As we reported to you in a recent Cool Cleveland issue here, we're proud to be running reviews from the PlayhouseSquare STAR Reporters program. You can learn more about it by clicking the link above. Please read on for all of the young reporters' reviews of The Radio City Christmas Spectacular featuring the Rockettes below:

‘Twas the Night before Friday, and the Radio City Rockettes Were Not So Christmasly Spectacular by Robyn Marcs

'Twas the night before Friday, when all through PlayhouseSquare
Not a Christmas decoration went unnoticed, not a refreshment made without care.
At the beginning, the Rockettes danced with antlers in their hair
And people were happy to see them at the State Theatre with their graceful air[s].
The children were smiling with grandparent and parent
But throughout the show I was bored, counting the days until I see “Rent.”
My watch in my purse, my coat in my lap
I was starting to settle down for a nice long nap,
After each dance number arose such a clatter,
I finally woke up to see what was the matter.
The Rockettes’ high-kicks were so precise they looked like flashes
Especially during my favorite scene, the Parade of the Wooden Soldiers, with their white sashes
I will never forget the seemingly-real snow
A-twinkling down to the dancers below,
Towards the end of the show, what to my wondering eyes should appear,
But two large camels for the Nativity scene, perking their ear[s]
The scene, however, could have been better,
But at least they followed the story to the letter.
In a different scene, the ensemble dancers came,
They whistled, and shouted, doing dance moves I never could name;
During the “Christmas Dreams” scene, they danced a waltz and anything they could mix in.
Later, the Rockettes came on in dresses so short, that each looked like a vixen.
And then everyone started to quickly look at the box by the left wall…
This was because there was no sound coming from it at all!
Everyone in my section of the theatre cried, “Oy vey!”
We now knew the Rockettes did not sing live, what could we say?
But the performers went on dancing, and it was “on with the show…”
And the audience did not react like they were in a story by Edgar Allen Poe.
There were many animals in the show, but not your average dogs that say woof
There were sheep, a donkey, and camels—the latter I learned does not have a hoof.
And I could never forget the Tchaikovsky Teddy Bear Scene when “Santa” looked for a kid all around,
He chose a pre-picked girl, to all the kids’ dismay, and she came on stage with a bound.
The scene then opened to bears all in fur, from their head to their feet
The best sequences were the Chinese Pandas and Russian Bears, who danced without missing a beat.
After this scene, I felt all was cheesy, there was no turning back.
If this wasn’t the infamous Rockettes, I would have sprung and attack’d.
They were too false, they were not really merry!
As for the man playing Santa (Scott Wilis), I saw him as a big cherry!
His accent was overdone; he never once noticed the “North Poles’ cold.
Of this “Spectacular,” I was not sold.
The lady who played Mrs. Claus (Bethe B. Austin)—don’t get me started!
Her bad acting definitely went uncharted!
The worst scene by far was “Santa’s Workshop,” it was very overdone!
I clearly remember the “Little Shop of Horrors” “living plant” pun!
There was too much to look at; it all just confused me.
This scene had more peppy dancing that I could bear to see:
A move of the dancing trees’ mouth and a twist of their head,
Their bright colors and strange costume I began to dread;
Another odd scene was Santa’s song, “I’m There,”
During which, I really wished he would vanish into thin air.
There were many Santas that sprang from the empty abyss
When the song finally ended I was in a state of bliss.
But there is not much more to say, nor much more to rant about;
I hope I never see another singing Santa, fat and stout,
So this review I end with my final insight:
"Happy Holidays to all, and to all a good-night."

The Radio City Rockettes Christmas Spectacular runs from December 4-28, 2008. Tickets are available online at http://www.playhousesquare.org or by phone at 241-6000.

The Radio City Music Spectacular by Adrienne Nelson

As advertised, The Radio City Music Spectacular is truly an event for the family. Specifically, it is for the kids. They will be in awe of The Rockettes in their glittering costumes and their world famous high-kicks. During the six appearances of The Rockettes, I was hypnotized by their mesmerizing moves and their exact precision of staying in formation while dancing. Throughout the rest of the show though, I found myself uninterested. The “filler” dancers, who appear on stage while the Rockettes deservedly rest their feet, dance well but without personality. Santa Clause, the other star of the show, MCs the spectacle. He is his usual self, overly jolly and full of love and bad jokes. Santa’s numbers were mildly amusing but otherwise, not very remarkable.

