NewsPHOTO CALL: Audra McDonald, Ariana Grande, Kelly Clarkson Rehearse "Christmas in Rockefeller Center""Christmas in Rockefeller Center," NBC's annual celebration of the lighting of the world’s most famous Christmas tree, will be broadcast live from Rockefeller Center Dec. 4 at 8 PM ET. Here is a look at a few of the performers in rehearsal, along with some shots from last year.
By
Matthew Blank
December 03, 2013
Hosted by “Today” anchors Matt Lauer, Savannah Guthrie, Al Roker and Natalie Morales, the one-hour concert features the talents of Mary J. Blige, Toni Braxton, Mariah Carey, Kelly Clarkson, Kenny “Babyface” Edmonds, Goo Goo Dolls, Ariana Grande, Jewel, Leona Lewis, Tony winner Audra McDonald, Ashanti and Lauren Alaina.
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Audra McDonald, Ariana Grande, Kelly Clarkson Rehearse "Christmas in Rockefeller Center"
The 81st annual holiday extravaganza also features a 76-foot Norway Spruce that is 47 feet in diameter and weighs approximately 12 tons. The tree is estimated to be about 75 years old. More than 45,000 energy-efficient, multi-colored LED lights were strung to decorate the tree, topped with a nine-and-a-half foot wide LED-lit Swarovski crystal star.
Prior to this year's primetime telecast, an additional live hour of the special, running 7-8 PM ET, will be broadcast by the following NBC stations: WNBC/New York; WCAU/Philadelphia; KSNV/Las Vegas; WBBH/Fort Myers, FL; KHNL/Honolulu, HI; WNWO/Toledo, OH; WTWC/Tallahassee, FL; WVIR/Charlottesville, VA; WETM/Elmira, NY; WGBC/Meridian, MS; KHBC/Hilo, HI; and KOGG/Wailuku, HI.
"Christmas in Rockefeller Center" is produced by Brad Lachman Productions with Lachman serving as executive producer. Bill Bracken produces.
The production will include Bernstein’s incidental music for Lillian Hellman’s adaptation of The Lark, and Menotti’s The Unicorn, The Gorgon, and The Manticore.
Based on the novel and film by Frank Cottrell Boyce, the new musical will reunite Guettel with Tony-winning Light in the Piazza director Bartlett Sher.