The Radio City Christmas Spectacular cancelled due to Covid-19

For the first time in 87 years, the world-famous Radio City Rockettes will not take the stage this holiday season.

The holidays might be months away, but one things for sure: There will be no synchronized kicklines or falling tin soldiers at Radio City Musical Hall in 2020. Madison Square Entertainment, which oversees Radio City Music Hall, confirmed that the iconic Christmas Spectacular Starring the Radio City Rockettes will not take the stage this year, the company confirmed to The New York Times. 

MSG Entertainment cited uncertainty over the Covid-19 pandemic as the reason for cancelling this year's engagement. The Madison Square Garden Company also plans to lay off 350 people, which is approximately one-third of the company's staff, according to The New York Post. 

"While we believe this is a necessary step to protect the long-term future of our businesses, we continue to actively pursue solutions that will allow us to safely reopen our doors," MSG Entertainment and MSG Sports said in a statement to The New York Times, "so we're able to bring as many employees back as quickly as we can, once a return date for live events is established."

The Radio City Rockettes have been performing the Christmas Spectacular at the iconic venue since 1933, and this marks the first time the show has not gone on.