Carolina Blogger | North Carolina Blog l Family Travel

The Radio City Rockettes are in North Carolina at the Durham Performing Arts Center. It is truly a Christmas Spectacular. This was my first time seeing the Radio City Rockettes thanks to my sweet friend and colleague, Jen inviting us.

In fact, it was a girls night for us and all four of us had not seen the Rockettes. We were spoiled!

And we LOVED our Orchestra Seats.

Jen was there with her family - it was so great to see them again! It was their first Rockettes Show, too! See how excited we all are! :) Her girls were thrilled as they both take Tap and Clogging so they can really relate to all those high kicks.

The Toy Soldiers were impressive and perfection.

Jen and I had fine memories of our New York City trip to BlogHer last year together. This tour makes you feel like you are on the New York Sightseeing tour in real life. The costumes were gorgeous.

The Christmas Spectacular is outstanding and I agree with this description 100%:

"Fill your heart with Christmas as the world-famous Radio City Rockettes® bring their legendary eye-high kicks and a cast and crew of over 100 to Durham in America’s #1 Holiday Show, the RADIO CITY CHRISTMAS SPECTACULAR®. Adults will love the precision of the Rockettes in numbers such as Parade of the Wooden Soldiers and Christmas in New York. Children will love Multiplying Santas and the elves in Santa’s Workshop. Everyone will be inspired by the stunning reenactment of the very first Christmas in The Living Nativity. Create memories that last a lifetime at the RADIO CITY CHRISTMAS SPECTACULAR®, thrilling families for over 75 years! The Spectacular is perfect for EVERYONE!"

The Nativity Scene complete with Live Camels was touching! This truly kicked off the Christmas Season for us. It was wonderful to hear the Christmas Story from Luke 2.

We enjoyed great treats while on the Red Carpet. We had the gourmet Popcorn, Starbucks, Gelato, Candied Nuts, Pretzel. Get ready for some fun options. And the Candy Girl came around.

Jen and I were ecstatic. Here we are before the show - just before they pulled the red curtain.

DPAC is such a beautiful and intimate performing arts center, we adore it.

Get your DPAC Rockettes Tickets Here.

Have you seen the Radio City Rockettes? Are you going? Enjoy! And let Christmas Begin!

Warmly, Carolina Mama

The Durham Performing Arts Center is world-class! Really, in every way, this production of Phantom of the Opera takes you to Broadway! Actually, Phantom has brought Broadway to North Carolina!

Yes! It truly does take your breath away.

Mountain Man and I loved getting to see Phantom again. We saw it at the Dinner Theatre the Valentine's we were dating. So we were thrilled to see this Broadway tour here! And it is our favorite! The story is as endearing and moving as ever and done with world class performances.

Our seats were absolutely perfect - of course, close proximity will do that! It was great to have such wonderful seating. We loved taking in the Orchestra, the Sound effects, and staging. The entire production was outstanding. The set had some of the most amazing and effective special effects ever presented in Phantom of the Opera. We were amazed!

Andrew Lloyd Webber’s THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA, has arrived at DPAC, Durham Performing Arts Center, for 32 performance running through December 20th. Directed by Harold Prince. Excellent seating is still available here. Group rates benefit.

A few stats about Phantom: "On January 9, 2006, THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA became the longest-running show in Broadway history surpassing Cats’ record-holding run of 7,485 performances. The show celebrated an unprecedented milestone on January 26, 2008 when it reached its twentieth anniversary on Broadway."

What To Expect Time Wise:

Act 1: 1 hour 17 minutes
Intermission: 20 minutes
Act 2: 55 minutes
Total: 2 hours 32 minutes

Then as an added bonus an unusual twist of fate, on the way home, I got to meet one of the lead actors, Raoul, played by Sean McLaughlin of Virginia. He was so friendly and willing to have his picture made with a Phantom Fan! His voice is triumphant!