Posted by 
Karen Isaacs
Visiting New York City to see the holiday sights – the magical store windows, the tree at Rockefeller Center, the craft markets in Grand Central Station and various other locations around the city, the terrific SantaLand at Macy’s on 34th St. – can be a delightful experience.
Why not include a theatrical event to make the day super special.
Holiday Inn, is the Broadway musical adaptation of the famous film that started Bing Crosby and Fred Astaire. This is the film that introduced the classic “White Christmas” to America. While it isn’t only about Christmas – a good piece of the show focuses on Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year’s Eve.
It is having a limited run through Sunday, Jan. 15 at the Roundabout Theatre’s Studio 54 on W. 54th Street, not too long a walk from Rockefeller Center. The show began life in 2014 at Goodpseed. Now it stars Bryce Pinkham (A Gentleman’s Guide) and Corbin Bleu. In addition to “White Christmas,” the show includes lots of other Irving Berlin songs including “Let’s the Start the New Year Right,” “Cheek to Cheek,” “Be Careful It’s My Heart,” and more. It may not be the greatest show ever BUT it is a very enjoyable evening in the theater.
Holiday Inn, The New Irving Berlin Musical is at Roundabout’s Studio 54 Theater, 254 W. 54th St., through January 15. For tickets visit roundabouttheatre.org.
If you have never seen the Christmas Spectacular at Radio Music Hall featuring the Rockettes, you should. Even if you saw it years ago, it’s time for a revisit. Each year a few changes are incorporated, especially with the new technology. It’s already been playing since the beginning of and it continues throughout the season with multiple shows every day. It’s easiest to get tickets for shows in the morning. A few changes are made to the show each year but the crowd favorites remain – the toy soldier number, the live nativity at the end, and a 3-D tour over NYC with Santa. The show is about 90 minutes. For tickets visit radiocity.com/calendar. You can make the show even more fun with a backstage tour led by a rockette which shows you parts of the theater and a collection of costumes. You don’t truly go “back stage” but you do see behind-the-scenes. Tickets for the tour should be purchased in advance.
Every person who ever taken dance lessons, needs to see the New York City Ballet’s 
famous production of The Nutcracker. The choreography by George Balanchine (from 1954) is wonderful and the audience oohs and aahs as the tree grows to the ceiling of the huge stage. It is running at Lincoln Center through Saturday, Dec. 31. The show is about 2 hours with intermission. For tickets visit nycballet.com.
Lots of other concerts and theatrical and cabaret events – from the classic to the modern, from the sweet to the cynical will be presented around New York including off-Broadway. Check out timeout.com/newyork/events-calendar.
When you are planning your holiday trip to the city you will find not only these but many other theatrical events to add to the spirit of the season.
Two on the Aisle 