Playbill

Broadway Stars Will Celebrate Thanksgiving in TV Parade Coverage Nov. 26

By Kenneth Jones
November 25, 2009

Ragtime, Dreamgirls, Alan Cumming, Jane Krakowski, Billy Elliot, Hair, Birdie, Shrek will all get screen time on Nov. 26 when NBC and CBS celebrate Thanksgiving.

The 83rd Annual Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade — marching down Seventh and Eighth Avenue to reach 34th Street, and airing on NBC-TV Thanksgiving morning, Nov. 26, from 9 AM-noon — will welcome the following troupes:

  • Bye Bye Birdie - "Put on a Happy Face"

  • Hair - "Aquarius"

  • Billy Elliot - "Shine"

  • Shrek - "I'm a Believer"

    Cheyenne Jackson of Broadway's Finian's Rainbow will appear on the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade's New York Daily News Big Apple Float and perform the song "Play to Win" in honor of the New York Yankees and their World Series win.

    The Radio City Rockettes will also appear in the parade in a number from The Radio City Christmas Spectacular..

    Tony Award winner Jane Krakowski ("30 Rock," Grand Hotel, Nine) will perform an original song written by Emmy-nominated composers Wesley Whatley and William Schermerhorn.

    Tony Award winner Alan Cumming (Cabaret) will perform "That's Life" on the M&M's on Broadway float.

    Meanwhile, on the CBS broadcast of "The Thanksgiving Day Parade" Nov. 26, starting at 9 AM (ET), the companies of the New York City revivals of West Side Story, Ragtime and Dreamgirls will perform.

    The cast of Broadway's Tony-nominated West Side Story will perform "America"; while the Dreamgirls trio will offer the title song from the hit musical that is currently playing Harlem's Apollo Theatre.

    The entire 40-member cast of Broadway's Ragtime will sing "Wheels of a Dream" and the title song from the musical in Battery Park, against the backdrop of the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island.

    Country music star Reba McIntyre, who earned acclaim for her performance in the Broadway revival of Annie Get Your Gun, will also perform as part of the parade festivities.

    CBS broadcasts "The Thanksgiving Day Parade" (covering various American parades) beginning at 9 AM (ET); check local listings.