As a first timer for the Rockettes, I have come to realize that The Radio City Music Spectacular is a nostalgic experience. I felt that if I had seen the show at a younger age, I most likely would have been much more fascinated and full of Christmas cheer during the show. Not only is the show nostalgic, but it is a tradition. Both scenes, The Parade of the Wooden Soldiers and The Living Nativity, have been part of the show since 1933. The Parade of the Wooden Soldiers scene was the most spectacular of the whole production. The rockets were at their best tapping, kicking, smiling, and doing fun tricks including a slow motion, domino-effect fall. On the other hand, The Living Nativity seemed to have nothing to do with the show. I understand it is a tradition to include this scene in the show, but it seemed very abrupt, pasted onto the show after the grand finale. Yes it included seven cute furry creatures and beautiful costumes, but it seemed odd to all-of-a sudden add a very religious tone to a show that mostly focuses on the less religious aspects of Christmas.

Add attending The Radio City Music Spectacular to your children’s Christmas experience at an early age. This show will foster good memories and put your kids, and maybe you, into the warm holiday spirit. The Radio City Music Spectacular will be showing the State Theatre at PlayhouseSquare through the December 18.

A Spectacular Show for all Ages by Alex Neidert

For more than 70 years, the Radio City Rockettes have been giving performances to millions of people. But their most famous performance is The Radio City Music Spectacular. Known for their high kicks and sensational dance routines, the Rockettes have danced their way into Cleveland for the holidays.

Full of whimsical tales, and jaw dropping, spectacular dance numbers, the Christmas Spectacular is a must see for all families. Any person, whether you are 8 years old or 70, could enjoy this fun, warming show. There is something for everyone.

For all of you older folks, the Rockettes still do the "The Parade of the Wooden Soldiers" and "The Living Nativity." But there are some new additions to the show, such as "The 12 Days of Christmas," a dazzling tap routine where as you can imagine, depicts the 12 days of Christmas. For the younger folks (I would say the little ones, but the young at heart could get the same thrill) waiting for Santa Claus, you may be a bit surprised to see so many Santa Clauses everywhere. In the number "I'm There" Santa himself explains just how one person can be in so many places at the same time.

Besides the well known routines, a whimsical cute favorite is "The Nutcracker: A Teddy Bear's Dream" featuring different types of bears, performing the numbers from the ballet The Nutcracker. I must admit, I was a little shocked by a few of the bear costumes, but I will admit that it has to be extremely difficult to dance in a huge bear costume. A personal favorite of mine, and one of the best dances in the "Bear's Dream" were the Russian Bears dancing to Trepak. All in all, the whole number was very enjoyable.

Even with Santa Claus, and a couple of bears, and a few crazy shoppers ("Christmas in New York"), nothing can beat the Rockettes. The show, which features a grand total of 300 eye-high kicks, has 22 girls that can line up for a kick line, or be scattered all over the stage and be in time with everyone. They add that touch to the show which just blows everyone away.

The Radio City Music Spectacular starring the Rockettes is truly a Christmas Spectacular. The show is a must see for every family. The Radio City Music Spectacular is currently running at PlayhouseSquare from December 4 – 28. To order tickets visit http://www.playhousesquare.org or call 241-6000.

Christmas Comes to Cleveland Early With the Rockettes by Claire Weibel

The Radio City Music Spectacular starring the Rockettes is a great way to start this holiday season with a show that the whole family will enjoy. It cannot be denied that the Rockettes are truly spectacular with a performance that leaves you longing for more. The Rockettes brightened the State Theatre with each number, particularly The Parade of the Wooden Soldiers and The Twelve Days of Christmas. With 300 perfectly synchronized eye-high kicks, it is mesmerizing.

The entire setting invites holiday spirit, from sets and costumes to lights and artificial snow. More than 300 amazing costumes and 200 hats pass the stage, and the lights of the Christmas trees on each side of the stage periodically change colors with the numbers. Close to 100 pounds of paper snow fall onstage during the show, adding to the holiday feel of it all. Another spirit-lifting scene is when Santa decides to take things over to New York City. With a video clip of beautiful aerial views of the city, it takes the show to the streets of New York, shining at its best for Christmas. The New York skyline is absolutely dazzling and makes you feel you are really there.

The scenes that filled in between the Rockettes’ numbers were most definitely memorable. One performance is The Nutcracker: A Little Girl’s Christmas which includes dancing teddy bears. Nineteen large bear costume characters pull off elegant dances, each one from a different part of the world, from pandas to polar bears. The dances are particularly impressive since the costumes weigh from 30 to 60 pounds. It calls for some laughter and amusement, and children will love every minute of it.

