Radio City Music Hall halts 2021 Christmas Spectacular amid COVID-19 surge
Radio City Rockettes Rockettes at Radio City Music Hall on Dec. 10, 1980, in New York, New York. The beloved dance troupe canceled the remainder of its 2021 'Christmas Spectacular' shows on Friday, Dec. 17, 2021, citing ' increasing challenges from the [COVID-19) pandemic.' (Photo by Santi Visalli/Getty Images) (Santi Visalli/Getty Images)
By Kelli Dugan, Cox Media Group National Content Desk
NEW YORK — Coronavirus has put the kibosh on another beloved holiday activity, forcing Radio City Music Hall to formally cancel the remainder of the Rockettes’ “Christmas Spectacular” shows for 2021.
Citing “increasing challenges from the pandemic,” the iconic dance troupe confirmed late Friday via Twitter that the high-kicking holiday showcase has been shuttered through the end of the year.
“We had hoped we could make it through the season and are honored to have hosted hundreds of thousands of fans at more than 100 shows over the last seven weeks,” the Rockettes wrote.
The Christmas Spectacular had been scheduled to run through Jan. 2 with multiple performances each day, The New York Times reported.
The production has been seen by more than 69 million people since its 1933 debut, WABC reported.
The news came several hours after the troupe canceled all four of Friday’s performances after an unspecified number of breakthrough COVID-19 cases were diagnosed within the company, WLNY reported.
Meanwhile, a string of high-profile Broadway shows - including “Ain’t Too Proud — The Life and Times of the Temptations,” “Hamilton,” “MJ The Musical,” “Mrs. Doubtfire” and “Tina — The Tina Turner Musical” - had already canceled performances through at least Sunday, citing breakthrough COVID-19 infections, the TV station reported.
According to the Times, seven of the 32 shows currently running on Broadway cited coronavirus concerns in canceling Friday night performances, and an eighth, a revival of “Company,” was halted 10 minutes after the curtain was raised when a cast member fell ill.
Meanwhile, the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater canceled all of its remaining performances for the week, while the Red Bull Theater canceled its remaining Off Broadway performances of “The Alchemist” and Soho Rep canceled the rest of its performances of “While You Were Partying,” the newspaper reported.
New York Gov. Kathy Hochul expressed concern after the state’s current COVID-19 case count more than doubled from just under 9,000 infections on Monday to roughly 21,000 on Thursday, WLNY reported.
Radio City Rockettes (Original Caption) New York, New York: The Rockettes on stage at Radio city Music Hall with the letter "R" on their costumes and legs raised for their classic chorus line performance. (Bettmann/Bettmann Archive)
Radio City Rockettes HOLLYWOOD, : Members of the Radio City Rockettes perform their trademark high kicks outside the Guinness World of Records Museum on Hollywood Boulevard 27 October 1999 in Hollywood, CA. The dance troupe, along with 600 high school students who were made "honorary Rockettes", set a world record for longest kick line. AFP PHOTO/ Vince BUCCI (Photo credit should read Vince Bucci/AFP via Getty Images) (Vince Bucci/AFP via Getty Images)
Radio City Rockettes The Rockettes perform 'The Parade Of The Wooden Soldiers' Radio City Music Hall in New York City, 1955. (Photo by Authenticated News/Archive Photos/Getty Images) (Authenticated News/Getty Images)
Radio City Rockettes The Rockettes tumble down in the "Parade of the Wooden Soldiers" during the 2015 Radio City Christmas Spectacular at Radio City Music Hall December 2, 2015. The Radio City Christmas Spectacular has been hosted annually at the Radio City Music Hall since 1933. The 2015 Radio City Christmas Spectacular takes place from November 13, 2015 through January 3, 2016. / AFP / TIMOTHY A. CLARY (Photo credit should read TIMOTHY A. CLARY/AFP via Getty Images) (TIMOTHY A. CLARY/AFP via Getty Images)
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Radio City Rockettes NEW YORK, NY - AUGUST 13: Rockettes Tara Dunleavy Tubridy, Nicole Baker Luftig, Melinda Farrell, Danelle Morgan, Dani Betchel, and Traci Reszetylo pose with Santa Claus as Radio City Christmas Spectacular Celebrates "Christmas In August" at Radio City Music Hall on August 13, 2013 in New York City. (Photo by James Devaney/WireImage) (James Devaney/WireImage)
