashville.
This year marks the debut of a whole new Spectacular, re-imagined specifically for large-scale venues and playing to 18 cities across the country. This production will redefine family entertainment in an Arena setting, as this brand new show replicates the magic of the Christmas Spectacular at Radio City Music Hall in its biggest production ever.