And, of course, there is Santa Claus himself. His attempts at being jolly go a little over the top and make him seem rather creepy. It doesn’t help with his number I’m There. Instead of spreading holiday cheer and excitement for Christmas as it should, it comes across as a stalker song, and if one weird Santa isn’t enough, let’s add about thirty more. But where would Santa be without Mrs. Claus? She just so happens to be the perfect second half of this couple – equally as strange.

The show closes with The Living Nativity which features live animals including a donkey, sheep, and even camels. It is a nice way to finish, and after so much focus on Santa Claus, it brings back the true meaning of Christmas.

This is most definitely a family show that all children will love, and parents and grandparents are sure to enjoy seeing the joy on their children’s faces at seeing Santa and the dancing teddy bears. Adults will appreciate the dances by the Rockettes and ensemble, and by the time you leave the theatre, you will be filled with plenty of holiday cheer. Now at the State Theatre, The Radio City Music Spectacular starring the Rockettes is playing until December 28. Tickets can be purchased online at http://www.playhousesquare.org or by phone at 241-6000.

Clean…Yes! Spectacular…Maybe? by Danielle Mendheim

Do you “Need a Little Christmas” around this holiday time? Then it must be time get the whole family together and head on down to The Radio City Christmas Spectacular, now playing at PlayhouseSquare from December 4-28.

Radio City is generally known for the Rockettes. However, the Christmas Spectacular includes Santa Clause, Mrs. Clause, and a few extra dancers. Maybe you want to know the “storyline.” Well that is the problem I have been having for the past few hours. No defined plot exists between any of the characters. Of course there is dialogue, but it is minimal compared to the dancing. The segues seemed to just carry you from one number to the next without creating a climax.

Speaking of the dancing, that is one of the reasons the production can be called “spectacular.” Every dance was perfect, especially “Christmas Dreams” where everyone dressed in white. Once again that presented a problem. The audience could predict almost every move. First there was some dialogue. Then a small dance including Santa. Finishing with the Rockettes who always ended with their famous line-kick. It was very anticipated.

This production gave an interesting perspective on Christmas and Santa. Every dance had its own twist. For example every child loved the giant teddy bears, giant pandas, and the giant rag dolls. Also, no one can resist the “Parade of the Wooden Soldiers” danced by the Rockettes. This was one of the times when their precision was very characteristic of the role since they were playing the part of military men. To add to this, the scenery and special effects were stunning! After every scene the back round would change and more bright Christmas colors would appear. I would definitely call the entire play extravagant.

It was refreshing for me to see a clean family play. While sitting in the crowd, I kept on thinking how my little sister would love it. Not often are theater productions great for all ages. Although Radio City may be slightly slow for adults, children will love it and everyone will get into the Christmas spirit.

At the very end of The Radio City Christmas Spectacular there was the beautiful story of the Nativity. Everything about the story of Jesus Christ was realistic and factual. My heart was moved and brought back to the real reason for the season. So be prepared to have an enjoyable experience during the last scene.

Go to http://www.playhousesquare.org or call 241-6000 for exact dates, times and ticket availability.

Rockettes Less Than Spectacular by Drew Factor

Santa Claus is coming to town. Or, rather, he arrived Tuesday night at PlayhouseSquare, and he brought with him that famous group of cheery dancers, the Rockettes. It all begins with a lovely blue curtain, flanked by two well lit Christmas trees. You feel like you might be in for a fun evening, but then the curtain opens and the show begins. The whole time, I kept wishing for the curtain to close so I could relive the moments of happiness I experienced before I had confetti, Santa and Jesus thrown into my face. The show is simple; on top of those infamous kick-lines we all are familiar with, there’s also numerous Christmas-themed dance skits, including the "Parade of the Wooden Soldiers," in which the dancers march around the stage dressed as toy soldiers and then fall like dominos across the stage, and a cloying, laughable Nutcracker sequence involving a dancing cast of people in bear costumes. After about five minutes of this overwhelmingly perky dancing madness, you begin to feel like you are being force-fed maple syrup and Mountain Dew.

