Tickets on Sale for 2014 Radio City Christmas Spectacular at Grand Ole Opry House, Nashville

The Radio City Rockettes will perform beloved numbers such as “Parade of the Wooden Soldiers,” a tradition since the Christmas Spectacular’s inception in 1933, at the 2014 edition of the Christmas Spectacular, at the Grand Ole Opry House, Nashville © 2014 Karen Rubin/news-photos-features.com

Tickets are now on sale for the 2014 Radio City Christmas Spectacular starring the Rockettes, marking its 13^th season in Nashville as part of Gaylord Opryland Resort’s annual A Country Christmas, as it embarks on an unparalleled new journey this holiday season in Nashville. The Christmas Spectacular will run from November 21 – December 24, 2014.

 

“We are thrilled to announce the return of the Radio City Christmas Spectacular to Grand Ole Opry House with a re-imagined second act that will amaze fans of all ages,” said Don Simpson, executive vice president of productions, MSG Entertainment.  “Both newcomers and returning audiences will be charmed by the heartwarming new storyline as Santa Claus takes two brothers on a magical journey unveiling the spirit of Christmas.  Coupled with technological enhancements and the precision technique of the legendary Rockettes, these scenes are sure to be audience favorites.”

 

The Rockettes are known for their rich history, unrivaled talent, strength, precision and athleticism and have become one of the nation’s most beloved icons. They continue to take the Christmas Spectacular to new heights, dazzling audiences with their performance style, as it continues to be both deceivingly complex and entirely glamorous.

The Rockettes will bring audiences to their feet with the show-stopping number “Christmas in New York,” as they showcase their signature eye-high kicks and immerse audiences in the buzzing scenes and sounds of New York City. In fan-favorite scenes, including the high-energy, tap number, “The Twelve Days of Christmas,” the Rockettes will showcase their challenging and dynamic choreography.

 

The stage will come alive with scenes including “Sleigh Ride,” where the Rockettes become Santa’s reindeer, helping both Santa and the audience begin their magical journey, and “Christmas Dreams,” which will showcase the Rockettes unparalleled precision technique.

 

Beloved numbers such as “Parade of the Wooden Soldiers,” which continues to set the standard as the signature Rockettes number for precision performance, and “The Living Nativity,” both of which have been performed since the Christmas Spectacular’s inception in 1933, remain a vital part of the show’s core. Audiences will have the opportunity to lend their voices in the closing number, the “Hallelujah Chorus,” a tradition in the Nashville production.

 

In the Christmas Spectacular’s more than 20-year history outside of New York, as well as the 82-year old production at Radio City Music Hall, the show has played to more than 75 million people. The Christmas Spectacular continues to create memories that audiences have come to treasure and this year, will mark an all new spectacular experience for Nashville.

Radio City Christmas Spectacular tickets and A Country Christmas vacation packages are available online at www.ChristmasAtGaylordOpryland.com or by calling 1-888-999-OPRY (6779). Ticket prices range from $25 – $99.

 

A Country Christmas at Gaylord Opryland Resort

 

Gaylord Opryland Resort’s 31^st annual A Country Christmas will make memories of a lifetime for the thousands of people who travel from around the world to experience the most captivating holiday resort entertainment, décor and food in America. A Country Christmas^® includes more than 2 million lights and more than a dozen shows and attractions, including 2 million pounds of colorful ice sculpture at ICE!; the Radio City Christmas Spectacular starring the Rockettes^®; Restless Heart’s A Season of Harmony Dinner Show; snow tubing, ice skating and much more. Located in Nashville, Tenn., the 2,882 room resort features nine acres of lavish indoor gardens and waterfalls under signature glass atriums. Learn more at www.ChristmasAtGaylordOpryland.com.

 

See also:

OPRYLAND’S ‘A COUNTRY CHRISTMAS’ IS SPECTACULAR FAMILY HOLIDAY PLACE

NASHVILLE FOR FAMILIES: Music, Meerkats, Motorcars Are Just a Few of Fun Things to Enjoy

HONKY TONKING IN MUSIC CITY -HOW NASHVILLE GOT ITS ‘SOUND’
From Live Music Venues to Museums, You Gain New Appreciation for Country

NASHVILLE’S RICH HERITAGE:
Country Music’s Capital Shows Penchant for Classical

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Gaylord Opryland Resort Marks Start of 28th Annual Country Christmas

Louise Mandrell’s Christmas Dinner Party, part of Gaylord Opryland Resort's Country Christmas, combines a traditional holiday meal with performances by Louise Mandrell, her band and special guest Christy Sutherland © 2011 Karen Rubin/news-photos-features.com.

