Press Release

Monday, September 14, 2009

RADIO CITY CHRISTMAS SPECTACULAR STARRING THE ROCKETTES - November 13 & 14, 2009 - Bell Centre

Due to the overwhelmings success of its inaugural tour, the RADIO CITY CHRISTMAS SPECTACULAR arena tour expands to 30 cities in North America this Holiday Season!

Montreal, QC, September 14, 2009 – Gillett Entertainment Group and Madison Square Garden Entertainment (MSGE) are proud to announce that the Bell Centre will host the Radio City Christmas Spectacular, starring the world famous Rockettes, for the first time ever. This beloved holiday show will delight the entire family when it takes the stage in Montreal for two shows in English only on Friday, November 13 at 7pm and Saturday, November 14th at 11am.

In 2008, the Arena tour debuted to rave reviews in 18 cities with the launch of the biggest production in the show’s 77 year history and redefined family entertainment in an Arena setting. Due to overwhelming success, this year the tour will expand to 30 cities across North America making it the most cities the Christmas Spectacular has ever toured in one season. The tour will kick off in four Canadian cities (Hamilton, Montreal, Ottawa and Toronto) and then continue to U.S. cities including Memphis, Philadelphia, Washington, D.C., Charlotte, and Orlando, among others. The expansion of the Christmas Spectacular Arena tour will allow more people than ever before to experience the magic of this one of a kind production.

The Arena production was specifically designed for large-scale venues and replicates the grandeur of the Christmas Spectacular at Radio City Music Hall on an entirely different scale.  Audiences are taken on a theatrical journey that the entire family can enjoy together. Christmas Spectacular Children thrill as Santa takes the audience on a magical sleighride to the North Pole, while parents marvel at the unparalleled precision dance of the Rockettes.  The is truly unique in its universal appeal to people of all ages.  From small children to grandparents, this dazzling holiday production is guaranteed to bring smiles to their faces and help create a wonderful family memory to last a lifetime.

“The Radio City Christmas Spectacular is the #1 live holiday production in the world and has been a cherished part of holiday family traditions for generations.   We are thrilled to build upon last year’s success and expand this extraordinary tour to more cities than ever before,” said Jonathan Hochwald, executive vice president, Productions, MSG Entertainment. “We look forward to bringing the spirit and warmth of our holiday production to more people than ever with the largest traveling Christmas celebration ever created.”

Directed and choreographed by Linda Haberman, who conceived and directed the critically acclaimed 75th celebratory show at Radio City Music Hall, the Arena production was specifically designed to play in large venues scaled to capacities ranging from 7,000 – 12,000.  This multi-faceted theatrical touring production was completely constructed for an arena space, allowing the audience to experience the magic of the Christmas Spectacular like never before.  Hitting the road in November, the show celebrates Christmas with dramatic arena lighting effects; breathtaking imagery; new musical compositions; and an array of glamorous new costumes. The touring production features high-energy, tap-infused Rockette performance numbers, breathtaking sets that surround the audience, and special effects that fill the venue.

“My vision for the Rockettes and the Christmas Spectacular has always been to explore scale and take the precision dance form to new levels, whether in a theatrical venue or an arena space,” said Linda Haberman, director and choreographer, Radio City Christmas Spectacular. “In my view, the mark of a true classic is that it is timeless, relevant and can be re-interpreted to push artistic boundaries.”

The production is enhanced by an immense LED screen that transports the audience from a wintry landscape to Times Square to Santa’s Workshop right before their very eyes. The larger than life sets and awe-inspiring special effects allow families to connect with both the intimacy and grandness of the Christmas Spectacular as they are immersed in the warmth and grandeur of the holiday spirit. From the moment guests settle into their seats, the audience becomes part of the Spectacular’s magical experience.

Traditional fan-favorites like “Parade of the Wooden Soldiers,” which continues to set the standard as the signature Rockette number for precision performance, and “the Living Nativity” remain a vital part of the show’s core. And the Rockettes will undoubtedly bring the audience to their feet with a Rockette finale “Let Christmas Shine,” which honors and celebrates the Rockettes as the stars of the show.

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 Radio City Christmas Spectacular creates wonderful memories for more than two million patrons each year and has been enjoyed by approximately 67 million people in 43 cities since its inception in 1933.  The Rockettes are an American treasure and their performance style has always been both entirely glamorous and deceivingly complex.  As the stars of the legendary Christmas Spectacular, the Rockettes will move this new production forward as they showcase their signature precision dance style and debut some of the most challenging and freshest Rockette numbers that have ever been conceived.

MSG Entertainment

MSG Entertainment (MSGE), the live entertainment arm of Cablevision Systems Corporations, is a worldwide entertainment company recognized for its signature combination of event production and entertainment marketing. In addition to the nearly 700 entertainment concerts and events that take place each year at Radio City Music Hall, Madison Square Garden, The WaMu 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 43 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 WaMu Theater at Madison Square Garden and runs every holiday season.  More than six million people attend MSG Entertainment branded events annually including concerts, special events, and family attractions.

TICKETS ON SALE ON SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 19, 2009!