And yet, those intrepid hoofers keep tapping, bouncing and kicking until it becomes nearly unwatchable. The show's conclusion, which may be the only scene that doesn’t feel like an overdose of good cheer, is a Nativity, complete with a live camel. Now, you know you have a problem when the best performance of the show comes from the camel. The good news is that this blaring display of precocious Christmas spirit is somewhat brief, although it was one of the most astoundingly empty shows I have ever witnessed. The show’s trifling and mostly pathetic attempts at creating characters and scenes all fail miserably, never more so with the scenes involving Mrs. Claus, who is portrayed by an actress who seems to be sucking on helium. Also, there’s something involving elves and a bunch of energetic ensemble members who seem to pop up here and there. Further, there isn't even any live singing; it's all prerecorded. At least the dancers (mostly) dance with intense precision, never missing a beat or a moment to show off their blindingly white smiles, often preening like 5-year-olds at their first dance recital.

But honestly, people at Christmastime really seem to dig this kind of schlocky, mindless drivel, and the more sparkly and rambunctious it becomes, the happier they are. And for those who are inexplicably entertained by endless and merciless kick-lines and merciless feigned joy, then you are really in luck. Unfortunately for those people in the audience who enjoy something witty or even remotely interesting, there is nothing to fit that description, and, it should be said, they are in store for one stale batch of holiday cookies. The Radio City Christmas Spectacular runs at PlayhouseSquare's State Theatre through December 28. Cynics attend at your own risk.

The Rockette Horror Dancing Show By Drew Scheeler

It’s astounding, and somewhat confounding, why the Rockettes are here in town. Unfortunately, unless you’re four, ninety-four or forgetful there is absolutely reason to see The Radio City Christmas Spectacular, playing now through December 29 at PlayhouseSquare. The Rockettes are back, this time with a show virtually indistinguishable from last year’s show. Why change a good thing, right? The real question is why hasn’t this show gotten a major overhaul to make it watchable? Even with a “special guest” to liven up the festivities -- spoiler alert: it’s Santa Clause -- by the show’s end, most of the audience leaves with their festive spirits drained.

If you’ve seen the commercials there is no reason to see the show because you have already seen all of its best moments. Grandparents should be read a disclaimer: this is not the show you saw in 1977 because this show features a disco-dancing, rappin’ Little Person. The precision dancing is very entertaining and done well, but the sheer muckiness of the other scenes destroys any sense of continuity in quality. The opening reindeer scene is genuinely entertaining, as is “The Parade of the Wooden Soldiers”; “Soldiers” has been part of the Rockette repertoire since 1933 and proves that the show could be successful if it cuts out the far too many disco numbers. All numbers end on the exact same note: the Rockettes line up to do their signature kickline. Thankfully, the kickline is right on, but it begins to get old after scene eleven.

The assumption that all children will automatically love the Rockettes is immediately called into question, as one little girl in the audience stood up and blurted “where’s Santa at?” during the first number. During a subsequent dance, when thirty Santas descend upon the stage, the same little girl was nearly brought to tears and cried “But there’s only one Santa?” Fun for the whole family is a relative term if young children are recognizing the performance’s flaws and becoming traumatized by them. What does The Radio City Christmas Spectacular have in common with both Star Wars and An Inconvenient Truth? All three feel that reading narration over scrolling text is a highly efficient way to tell a story.

There is just one small problem; the closest thing the Rockettes have to a story is Santa delivering idiotic two sentence monologues between each scene. When Mrs. Clause appears in the second act, the audience is greeted by a woman who is one part Chenoweth, one part Lansbury and one part senile.

After seeing “The Living Nativity” a question was raised: “why even bother with recreating the nativity using live animals?” The featured sheep, probably noticing how futile his existence was, seemed to be planning his escape while he circled his shepherd with cord. The absurdity of the situation was augmented by the sudden appearance of camels which caused this reporter to begin laughing hysterically in his seat. Normally, this would have been highly embarrassing but once several other audience members joined in, the spirit of the holidays appeared for the first time.

The Nutcracker Suite was a particularly appalling scene. Here is its recipe: take a classic score, add rejected Disney character costumes, thrown in a touch of political incorrectness, cook for half the time needed and serve to the audience. The end result is a half-baked scheme that is more toxic than the gingerbread that Mrs. Clause is prone to mention when the dancers need to change their costumes and Mrs. Clause is responsible for stalling. Roles the girls assume in this scene include three Asian stereotyped panda bears, a belly dancing I Dream of Jeanie Bear and a bear that can only be described as Harvey Fierstein Bear because it is big, wears gaudy makeup and is played for campy laughs.

