The Top Seven NYC Holiday Shows to See in 2021
The show must go on! Or in the case of Broadway, Off-Broadway, Lincoln Center and Radio City Music Hall – the show is going to go on – finally! After an 18 month shut down – that seriously seemed like years to fans of Broadway, ballet and the like – live performance venues are back in business and we here at Beyond Times Square are beyond thrilled. With each passing week more of our favorites are lighting up their marquis, ushering us to our seats, reminding us to turn off our cell phones, dimming the lights, raising the curtain and performing live and in person to theater goers who are teeming with emotion as they take it all in – many of whom are certainly vowing never to take them for granted again.
That being said – we figured that there may be some of you who are going to be spending the holidays with us that aren’t quite sure which holiday shows are coming back this year, if there are any new offerings and, of course, which the experts here at BTSQ recommend. Hence the reason for this blog is to take all the guess work out of it, so you have one less stressor this holiday season. Think of it as our early Christmas present to you.
So, find your seat, open that annoying candy wrapper before it gets quiet and read on for our picks for the top seven NYC holiday shows in 2021!
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Christmas Spectacular Starring the Radio City Rockettes®
Those high kicking, synchronicity loving, fabulously talented Rockettes are back – and we hear that they will be featured in more numbers than ever at this year’s show – a total of nine all together – to which we say, it’s about time! This is due in part to the return of “Snow” – a fan favorite featuring the dancers each dressed in similar but unique customs so that no two are exactly alike – just like – yup – snowflakes. And of course, in addition to the Rockettes there will be plenty of other numbers filled with holiday cheer, humor, singing, dancing, faith and feel good moments. The show runs 90 minutes with no intermission, and you can catch one of it’s approximately 183 shows – up to four on some days! – from November 5th through January 2nd.
The Elf on the Shelf: The Musical
Ahhh yes – that extremely popular Christmas tradition comes to life – and to New York City – for just one day this holiday season – December 26th. Taking place at the Kings Theater in Brooklyn the beloved elves – sent to make sure the kiddos are behaving every year in December and then reporting back to Santa nightly – give us a glimpse of their life at the North Pole. The production is sure to be fun for the entire family – but especially the children that that have partaken in the tradition over the years – giving their elf a name, being on their best behavior and awakening each morning to see what he got into overnight after he returned from his journey back to see the big guy as they slept. Performances of The Elf on the Shelf: The Musical are slated for 2:00pm and 7:00pm and we recommend grabbing your tickets now before they disappear – just like that mischievous elf on the shelf does after the holidays are over.
Big Band Holidays at Lincoln Center
The Jazz at the Lincoln Center Orchestra with Wynton Marsalis returns for an upbeat, soulful and swinging performance of the most beloved holiday classics – both fun and faith filled – think Jingle Bells, What Child Is This and All I Want For Christmas. Bonus – in addition to the instrumental selections – you will also be treated to a guest vocalist belting out their unique versions of your favorite seasonal songs. This year that vocalist is 25 year old Ashley Pezzotti – a critically acclaimed New York jazz vocalist and composer. Taking place at the Rose Theater in Lincoln Center, there are a total of five performances from December 15th through December 19th. All shows are in the evening with the exception of Sunday, which is a matinee, and is also billed as a Relaxed Performance meaning it is a great option for those with autism, those who have learning difficulties or those with other sensory and communication needs.
The Nutcracker
Even if you think you are not a fan of ballet – this timeless holiday tradition and one of the most popular NYC holiday shows each season – is sure to change your mind. Tchaikovsky’s Christmas ballet is filled with music you’ve certainly heard before even if you weren’t sure where it came from – such as the Dance of the Sugar Plumb Fairy, Waltz of the Flowers and March. And there is no doubt that seeing The Nutcracker performed by the famed New York City Ballet at the prestigious Lincoln Center is going to be an experience that far out surpasses or exceeds any expectations you may have. You can join Clara (or Marie in this case), the Prince, the Mouse King, the Sugar Plumb Fairy and all other 90 dancers at the David H. Koch Theater November 26th through January 2nd for both evening and matinee performances depending on the day of the week.
The Hip-Hop Nutcracker
Ready for a version of Tchaikovsky’s Nutcracker unlike anything you have ever seen before? The Hip-Hop Nutcracker is a dazzling display of hip-hop dance set to the emotion-invoking music of the original re-mixed and reimagined. Directed and choreographed by Olivier and Emmy Award nominated choreographer Jennifer Weber, this take on the classic Christmas ballet tells the same heartwarming story but with the bustling, energetic, bright lights of contemporary New York City as it’s backdrop. Part of a national touring company this not-to-be-missed remake of The Nutcracker comes popping, locking and breaking into Brooklyn’s
King Theater for one day only – Sunday, December 19th for a 2:00pm matinee and a 6:30pm evening show.
A Christmas Carol the Musical 2021
Ebenezer Scrooge. Jacob Marley. Tiny Tim. Bob Cratchit. And those three very enlightening spirits – the ghosts of Christmas Past, Present and Future. They are all here, live on stage performing a musical version of Charles Dicken’s tale of repentance in A Christmas Carol the Musical 2021. A tale that has been told for over 180 years – the book was originally published in 1843 – and remade into made-for-TV movies, feature films, cartoons and of course performed by numerous professional and amateur theater companies – this production, now in its 13th year, will not disappoint. So, this holiday season, treat the family to a feel-good theatrical experience that will have them proclaiming “God bless us everyone!” right along with young Tiny Tim. It’s all happening November 2nd through December 30th at off-Broadway’s The Players Theater in Manhattan’s Greenwich Village.
Holiday Brass with the New York Philharmonic
We got jazz. We got hip-hop. We got contemporary. And now we have brass and percussion courtesy of the world famous New York Philharmonic – who just happen to be the oldest symphony orchestra in the United States! This for-the-entire-family performance – a holiday tradition in its own right since 1995 – is filled with festive tunes sure to get any Grinch or Scrooge that you know in the holiday spirit. It’s all happening at the David Geffen Hall at Lincoln Center on December 16th and December 18th with only one show each day. And according to the New York Philharmonic website, there is limited availability to all performances for the 2021–2022 season and tickets are going fast – so be sure and get your tickets today for the best available seating.
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And the curtain comes down. So. So many NYC holiday shows – so little time! Hopefully, this helped to pare down your options and got that holiday spirit lit within you. Need more help? Like securing tickets for these awesome shows? Or perhaps a hotel, transportation, private tours or other holiday and non-holiday fare? Those amazingly helpful members of the Beyond Times Square customer service team are more than happy to ho, ho, help you out with their suggestions for a fun-filled, festive time in New York City this holiday season – so give them a call today to get your holly, jolly Big Apple yuletide adventure booked! And happy holidays everyone!
