I took my six year old niece Amanda to the Radio City Christmas Spectacular. This show is, in large part, intended for kids, so to get an unbiased perspective on the show from its intended audience, I asked Amanda for her opinion on the show.

Robert: What were your three favorite parts of the show?

Amanda: The dancing, the costumes and the girls.

Robert: What were your favorite routines?

Amanda: The toy soldier line when they lay down, and the kick lines.

Robert: Should people attend the show?

Amanda: Yeah!

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A few comments from an adult perspective: I last saw the Spectacular in 2004. It was great then, but, if anything, the show has gotten even better. As always, it has a helping of holiday silliness undergirded by some of the most precise dancing you will see anywhere (the stage management was consistently seamless too). One change is of especial note. Most of the show is Santa-focused, with the last segment switching gears to tell the story of the birth of Jesus. In 2004 the narration in the Jesus in the manger finale was fairly heavy handed using a voice of G-d from on high style. This time they had a child narrate the story. Rather than implying "YOU MUST BELIEVE THIS" in all capital letters, the story was simply offered as something worth listening too. I think this new approach is both more appropriate for a wide audience, and should, in the long run, be more effective.

While this is clearly a show for tourists, New Yorkers should strongly consider attending too. New Yorkers have access to some of the best dance and theater in the world. By attending the Radio City Christmas Spectacular, you will have a high baseline against which to compare spectacles you may attend any where else in the world.

Radio City Christmas Spectacular Photo © & courtesy of Tonya Plank

Radio City Christmas Spectacular Photo © & courtesy of Tonya Plank