New York Spectacular

"The Rockettes are the stars of this sensory-overload summer show...But the whole enterprise is misshapen, its disconnected episodes strung together by a story that has no real reason for being and whose human scale feels utterly dwarfed on the gigantic Radio City stage...It’s a glittery pageant, where music, dance and design need to be paramount. Put those at the center, replace cynicism with celebration, and you might have entertainment worth watching." Full Review

"Radio City Music Hall has been trying hard to give its precision-dance troupe, the Rockettes, something to do beyond Christmas — with little luck...But the third time’s the charm. This year’s edition, choreographed and directed by Mia Michaels, uses most of the same building blocks but improves on them — even if the new book, about a tourist family that gets separated in New York City, is still too gushy and rah-rah." Full Review

“The production isn't quite sure what it wants to be. The songs, orchestrated with a hip-hop beat by Christopher Jahnke, are completely unrecognizable. The script rarely has the pithy verve that is Beane's stock-in-trade as a playwright...Under Michaels' slack direction, the dialogue scenes get lost in a stage filled with massive set pieces and projections...Most disappointing is the choreography, which feels rudimentary and devoid of the flair that won Michaels an Emmy.” Full Review

"It all feels like the most expensive and over-the-top I ❤ NY ad, ever. And yet, this celebration of the Big Apple is often hard to resist. From a technical standpoint it's always impressive, with arresting visuals making up for tepid (often garbled) dialogue and performances dwarfed by the cavernous venue. But the show's best special effects are the stylish precision dancers...They're guaranteed to convert even the most jaded natives." Full Review

"'New York Spectacular,' a new summer show that features the Radio City Rockettes and some terrific sets, aims to tap into a similar demographic as Broadway. But its appeal to tourists is more direct. It’s basically a sightseeing tour of New York. In a thin plot, the two children of a family visiting the city get separated from their parents while in the subway...It’s hokey, sure, but the sets and the video and projection design are so visually splendid." Full Review

“An unflattering dark streak runs through this 85-minute evening, ensuring that, although it may be many things, unbridled fun is never really one of them...Beyond curb-stomping credulity, it sets up the show as one based on loss and fear, rather than joy, which is an odd, frequently unsettling approach....Mia Michaels's production feels as if it's making excuses." Full Review

"A sleek, pretty summer musical…Beane's often-too-sweet script is also peppered with jokes only adults will get…Michaels's editing is as sharp as her twitchy, leg-lifting touches. She knows the stars of the show are the Rockettes — and they shine…The show meanders into some weird places...But there's plenty of magic here...'The New York Spectacular' might not be perfect, but it's made huge steps in both editing and technology." Full Review

“An exhilarating ode, paean, and ballad to the spirit of this dynamic city in full throttle. You are literally catapulted into the aorta of NYC with the velocity of an express train. This is the Mount Everest of theatrical spectacle - humans summiting insurmountable ranges of possibility. The view from the top is stupendous. You can only stand on the sidelines and scream your adulation and feverish adoration...Put this at the very top of your summer to do list!” Full Review

"The new eye-popping summer show will not only lift your spirits, but also put you in the most glorious New York state of mind…Michaels has put fire in the bellies of the Rockettes. Their energy, first seen in the opening number set to Taylor Swift’s 'Welcome to New York,' is palpable. And it only gets better…Each production number breathes fresh air into a commodity that dates back to 1925...Beane’s script is chock-full of ripe one-liners, but many get lost in the echoey hall." Full Review

"If you love New York, there are a handful of lump-in-your-throat moments...Sure, they are rather baldly emotionally manipulative, but I for one didn’t care…Director/choreographer Mia Michaels has pulled together a daunting number of elements to put together an extravaganza that can hold its head up high next to the Rockettes’ legendary holiday-season shows. Recommended." Full Review

"I was pleasantly surprised to find myself watching the stage with wide-eyed wonder...The real and the conjured overlapped to astonishing effect. All the digital wizardry, stage craft elements, and human talents were seamlessly organized...Michaels has combined the tradition of the Rockettes chorus line with original, imaginative movement, adding some modern vibrancy and class to the time-honored act...While not requiring great intellect to appreciate the show, it’s a lot of fun." Full Review

"The dominant kid-friendly storyline at times gets tiresome...The pacing suffers and you’re left eagerly awaiting the next big Rockette production number…The new material doesn’t always mix well with the precision type dancing we are used to seeing. However, if you’re game for an updated look and feel, there are still plenty of great performances and much spectacle to be enjoyed in the 'New York Spectacular.'" Full Review

"Both in their billing and physically onstage, the Rockettes become the main attraction — exactly what one might expect from a Radio City experience...The top-notch cast support the production with a story that entertains, teaches, and tugs at the heartstrings, all in equal parts…The choreography was sharp and precise, and one could definitely feel Michaels’ influence in each dance...The beauty of the story is that it never loses its heart, ultimately reminding us to never lose our inner child." Full Review

"A 90-minute brazen, unapologetic and big-budgeted love letter to its own city...The audience comes alive each and every time those famous Rockettes grace the stage. It is an undeniable rush witnessing them all in a single-file line performing simultaneous choreography...You should take a trip and see The Rockettes at least once in your life. Now might be the time." Full Review