From all over the world, musicians, dancers, actors, and actresses alike dream their whole lives of making it to the stage at fabled Radio City Music Hall, and now you can, too, with the Radio City Stage Door Tour. This guided tour takes you behind the scenes of Radio City Music Hall. Along the way, you’ll learn about the history of the building, admire the structure’s architecture, glimpse private spaces typically reserved for performers, and even meet a Rockette!
History of Radio City Music Hall
Radio City Music Hall has its roots in Standard Oil fortune heir John D. Rockefeller, Jr.’s plan to reshape a portion of Midtown Manhattan that had once served as part of the campus of Columbia University into one of New York City’s most important commercial districts—the sprawling complex we know today as Rockefeller Center. After years of discussion and debate, it was decided that one of the centerpiece attractions of this massive development project would be a world-class theatre.
Ultimately, the structure of Radio City Music Hall would be laid out by the architect Edward Durell Stone, while the facility’s lavish interior was brough to life by the designer Donald Deskey. When Radio City Music Hall opened in December of 1932, its live performances were slow to catch on with a skeptical, Depression-era public, but the building itself was widely hailed as a success. Radio City Music Hall was added to the United States National Register of Historic Places in 1978, and nearly a century after its debut continues to charm audiences year in and year out.
What You See on the Radio City Stage Door Tour
Not only have many of the past century’s greatest performers graced the stage at Radio City Music Hall, but the venue itself is considered a marvelous example of the Art Deco architectural style. Your Radio City Stage Door Tour will call attention to Radio City Music Hall’s various decorative flourishes, including the site’s unforgettable foyer, its “secret” apartment space, and of course, the legendary auditorium and stage. The whole tour winds up by providing guests the opportunity to enjoy a meet-and-greet experience with a Rockette.
The Radio City Stage Door Tour runs seven days a week, lasts approximately 75 minutes, and the availability of the tour is subject to change at any time. Always make sure to check the Radio City Music Hall official website in advance of your visit to guarantee whether or not the Stage Door Tour is scheduled to run during your desired time slot.
Radio City Music Hall is one of the most famous attractions that comprises the iconic Rockefeller Center complex—which itself is in turn one of Midtown Manhattan’s trademark destinations. As a result, when your Radio City Stage Door Tour concludes you’ll find yourself in the midst of a number of world-class dining and shopping options. Other nearby attractions include the Museum of Modern Art, Times Square, Central Park, and the Top of the Rock Observation Deck, just to name a few.
Tips for Taking the Radio City Stage Door Tour
- The Statue of Liberty is included on several money saving tourist passes including the New York Pass, NY Explorer Pass and Go New York All-Inclusive Pass
- The Radio City Stage Door Tour begins at the Radio City Executive Entrance, located at 61 West 50th Street, between 5th and 6th Avenues. If you must drive to Radio City Music Hall, you’ll find very expensive parking options in the area. When in doubt, though, take public transportation. Almost a half-dozen different train lines will stop just a couple blocks from the Executive Entrance.
- If you desire flexibility in your schedule, keep in mind that you may purchase walk-up tour tickets at the Radio City Music Hall Box Office, located at the corner of 6th Avenue and 50th Street. Tickets for each Radio City Stage Door Tour are available on a first-come, first-served basis for up to one hour before said tour departs.
- While the Radio City Stage Door Tour is conducted in English, guests may request follow-along guides in Spanish, Italian, Chinese, Dutch, Portuguese, and French.