Radio City Rockettes The Rockettes go through rehearsals in New York October 9, 2013 in preparation for the Radio City Christmas Spectacular, featuring dazzling dance numbers and costumes, classic favorites and a breathtaking new number Snow. The 2013 The Radio City Christmas Spectacular will run from November 8 December 30, 2013. AFP PHOTO / TIMOTHY CLARY (Photo credit should read TIMOTHY CLARY/AFP via Getty Images) (TIMOTHY CLARY/AFP via Getty Images)
Radio City Rockettes ME.Kick.Rockettes.DB.120298Anaheim With bits of paper snow in the air, members of the Radio City Music Hall Rockettes lead a kickline to the tune of Let It Snow. Eight of the famous showgirls were joined by a squad of U.S.Marines and "a cast of more than 1000" volunteers to form the "world's biggest kickline". (Quotes are from press release). A $25,000 donation to the Marine's toy drive was announced at the event by the startup cable TV concern, Radio City Television. (Photo by Don Bartletti/Los Angeles Times via Getty Images) (DON BARTLETTI/Los Angeles Times via Getty Imag)
Radio City Rockettes Members of the Radio City Rockettes dance troupe ride on the American Federation Of Musicians (AFM) parade float during the Labor Day parade on West 26th Street (near 5th Avenue), New York, New York, September 6, 1982. (Photo by Walter Leporati/Getty Images) (Scott McPartland/Getty Images)
Radio City Rockettes The Rockettes go through rehearsals in New York October 9, 2013 in preparation for the Radio City Christmas Spectacular, featuring dazzling dance numbers and costumes, classic favorites and a breathtaking new number Snow. The 2013 The Radio City Christmas Spectacular will run from November 8 December 30, 2013. AFP PHOTO / TIMOTHY CLARY (Photo credit should read TIMOTHY CLARY/AFP via Getty Images) (TIMOTHY CLARY/AFP via Getty Images)
Radio City Rockettes UNITED STATES - AUGUST 21: The weather outside is frightful - hot and humid - but Santa and his Rockettes at the Radio City Music Hall are ready to let it snow. Even the camels seem to be in agreement. They're all on hand to remind people that tickets to the annual Christmas Spectacular are going on sale at the theater. (Photo by Robert Rosamilio/NY Daily News Archive via Getty Images) (New York Daily News Archive/NY Daily News via Getty Images)
Radio City Rockettes Elliot Gould (second from left), James Caan (second from right), and the Rockettes (Photo by Ron Galella/Ron Galella Collection via Getty Images) (Ron Galella/Ron Galella Collection via Getty)
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Radio City Rockettes Members of The Rockettes precision dance company backstage at the Radio City Music Hall in Manhattan, New York City, circa 1950. They are wearing fur-trimmed costumes for a Christmas show. On the far right is dancer Gloria O'Malley. (Photo by Graphic House/Archive Photos/Getty Images) (Graphic House/Getty Images)
Radio City Rockettes The Rockettes go through rehearsals in New York October 9, 2013 in preparation for the Radio City Christmas Spectacular, featuring dazzling dance numbers and costumes, classic favorites and a breathtaking new number Snow. The 2013 The Radio City Christmas Spectacular will run from November 8 December 30, 2013. AFP PHOTO / TIMOTHY CLARY (Photo credit should read TIMOTHY CLARY/AFP via Getty Images) (TIMOTHY CLARY/AFP via Getty Images)
Radio City Rockettes The Rockettes forming a circle on stage at Radio City Music Hall, Rockefeller Center, New York City. (Photo by Hulton Archive/Getty Images) (Hulton Archive/Getty Images)
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Radio City Rockettes (Original Caption) The Rockettes, chorus at Radio City Music Hall. (Bettmann/Bettmann Archive)
Radio City Rockettes The Rockettes go through rehearsals in New York October 9, 2013 in preparation for the Radio City Christmas Spectacular, featuring dazzling dance numbers and costumes, classic favorites and a breathtaking new number Snow. The 2013 The Radio City Christmas Spectacular will run from November 8 December 30, 2013. AFP PHOTO / TIMOTHY CLARY (Photo credit should read TIMOTHY CLARY/AFP via Getty Images) (TIMOTHY CLARY/AFP via Getty Images)
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Radio City Rockettes (Original Caption) 7/14/1945-New York, NY: The Radio City Music Hall "Rockettes" line the pier as they get ready to board the ship that will take them to tour with the USO. (Bettmann/Bettmann Archive)