Beyond the obvious flaws in the story, the production values appeared to be especially subpar. The aerial film projection of New York City, a prerecorded video that should have been a guaranteed complement, looked like the opening credits to The Mary Tyler Moore Show complete with grainy imagery and requisite light jazz music. When tree costumed dancers appear on stage, the show quickly digressed into Little Shop of Horrors, Rockette style with enough strobe lights to cause epileptic seizures. During the final number, the CD stopped playing through the left speaker resulting in an a cappella performance that exposed just how weak the singers really are. The wires hanging from the ceiling were also incredibly distracting. All of these problems could be easily avoidable if the crew could make a few simple changes.

Apparently, the true secret to enjoying the Rockettes is to load up on a pitcher of (non-alcoholic) eggnog before you arrive. I picked up just as much holiday cheer by listening to carols on the radio during the car ride to the theatre. And you can turn off the radio and end the music any time you want to.

This performance gets an “F” for furious feet flailing fortuitously. If for some reason you do want to see the show, there are still 46 performances left.

A Spectacular Dance Show by Jacob Oet

The Radio City Christmas Spectacular is a show featuring dancing and singing with a Christmas theme. The dancing is excellent with astounding accuracy: no foot in a kick line is so much as an inch off. The colorful scenery complements the rest of the show nicely by providing an elaborate backdrop to whatever is going on in the scene on stage and creates a festive mood. (During one scene the stage is made to accurately resemble 5th Avenue in New York City). The animals (sheep, camels, and a donkey) also make the show more interesting and fun.

However, there are some negatives. The show has no plot. The songs are presented cheerfully but without coherent transitions between them. Also, the performers seem to be much better at dancing than singing and acting.

In conclusion, if you want to see a musical show featuring good acting and singing, this may not be the show for you. On the other hand, if you want to enjoy yourself and see good dancing and set design, come to PlayhouseSquare and see the show for yourself. The show plays in Cleveland December 4 through December 28, 2008.

Radio City Christmas Spectacular By Iesha Wright Christmas is a moment when familiess and friends gather together and celebrate this wonderful time of the year. But how can you show such a wonderful time to your family? It has to be fun! It has to be exciting! And make you see the joy of Christmas! Why not take them to see The Radio City Music Spectacular starring the unforgettable and incredible Rockettes? This magnificent play is truly a fun fill production for the family as Santa shows us the fun and true meaning of this enjoyable holiday. Scott Willis plays the jolly old man with the red coat and the long white beard. Bethe B. Austin played a good Mrs. Clause, full of humor that keeps you laugh all through out the play. Not only did the play have great actors but also had great choreography and The Rockettes were incredible. It so amazing how they were on cue and on beat with their dancing. The last scene in the play was the traditional Nativity. The scene was so majestic and moving. It also had an incredible choir with beautiful and breathtaking voices and live camels and sheep. The play had a wonderful amount of color and lights, just the right amount of creativity and a magical touch to make a child eyes grow large with excitement.

The musical is truly a delight to the holiday season. When they say Christmas Spectacular they truly mean Spectacular! The Radio City Music Spectacular plays December 4 - 28 2008 at the Palace Theatre at PlayhouseSquare.

Radio City Christmas Spectacular by Hilary Blank

The Radio City Music Spectacular is a fun and charming show for the whole family. The scenery and costumes are dazzling and festive. If a dramatic and heart wrenching play is what you are looking for, you will not find it in The Radio City Music Spectacular. What you will experience is a smart and catchy upbeat extravaganza that celebrates the holiday season. The Rockettes are simply perfect. Every single dance move is amazingly on point. Mr. and Mrs. Claus are incredibly entertaining, especially during their duet love song. Mr. Claus, a.k.a. Santa, hosts the whole show with holiday cheer and silly dancing. The highlight of the show is “Christmas in New York.” Santa Claus, The Rockettes, and the rest of the cast sing beautifully as they discover the magic of Christmas in Manhattan. The finale is what really makes this show special. The final scene, “The Living Nativity,” has been part of The Radio City Music Spectacular since 1933. The story of Jesus’ birth is enhanced by the appearance of live camels, sheep, and donkeys right there on the stage. This is one holiday celebration you won’t want to miss. The Radio City Music Spectacular will play PlayhouseSquare from December 4-28. To order tickets go online to http://www.playhousesquare.org. Remember, it won’t be here for long, so get your tickets today, and treat yourself to the perfect gift this holiday season. (:divend:)