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Former Medina resident reaches career high point as Radio City Rockette, this year in Cleveland run
By Rich Heldenfels
Beacon Journal popular culture writer
POSTED: 12:14 p.m. EST, Dec 03, 2008
If one of the Rockettes looks a little misty around the eyes when the Radio City Christmas Spectacular takes the stage in Cleveland's PlayhouseSquare tonight, it won't be from a stray bit of stage snow.
Former Medina resident Katie Russell admits that ''I'll probably get teary-eyed'' from performing for a hometown crowd.
The 27-year-old Medina High School graduate has been on Christmas tours with the Rockettes before — there are several traveling companies, as well as one in New York City's Radio City Music Hall — but asked specifically to be part of the show's two-week run in Cleveland this year. She managed to get home for Christmas a year ago when the touring show took a break, but this year she will have an extended stay.
It's also the first time she has been on a local stage in about five years, she said in a recent telephone interview. The last time was in Carousel Dinner Theatre's production of Carousel.
And it is in a show that draws appreciative crowds — and enthusiastic dancers. ''Being a Rockette has been a dream of mine,'' she said. ''Since I was a little girl, I knew I wanted to be a dancer.''
At least one dancer in her company is on her 12th tour, Russell said, and ''they're not going to kick you out just because you've reached a certain age.'' Asked how long she will keep coming back, Russell said, ''As long as I can. I love it. It's my favorite show.''
Russell recalled that when she auditioned in New York, ''it was the largest audition I've ever been in. There were hundreds of women.'' The line wrapped around the outside of Radio City, she said.
And she said it did not matter whether you were a veteran or a newcomer, someone dancing in the New York mother ship or on tour. The requirements were the same: at least 18 years old, between 5 feet 6 inches and 5 feet 101/2 tall (Russell squeezed in at 5 feet 61/2) and able to work through a series of tryouts that included jazz dancing and tap, as well as the famous Rockettes kickline.
Then there was the long wait, from the May audition to the phone call in July or August saying that she had been accepted.
The Rockettes are not a year-round job, so Russell also has taught dance and choreography, judged dance competitions and is ''always auditioning for different projects.''
Still, she has plenty to like in the Christmas show. One favorite number is a version of The 12 Days of Christmas that ''is very challenging.''
''Each day has a little different [dance] style, and we get to show lots of personality,'' she said.
As for the kickline, she admitted it can be grueling. ''But let's say you have a pain in your leg,'' she said. ''When you're onstage, it's amazing how quickly the pain disappears.''
She especially gets a charge out of the way children react to the show; during one number where the dancers deliberately fall, she heard a child cry out, ''Be careful!''
That brings to mind her own memories of seeing stage shows as a child, including a performance of The Nutcracker at Playhouse Square.
So when she is dancing in front of the seats where she once sat, she said, ''I'm not going to believe it. It's very 'I'm on the other side now.' ''
Rich Heldenfels writes about popular culture for the Beacon Journal and in the HeldenFiles Online blog at http://heldenfels.ohio.com. He can be reached at 330-996-3582 and rheldenfels@thebeaconjournal.com.
If one of the Rockettes looks a little misty around the eyes when the Radio City Christmas Spectacular takes the stage in Cleveland's PlayhouseSquare tonight, it won't be from a stray bit of stage snow.
Former Medina resident Katie Russell admits that ''I'll probably get teary-eyed'' from performing for a hometown crowd.
The 27-year-old Medina High School graduate has been on Christmas tours with the Rockettes before — there are several traveling companies, as well as one in New York City's Radio City Music Hall — but asked specifically to be part of the show's two-week run in Cleveland this year. She managed to get home for Christmas a year ago when the touring show took a break, but this year she will have an extended stay.
It's also the first time she has been on a local stage in about five years, she said in a recent telephone interview. The last time was in Carousel Dinner Theatre's production of Carousel.
And it is in a show that draws appreciative crowds — and enthusiastic dancers. ''Being a Rockette has been a dream of mine,'' she said. ''Since I was a little girl, I knew I wanted to be a dancer.''
At least one dancer in her company is on her 12th tour, Russell said, and ''they're not going to kick you out just because you've reached a certain age.'' Asked how long she will keep coming back, Russell said, ''As long as I can. I love it. It's my favorite show.''
Russell recalled that when she auditioned in New York, ''it was the largest audition I've ever been in. There were hundreds of women.'' The line wrapped around the outside of Radio City, she said.
And she said it did not matter whether you were a veteran or a newcomer, someone dancing in the New York mother ship or on tour. The requirements were the same: at least 18 years old, between 5 feet 6 inches and 5 feet 101/2 tall (Russell squeezed in at 5 feet 61/2) and able to work through a series of tryouts that included jazz dancing and tap, as well as the famous Rockettes kickline.
Then there was the long wait, from the May audition to the phone call in July or August saying that she had been accepted.
The Rockettes are not a year-round job, so Russell also has taught dance and choreography, judged dance competitions and is ''always auditioning for different projects.''
Still, she has plenty to like in the Christmas show. One favorite number is a version of The 12 Days of Christmas that ''is very challenging.''
''Each day has a little different [dance] style, and we get to show lots of personality,'' she said.
As for the kickline, she admitted it can be grueling. ''But let's say you have a pain in your leg,'' she said. ''When you're onstage, it's amazing how quickly the pain disappears.''
She especially gets a charge out of the way children react to the show; during one number where the dancers deliberately fall, she heard a child cry out, ''Be careful!''
That brings to mind her own memories of seeing stage shows as a child, including a performance of The Nutcracker at Playhouse Square.
So when she is dancing in front of the seats where she once sat, she said, ''I'm not going to believe it. It's very 'I'm on the other side now.' ''
Rich Heldenfels writes about popular culture for the Beacon Journal and in the HeldenFiles Online blog at http://heldenfels.ohio.com. He can be reached at 330-996-3582 and rheldenfels@thebeaconjournal.com.
Comments
Click here to post your comments
Posted 06:03 PM, 12/03/2008
Big deal! Who cares about this broad?
Posted 02:48 AM, 12/04/2008
I don't care!!
Posted 02:51 AM, 12/04/2008
who cares?
Anti-Politically Correct & Anti-GOP, OH
Posted 05:28 AM, 12/04/2008
Cute!
Posted 09:55 AM, 12/04/2008
Sounds like a great show. Have fun and welcome home.
Barberton, OH
Posted 12:15 PM, 12/04/2008
She's hot.
