RADIO CITY CHRISTMAS SPECTACULAR Returns to Boston this Holiday Season, 12/3

The World Famous Radio City Rockettes will star in the Radio City Christmas Spectacular as the beloved holiday production returns to Citi Performing Arts Center Wang TheatreSM. By popular demand, the theatrical classic is making a return engagement for this year's 2010 holiday season after a four-year absence. The Christmas Spectacular made its extremely successful Boston debut in 2004, playing to sold-out houses and breaking box office records, ultimately playing to more than 200,000 theatergoers during its three-week run. The return engagement in 2006 repeated that success. Presented by John Hancock, the 2010 edition of The Christmas Spectacular, starring the Radio City Rockettes, will play the Citi Performing Arts Center Wang Theatre from Friday, December 3 to Wednesday, December 29 for 53 dazzling performances.

Tickets for the Radio City Christmas Spectacular are on sale to the public at the Citi Performing Arts Center Box Office, online at www.citicenter.org or by calling 866-348-9738. Groups of 10 or more may reserve tickets now by contacting Citi Performing Arts Center Group Sales at 617-532-1116 or at groupsales@citicenter.org

The Christmas Spectacular is exactly that...a spectacular. A cast and crew of nearly 100 people will return to Boston this season to deliver a holiday show experience like never before. The Radio City Christmas Spectacular is sure to give audiences holiday memories to last a lifetime. Children of all ages will be enchanted by live holiday entertainment as teddy bears dance, wooden soldiers come to life, reindeer fly, Santa and his elves prepare for their biggest night of the year, and the Radio City Rockettes perform their fancy footwork and eye-high kicks. The New York Times says, "BRILLIANT! It lifts the spirit and spreads warmth, joy and good will!"

"We are really looking forward to our return engagement in Boston this holiday season," said Jonathan Hochwald, EVP Productions, MSG Entertainment. "Boston audiences are the best! They loved every minute of The Christmas Spectacular in 2004 and 2006 and we can't wait to kick off the holidays again on the beautiful Citi Performing Arts Center Wang Theatre stage!"

Those who may have glowing memories of the famed New York production of the Radio City Christmas Spectacular will be thrilled to see the energy and excitement of this holiday tradition as it returns to Boston. Famed dance numbers featured in this production include "The Parade of the Wooden Soldiers" and "The Living Nativity," both of which have been performed in The Christmas Spectacular since it debuted in 1933. In addition to the traditional favorites, the stage will come alive with newer scenes that will amaze audiences including "The 12 Days of Christmas," a sizzling Rockette tap number, and "Christmas in New York," a high-kicking Rockette number direct from the stage of New York City. The Radio City Christmas Spectacular offers audiences non-stop excitement from the first notes of the overture until the curtain falls.

"We are thrilled that the world famous Radio City Rockettes are coming back to the Citi Performing Arts Center Wang Theatre," said Josiah A. Spaulding, Jr., President and CEO of the Citi Performing Arts Center. "It's hard to believe that four years have passed since they last played here. We have heard from so many families that experienced the Radio City Christmas Spectacular in its two previous visits, and look forward to including the show in their holiday plans. We are proud to present them with the opportunity to continue the tradition."

In 1994, due to popular demand, MSG Entertainment (MSGE) broadened the beloved holiday theatrical production'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 been performed in many cities across North America including Boston, Atlanta, St. Louis, Chicago, Detroit, Ft. Lauderdale, Denver, Cleveland, Columbus, Dallas, Seattle, Nashville, Phoenix and many more. In 2009 alone, the Radio City Christmas Spectacular was enjoyed by more than 2 million people. In its 16-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 69 million people. In 2008, MSGE debuted the Radio City Christmas Spectacular Arena Tour to critical acclaim, visiting 18 cities nationwide including Austin, Cincinnati, Baltimore, Houston, Oklahoma City, Little Rock and many more. Due to the success of the Arena Tour, in 2009 MSGE expanded the tour to 31 cities, marking the company's largest Christmas Spectacular tour in the history of the show. In 2010, the Radio City Christmas Spectacular will play in 20 cities.

For more than three quarters of a century, the Radio City Rockettes have entertained millions of families with their eye-high kicks and unparalleled precision dance. The Rockettes are an American treasure and their performances feature unparalleled glamour and thrilling and complex choreography. The world's most famous precision dance troupe has been a legendary force in entertainment, with a history rich in skill and dedication to their craft. The dance troupe first kicked to life in 1925 as the "Missouri Rockets" and made their show business debut in St. Louis, the realization of a long-time dream of their creator, Russell Markert. Since their inception, The Rockettes have strutted their way into the hearts of millions and have made the Radio City Christmas Spectacular a staple of holiday magic. The Radio City Rockettes perform with a signature precision that perpetually delights every new audience. Indeed, these "dancing daughters" - as their founder, Russell Markert always referred to them - have not only persevered for more than 80 years, but are thriving now more than ever.

Ticket Information
The Radio City Christmas Spectacular, presented by John Hancock, plays at the Citi Performing Arts Center Wang Theatre during the 2010 holiday season for 53 dazzling performances, December 3-29, 2010; a complete performance schedule is available at www.citicenter.org/rockettes. Single ticket prices range from $79.50 to $25; all prices include a $3 Citi Performing Arts Center Wang Theatre facility fee per ticket. Limited Gold Circle seating is available for $130. New for 2010, exclusive pre-show meet-and-greet packages with the Radio City Rockettes in the Metropolitan Room are available at select performances; meet-and-greet package prices range in price from $108 - 169. Tickets for the Radio City Christmas Spectacular are on
sale to the public at the Citi Performing Arts Center Box Office, online at www.citicenter.org/rockettes or by calling 866-348-9738. Groups of 10 or more may reserve tickets now by contacting Citi Performing Arts Center Group Sales at 617-532-1116 or at groupsales@citicenter.org

MSG Entertainment (MSGE), the live entertainment arm of Madison Square Garden, Inc. (Nasdaq: MSG), is a Worldwide Entertainment company recognized for its signature combination of event production and entertainment marketing. In addition to the nearly 900 entertainment concerts and events that take place each year at Radio City Music Hall, Madison Square Garden, The Theater at Madison Square Garden, The Beacon Theatre and The Chicago Theatre, MSGE has an exclusive co-booking agreement with Boston's Citi Performing Arts Center/Wang Theatre. MSG Entertainment's live events include the Radio City Christmas Spectacular, which includes the national arena tour and the theatrical tour and has played to more than 63 different cities across North America. Additionally, MSGE has an ongoing partnership with Cirque du Soleil to create new content and productions for its venues. Wintuk, which premiered in 2007, was built exclusively for The Theater at Madison Square Garden and runs every holiday season. Banana Shpeel, which opened in Chicago in 2009, will premiere in New York in 2010. More than five million people attend MSG Entertainment branded events annually including concerts, special events, and family attractions.

Citi Performing Arts Center, which includes both the Wang Theatre and Shubert Theatre, is one of the nation's foremost not-for-profit performing arts institutions. As New England's largest cultural venue, it honors all aspects of the performing arts offering theatre, opera, classical and popular music, international ballet, contemporary dance, one-night engagements, and Broadway musicals. As a 501(c) (3) nonprofit organization located in Boston's historical Theater District, Citi Performing Arts Center offers a diverse mix of educational workshops, lectures, and community activities through its education department; collaborates with artists and local performing arts organizations, and acts as a champion for the arts in the Greater Boston community by aggressively helping to make the arts an integral part of the community's collective, daily experience. For further information, please go to www.citicenter.org

To post a comment, you must register and login.