Nashville’s iconic Gaylord Opryland Resort kicked off its 28th annual A Country Christmas tonight in a festive celebration featuring Shrek, Alex the Lion, King Julien, Po the Panda, Puss in Boots and a host of other lovable characters from DreamWorks Animation SKG, Inc. (Nasdaq: DWA).

Presented by Coca-Cola, A Country Christmas runs Nov. 18, 2011 through Jan. 3, 2012, and includes the 10th anniversary edition of the Radio City Christmas Spectacular starring the world-famous Rockettes; ICE! featuring DreamWorks Animation’s Merry Madagascar; Louise Mandrell’s Christmas Dinner Party; the all-new Holly Jolly Town Square; Treasures for the Holidays craft show; 2 million twinkling lights and more.

A Country Christmas has been hailed as one of the “Ten Great Places to Catch up with Santa” by USA Today; “The Most Christmassy Hotel in the Nation” by the Travel Channel’s Extreme Christmas; one of the top ten places to spend Christmas in the world by Travel + Leisure and a “Nashville treasure” by Southern Living.

New for 2011 is a special Christmassy DreamWorks Experience vacation package that, for the first time ever, will provide DreamWorks fans with an up-close and personal experience with characters in a resort environment. Available for one-night with rates starting at $149*** per person and two-nights, with rates starting at $199*** per person, the package includes a series of exclusive offerings.

• ICE! featuring DreamWorks’ Merry Madagascar. DreamWorks package guests receive priority access and early admission to this life-sized winter wonderland hand-carved from 2 million pounds of ice and themed to reflect DreamWorks’ Merry Madagascar. These hilarious and colorful displays, hand carved by 40 artisans from Harbin, China, depicts the holiday television special and features such scenes as Santa and his reindeer crash-landing on the island of Madagascar, and how Marty, Alex, Gloria and Melman hatched their scheme to save Christmas.

• ShrekFeast Interactive Character Meals* feature delectable menu items only an ogre would love. Fairytale photo opps will abound as kids dine with Shrek, Princess Fiona and Puss in Boots, and discover a Magic Fountain bubbling over with chocolate potions.

• DreamWorks “Character Passport” Meet & Greets* offer a chance for enthusiasts to stroll through Shrek and Princess Fiona’s beloved swamp for a face-to-face encounter with the green ogres; explore the island of Madagascar, that Alex the Lion, King Julien and the Penguins call home; and discover China’s ancient Valley of Peace where Po has become a true kung fu master. Guests can even meet the star of DreamWorks’ newest film – Puss In Boots!

• Puss in Boots Quest for the Magic Beans Scavenger Hunt* creates fun for the entire family. Everyone will enjoy searching the expansive, indoor atriums at Gaylord Opryland on this interactive scavenger hunt. Answers can be entered online to win the grand prize!

• Family Photo* A professional photo of each family with their favorite DreamWorks character will be taken and provided to them as a special keepsake of their Gaylord Hotels Christmassy DreamWorks Experience.

• DreamWorks Character Wake-Up Calls* The immersive experience continues with a wacky wake-up call from one of the DreamWorks characters. Guests can choose from a host of their favorites for a fun way to start the day!

• DreamWorks Welcome Amenity at Package Check-In** Package guests will receive a special DreamWorks welcome amenity to commemorate their visit. (Limit one item per package, per room.)

Children will also enjoy Gingy’s Gingerbread Decorating and the DreamWorks’ Holiday Shrektacular, where families are invited to join the DreamWorks characters for a festive gathering with music, lights, dancing, and merriment in Gaylord Opryland’s Delta Atrium.

The 2,881-room resort is transformed into a holiday wonderland with all of the sights and sounds of the holiday season. Twinkling lights, exquisite decorations and trees and special entertainment around every corner add to the excitement of A Country Christmas.

Audiences can experience the magic of Christmas like never before with an all new production of the Radio City Christmas Spectacular®, starring the world-famous Rockettes®. America’s favorite holiday show—celebrating its 10th year in Nashville at the Grand Ole Opry House—is re-defining spectacular with dazzling brand new Rockette numbers and beloved favorites like the Parade of the Wooden Soldiers and the Living Nativity.

