THEATRE REVIEW: "Radio City Christmas Spectacular" at the Rosemont Theatre (Rosemont, IL)

    In December of 1997, my grandparents took my sister and I to see the Chicago Premiere of the "Radio City Christmas Spectacular" (starring The Rockettes) at the Rosemont Theatre in Rosemont, IL.  I was on winter break from the sixth grade of school.  I had seen the First National Tour of Disney's "Beauty and the Beast" just a few weeks before.  The Chicago Premiere of the "Radio City Christmas Spectacular" was originally scheduled to perform from December 11th through 17th, 1997.  But, due to popular demand, the schedule of performances changed to December 12th through 27th, of 1997.  I don't know why December 11th was no longer a performance day.  Maybe The Rockettes needed to answer fan letters that day.  Or maybe they needed to do Christmas shopping.  Or possibly they had to celebrate New Year's Eve on December 11th because they were performing in another city that day...or...night.

     The 1997 Chicago (Rosemont) Engagement of the "Radio City Christmas Spectacular" only ran for two weeks.  The engagements the following years played for about a month.  I had never heard of this show before going to see it in 1997.  That must be because I grew up in the midwest.  Or I was just an oblivious child to many things.  By the next year, throughout the holiday season, the commercial for the "Radio City Christmas Spectacular" would play constantly on TV.  

     As far as the show itself, I only remember a few things about it.  There was a scene, or "number," where the Rockettes were mimicking wooden soldiers, and pulled it off flawlessly.  It was flawless to the extent that I didn't know the "wooden soldiers" were the Rockettes.  I said something during intermission (?) about the wooden soldiers looking lifelike, and my sister explained to me that they were the Rockettes.   Another thing I remember is a manic rendition of the Jerry Herman holiday song "We Need a Little Christmas" at the beginning of the show (I didn't know that song was originally from the musical "Mame").  But what I remember most about the show isn't the infamous Rockette kick line.  It was the Nativity scene that kept being repeated some how... maybe three or four times.  It was towards the end of the show and I didn't understand why Mary and Joseph kept raising there arms in a "ta-daah" Finale pose. It wasn't just that.  The scene would change from the Nativity setup, only to go back to it again.  Then once again, the "ta-daah" pose.  At least they didn't do jazz hands or give the audience a thumbs up.  Or Mary and Joseph could have sung a rendition of "Hey Big Spender" from the musical "Sweet Charity."  Well, the cost of Christmas shopping does add up...  The cast of this production included Skip Lackey (Santa Claus) and Cynthia Gray (Mrs. Claus).  The Rockettes were played by Amanda Bishop, Julie Branam, Ann Cooley, Jennifer Lee Crowl, Palmer Davis, Meg Huggins, Shari Jordan, Dontee Kiehn, Corinna Lindholm, Stephanie Lang, Leslie Miller, Jennifer Leigh Marquardt, Heather Pugsley, Mia Price, Michele Tolson, Jennifer Schwerer, Ginger Weingand, Jennifer Werner, Karen Ann Whaley, and Tiffany Whitaker.

     Seeing the "Radio City Christmas Spectacular" back in 1997 is a fond memory for me.  I suppose the ads were right by saying it is the "World's Biggest Christmas Show."  Then again,  both the musical version of "A Christmas Carol" I saw at the theatre in Madison Square Garden (1996), and the Goodman Theatre Production of "A Christmas Carol" were pretty big shows.  Also, I've never seen a production of "The Nutcracker," but I'm sure that is a pretty big show too.  Yet, the Premiere Chicago (Rosemont) Production of the "Radio City Christmas Spectacular" featured 100 cast and crew members, 200 hats, 3 camels, 5 sheep, 2 donkeys, and 1 dog.  That WAS a big show!