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Radio City Rockettes NEW YORK, NY - DECEMBER 10: Rockettes at Radio City Musical on December 10, 1980 in New York, New York. (Photo by Santi Visalli/Getty Images) (Santi Visalli/Getty Images)
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Radio City Rockettes The Radio City Rockettes rehearse for the 2019 Christmas Spectacular in New York on October 22, 2019. - The Christmas Spectacular will run from November 8, 2019 - January 5, 2020 at Radio City Music Hall. The Radio City Rockettes are the longest-running precision dance company in the US. (Photo by TIMOTHY A. CLARY / AFP) (Photo by TIMOTHY A. CLARY/AFP via Getty Images) (TIMOTHY A. CLARY/AFP via Getty Images)
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Radio City Rockettes Members of The Rockettes precision dance company with a fan backstage at the Radio City Music Hall in Manhattan, New York City, circa 1950. The dancers are wearing fur-trimmed costumes for a Christmas show. (Photo by Graphic House/Archive Photos/Getty Images) (Graphic House/Getty Images)
Radio City Rockettes NEW YORK, NY - JUNE 11: The Radio City Rockettes attend the 2017 Tony Awards at Radio City Music Hall on June 11, 2017 in New York City. (Photo by Sylvain Gaboury/Patrick McMullan via Getty Images) (Sylvain Gaboury/Patrick McMullan via Getty Image)
Radio City Rockettes Members of The Rockettes precision dance company at a backstage party at the Radio City Music Hall in Manhattan, New York City, circa 1950. They are wearing fur-trimmed costumes for a Christmas show. (Photo by Graphic House/Archive Photos/Getty Images) (Graphic House/Getty Images)
Radio City Rockettes NEW YORK, NEW YORK - NOVEMBER 13: The Radio City Rockettes perform onstage during the opening night of the 2019 Christmas Spectacular Starring The Radio City Rockettes at Radio City Music Hall on November 13, 2019 in New York City. (Photo by Steven Ferdman/Getty Images) (BAUZEN/Getty Images)
Radio City Rockettes NEW YORK - JULY 26,1949: Rockettes' rehearsal hall called "The Shredded Wheat Room" for the appearance of the acoustical plaster on the walls and ceiling. Here Russell Markert, director of the Rockettes, is teaching the girls one of the steps in a new routine. Markert has worked out this routine in advance and attains the precision in the lineup at the Radio City Music Hall in New York. (Photo by Ivan Dmitri/Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images) (Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images)
Radio City Rockettes The Radio City Rockettes during "The Polar Express" New York Premiere at Ziegfeld Theater in New York City, New York, United States. (Photo by Carley Margolis/FilmMagic) (Carley Margolis/FilmMagic)
Radio City Rockettes NEW YORK - JULY 26,1949: Radio City Music Hall Rockettes perform after days of rehearsal and routine polished to perfection at the Radio City Music Hall in New York. (Photo by Ivan Dmitri/Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images) (Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images)
Radio City Rockettes The Rockettes, bundled in warm winter coats and hats, demonstrate in front of Radio City Music Hall during a winter snowfall. Their show will come to an end after fifty years of continuous performances at Radio City Music Hall. (Bettmann/Bettmann Archive)
Radio City Rockettes WASHINGTON, UNITED STATES: Radio City Rockettes walk backstage in the cold and snow before the color guard during the "Celebration of Freedom" Inaugural Concert on the Ellipse south of the White House 19 January 2005 in Washington, DC. AFP PHOTO/ Brendan SMIALOWSKI (Photo credit should read BRENDAN SMIALOWSKI/AFP via Getty Images) (BRENDAN SMIALOWSKI/AFP via Getty Images)
Radio City Rockettes Gloria O'Malley (right) with a fellow member of The Rockettes precision dance company, backstage at the Radio City Music Hall in Manhattan, New York City, circa 1950. They are wearing fur-trimmed costumes for a Christmas show. (Photo by Graphic House/Archive Photos/Getty Images) (Graphic House/Getty Images)
Radio City Rockettes The Radio City Rockettes during The Radio City Rockettes Perform For The Holiday's At Borders Book Store - November 21, 2006 at Borders Book Store - Penn Station in New York City, New York, United States. (Photo by Jason Kempin/FilmMagic) (Jason Kempin/FilmMagic)
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