Louise Mandrell’s Christmas Dinner Party combines a traditional holiday meal with all the trimmings with sensational and awe-inspiring performances by the multi-talented Louise Mandrell, her band and special guest Christy Sutherland. With favorite Christmas songs and dizzying dance routines, Louise wows audiences with her boundless energy in the new show she has created for her final holiday season at Gaylord Opryland.

All new this year is Holly Jolly Town Square, a step back in time to a nostalgic 1950s town square, complete with all the shops from main street, a holiday kids train, story time with Mrs. Claus at the library, live entertainment, the Hall of Trees display benefiting local charities and more.

For the first time ever, admission is free for Treasures for the Holidays, a festive craft and gift show featuring more than 40 unique merchants from across the country.

The festivities continue aboard the General Jackson Showboat, one of the largest showboats in the country, with two Christmas cruise experiences. Fun-filled performances, chef-prepared meals and sweeping views of the Nashville skyline await guests on both the evening show, A Country Christmas on the Cumberland, and the mid-day holiday-themed show featuring Steve Hall & Shotgun Red.

Ticket and package information is available at www.ChristmasAtGaylordOpryland.com or 1-888-999-OPRY (6779).

ABOUT GAYLORD OPRYLAND RESORT
Gaylord Opryland Resort & Convention Center, located at 2800 Opryland Drive in Nashville, Tenn., is the largest non-gaming hotel facility in the continental United States and the flagship property of Gaylord Hotels, owned by Nashville-based Gaylord Entertainment (NYSE: GET). The newly-renovated resort features 2,881 rooms and more than 600,000 square feet of meeting, convention and exhibit space. The property is best known for its signature glass roofs and nine acres of lavish indoor gardens and waterfalls. For more information, visit http://www.gaylordopryland.com or call 1-888-999-OPRY.

See also:

OPRYLAND’S ‘A COUNTRY CHRISTMAS’ IS SPECTACULAR FAMILY HOLIDAY PLACE

For more travel features, visit:

www.travelwritersmagazine.com/TravelFeaturesSyndicate

www.examiner.com/eclectic-travel-in-national/karen-rubin

Gaylord Hotels Package Benefits Wounded Warrior Project

Gaylord National Resort just outside Washington DC. Guests who stay at any of the Gaylord Hotels this May now have the opportunity to help Wounded Warrior Project honor and empower America’s injured service men and women © 2011 Karen Rubin/news-photos-features.com.

Guests who stay at Gaylord Hotels this May now have the opportunity to help Wounded Warrior Project honor and empower America’s injured service men and women.

Wounded Warrior Project^® (WWP) is the featured charity for Gaylord Hotels’ Rooms for Good co-operative marketing and fundraising program for the month of May. The organization will receive 10 percent of the Rooms for Good package rate booked at all four of the brand’s resorts.

“Our goal is to provide unique programs and services to meet the needs of injured service members,” said Wounded Warrior Project Chief Development Officer Adam Silva. “It’s through the help of organizations like Gaylord Hotels and their Rooms for Good campaign that we’re able to continue this important work and support those who have given so much in defense of our country.”

Rooms for Good packages start at $179* per couple and include one-night accommodations and breakfast for two. A discounted package rate of $139* per couple is available for active and retired military.

The Rooms for Good program will feature a different charity each month. In addition to raising money for non-profit organizations, Gaylord Hotels will also raise awareness of the cause through its advertising, public relations and social media platforms.

“Our Rooms for Good program gives guests a chance to get away while giving back to an important cause,” said Amy Atkinson, Gaylord Hotels’ vice president of leisure marketing and public relations. “We are honored to support Wounded Warrior Project as they work to positively impact the lives of those who have sacrificed so much for our country.”

Over 40,000 troops have been physically wounded during the current military conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan. Hundreds of thousands more are estimated to be recovering from invisible wounds of war, including post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), major depression, and traumatic brain injury (TBI). Whether through caregiver retreats, combat stress programs, career and education services, or adaptive sporting opportunities, WWP empowers warriors with the tools essential to not just survive their injuries but to thrive and achieve personal and professional success.

