The creative team has been revealed for a revamped version of the Rockettes’ summer show at Radio City Music Hall.
The new venture from the Rockettes premiered in spring 2015 under the title New York City Spring Spectacular, featuring direction by Diane Paulus and Warren Carlyle, who also choreographed.
Rechristened as New York Spectacular Starring The Radio City Rockettes, it will bow anew June 15 at Radio City. The new incarnation will be directed and choreographed by Emmy Award winner Mia Michaels (Finding Neverland, So You Think You Can Dance), who choreographed the 2015 Spectacular’s opening number.
“I am so excited to be returning to Radio City as the director and choreographer of New York Spectacular and am looking forward to working with this exceptional creative team to bring our audiences on a fantastical journey through New York City with the Rockettes front and center as the stars of the show,” Michaels said in a statement. “Audiences will be immersed in this dynamic production with a storyline that is layered with crazy, fun, new technology; popular music with a twist; and exciting choreography, building on some of the work that we did with the Rockettes last year. The Rockettes are such a special group of women and no other dance company in the world delivers the same kind of passion, femininity and power through dance. It is going to be an epic ride!”
Tony Award-nominated playwright Douglas Carter Beane (The Little Dog Laughed, Xanadu, Sister Act) has been enlisted to write a new book for the summer production. The 2016 presentation, according to MSG Entertainment, “celebrates New York City in the summertime centered around the trip of a lifetime for two kids, who, while on a vacation in New York, are separated from their parents. The city magically comes to life to show them its many splendid wonders and helps to reunite their family in the end.”
Joshua Harmon (Bad Jews, Significant Other) authored the book for the original Spring Spectacular. That production co-starred Laura Benanti and Derek Hough. Casting for the 2016 engagement has not been announced.
Newly added to the creative team are Alain Lortie as lighting designer and multi-media and entertainment studio Moment Factory as video designer. Returning from the 2015 inaugural production are set designer Patrick Fahey and costume designer Emilio Sosa, and from the Radio City Christmas Spectacular, SCK Sound Design.
Performances are scheduled through August 7. For tickets visit Rockettes.com/newyork or phone (866) 858-0007.
