If you live here or are visiting, here are some very Christmassy shows you can catch to raise some holiday cheer. Christmas has reached that place, not unlike Lady Gaga, where the meaning has been eaten by the tradition and, whether you belive in Christ, or anyone else for that matter, you might still share in the melting point.
"Good will to all men is a non-demoninational good cheer and in the USA we embrace our theological theories, So why Christmas might mean Chinese take out for our Jewish brothers, and bafflement for Islamic followers (who knows what the Scientologists do), leading up to it we can all join hands and have a coke and a smile.
Or as my niece once put it while watching the Living Nativitie scene at Radio city. "What are they talking about?"
Radio City Music Hall's Christmas Spectacular is well worth seeing, some of my friends make it into a tradition. I try to go once every decade though two times so far in the 21st century. The Rockettes are awesome.
The Nutcracker at Lincoln Center -Tchakovsky's music, ballet and lotsa toys coming to life. What's not to like?
Peter Pan at the Theater at Madison Square Garden. OK, a 54 year old woman playing a boy who never grows up is a little scary. But I'm hoping for a yank variation on the English pantomimes i loved as a kid.
Speaking of theater… On Broadway, Mary Poppins? Wicked? Me, I'd go with the Lion King but all of these should be fun stuff for Christmas.
If you feel like rockin' out, you have a much better chance with Darlene Love (singing "Christmas (Baby Please come Home")) than Lady Gaga sold out at Jingle Ball. And Darlene is probably better. At BB King's Sunday december 11th. On December 15th, the Wainwrights will be celebrating the season at the Town Hall. A sad one, without matriach Kate McGarrigle.
NYCB are offerring "A Christmas Carol" one night, "Cinderella's Christmas" another.
So whatever your festivus type mood, nyc will bright it to you!