 *The rate varies per resort and excludes tax, parking and resort fee. More information is available at www.RoomsForGood.com

About Gaylord Hotels®
Owned and operated by Nashville, Tenn.-based Gaylord Entertainment, Gaylord Hotels^® is a collection of four upscale resorts: Gaylord Opryland^® in Nashville, Tenn.; Gaylord Palms^® in Kissimmee, Fla., near Orlando; Gaylord Texan^® on Lake Grapevine near Dallas, Texas, and Gaylord National^® on the Potomac in National Harbor, Md. The brand’s hallmark— “everything in one place”— provides diverse dining options, quality spa and fitness center services, top-notch entertainment, on-site shopping and endless activities—all within each resort. For additional information, visit www.gaylordhotels.com.

About Wounded Warrior Project

Wounded Warrior Project® (WWP) raises awareness and enlists the public’s aid for the needs of injured service members, helps injured servicemen and women aid and assist each other, and provides unique, direct programs and services to meet their needs. WWP is a national, nonpartisan organization headquartered in Jacksonville, FL. To get involved and learn more, visit www.woundedwarriorproject.org.

See also:

Gaylord National Resort turns family trip to Nation’s Capital into true vacation and slideshow

On the Town in Nashville, Music City U.S.A.

Sneak Peak at “Ice: A Charlie Brown Christmas” with Charles M. Schulz’ Family

Amazing! Just got back from a sneak peak at “Ice: A Charlie Brown Christmas” with Charles M. Schulz’ family – his wife, Jeannie Schulz, son Craig, Daughter Jill, and the producer of “Charlie Brown Christmas” and the other Peanuts television specials, Lee Mendelson.
I had seen the ice carvers from Harbin, China, as they were just three days into a 40-day process that turned two million pounds of ice into eight scenes (you can see pictures at an earlier blog). To see it now, this amazing cartoon world come to “life” in ice, is indescribable.
We are all given special parkas before we enter this 9-degree “world”, and are immediately dazzled by life-sized, colorful, three-dimensional re-creations of the Peanuts characters. It is as if they had come to life, in ice.

Peanuts characters on ice, in ice at Opryland Country Christmas © 2009 Karen Rubin/News&PhotoFeatures

Jeannie Shulz, Charles’ wife from 1965 until he died, was most moved to the last room where Charlie Brown, Snoopy and the Christmas tree are surrounded by all the Peanuts characters, as you hear them singing, “Hark the Angels Sing”.

Jeannie Schultz with Charlie Brown at Opryland's "Ice" © 2009 Karen Rubin/News&PhotoFeatures

Most amazing, and fun for all, is this enormous room with four ice slides that you get to come down. Jeannie Schulz did it. So did Snoopy and Charlie Brown.

Charlie Brown goes down ice slide, where Snoopy, Jeannie Schultz wait © 2009 Karen Rubin/News&PhotoFeatures

You will be dazzled by how the famous scenes from the 1965 television classic, from the first scene on the ice-skating pond to the transformation of Charlie Brown’s tree are transformed into three dimensions.
The figures are five feet tall, fully formed and with all their color and nuanced expression, not to mention the incredible details in the wood flooring, leaves on trees, wreaths, streetlamp all made of ice – artistic marvels. It is uncanny, indescribable in words or pictures. It is magical. An icy wonderland.
Jeannie, as well as Charlie Brown and Snoopy also went down the ice slide in another room that is jaw-dropping awesome.

Charlie Brown and Linus recreated with amazing detail at "Ice" © 2009 Karen Rubin/News&PhotoFeatures

This is a phenomenon that must be seen, but it is only one element of Gaylord Opryland’s “A Country Christmas”.  Other key attractions include the RadioCity Christmas Spectacular starring world-famous Radio City Rockettes; Louise Mandrell’s ‘Joy to the World’ Christmas Dinner & Show; and General Jackson showboat.

Ice is on view daily, from Nov. 20, 2009 through Jan. 2, 2010, from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. depending on the day of the week. Ticket prices range from $13 (child) to $24 (adult), depending on the day. Children ages 3 and under are admitted free.

Two-night package at Gaylord Opryland Resort featuring room, ticket to Radio City Christmas Spectacular, Ice, Louise Mandrell, starts at $339 pp/double. For info, go to ChristmasAtGaylordOpryland.com or call 888-OPRY-872.

More complete story, photos at http://www.travelwritersmagazine.com/TravelFeaturesSyndicate.