2018 Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade- Who gets to perform?

[Br0adway]

I was thinking about this today. Who do you think gets to perform this year? Last year we had 4: Anastasia, Once On This Island, Spongebob, and Dear Evan Hansen.

Thoughts?

[Call_me_jorge]

Maybe the Bands Visit, Frozen, and My Fair Lady.
Then for the CBS broadcast Anastasia and once on this island.

[SomethingPeculiar]

Mean Girls because it's on NBC

My Fair Lady

Pretty Woman

Come From Away

The Cher Show with Cher?

....and Elaine May and Lucas Hedges in a scene from The Waverly Gallery!


Does ABC do a broadcast also? If so, I would expect FROZEN on ABC in a big way.

[BwayLB]

No ABC doesn’t

[Bwayfan292]

With all the Kids that watch, I would hope frozen performs

[Miles2Go2]

I’m guessing:

Frozen

Mean Girls

Pretty Woman (what says Thanksgiving like prostitution?)

Either My Fair Lady or Head Over Heels (if it’s still open)

There are always a couple of performances on another network from theatre stages as well. For those I’m guessing maybe:

King Kong

And whichever show above doesn’t perform on the parade route or

Maybe Wicked to mark its 15th anniversary on Broadway.

[SomethingPeculiar]

WICKED will have just had the big special on NBC a few weeks before, so they might not feel that they need to give it more airtime. 

Adding FROZEN to my NBC list since ABC doesn't do the parade.

[Br0adway]

We have a Thanksgiving Day Parade hosted by ABC in Philly. I’m not sure if that’s broadcast all over the US but maybe that’s where Frozen will perform?

[BroadwayNYC2]

We have a Thanksgiving Day Parade hosted by ABC in Philly. I’m not sure if that’s broadcast all over the US but maybe that’s where Frozen will perform?

 

Zero chance.

[kelsey1389]

I would guess The Cher Show to give it a boost right before opening night (Dec. 3?) Mean Girls for sure, hopefully with a better song combination than the Tonys. I would love The Band's Visit, but I'm not sure how well it transfers in a big open space like that. Would imagine Frozen, and probably Head Over Heels if it's still open by then.

[Jeffrey Karasarides]

My guesses for the parade are The Cher Show, Mean Girls, and My Fair Lady - hopefully with 'Get Me to the Church on Time'. I think the fourth slot will go either Head Over Heels or The Prom.

[darquegk]

We've had pre-Broadway appearances before: with NBC allied so strongly with Universal, could Beetlejuice be making an appearance?

[JennH]

This honestly makes me forget just how many musicals open that are eligible to perform for the Macy's NBC broadcast but how little actually end up performing on it. I'd say Mean Girls then Frozen for sure, the Disney ones always do. Band's Visit merely because it's the Best Musical winner, I honestly don't think it would otherwise. Anything else is up in the air, but I'd feel like it'd be Pretty Woman if I had to guess, since it's new and not a revival. HoH is the least likely contender and it should be obvious as to why...sad but true. 

Is it usually only four slots? Obviously I know not every musical gets to perform, but has it always been four? That's seem like so little in this day and age when 10+ musicals can open in the span of one Thanksgiving to the next.

[bwayrose7]

JennH said: "This honestly makes me forget just how many musicals open that are eligible to perform for the Macy's NBC broadcast but how little actually end up performing on it. I'd say Mean Girls thenFrozen for sure, the Disney ones always do. Band's Visit merely because it's the Best Musical winner, I honestly don't think it would otherwise. Anything else is up in the air, but I'd feel like it'd bePretty Womanif I had to guess, since it's new and not a revival. HoH is the least likely contender and it should be obvious as to why...sad but true.

Is it usually only four slots? Obviously I know not every musical gets to perform, but has it always been four? That's seem like so little in this day and age when 10+ musicals canopen in the span of one Thanksgiving to the next."

It's usually four or five on NBC, and then 2 or 3 on the CBS broadcast where they go to the theatres instead of performing in front of Macy's. The NBC ones usually are the new "hits" and the CBS ones are usually shows that are still open after a season or two.

I'd say Mean Girls, Frozen, TBV, and Pretty Woman on NBC, and Anastasia, Wicked, and/or My Fair Lady on CBS.

[Miles2Go2]

Miles2Go2 said: "I’m guessing:

Frozen

Mean Girls

Pretty Wonan (what says Thanksgiving like prostitution?)

Either My Fair Lady or Head Over Heels (if it’s still open)

There are always a couple of performances on another network from theatre stages as well. For those I’m guessing maybe:

King Kong

And whichever show above doesn’t perform on the parade route or

Maybe Wicked to mark its 15th anniversary on Broadway. "

I forgot to factor in The Cher Show. I think it definitely has a shot. 

I think if The Band’s Visit gets a slot, it will be performed from the Barrymore. I seem to recall that when Come From Away performed, it did so from the Schoenfeld. 

[Miles2Go2]

Anyone think Summer has a shot at getting a slot? Thanksgiving and the parade partially play to nostalgia. Not sure what the biggest demographic other than children is for viewing of the parade. But if Baby Boomers are a sizable viewing audience, maybe?

[Br0adway]

Bringing this back. Any updates?

[dramamama611]

Don't they have to PAY to be a part of the parade? If so, I cant imagine they wouldnt take anyone that WANTS to be a part.

[treblemakerz]

Mean Girls will be performing on the NBC broadcast, per a friend in the cast.

[Call_me_jorge]

Has the Macy’s parade every seen repeat performances? For either the NBC or CBS telecasts? I’d love to see wicked perform, but I doubt it.

I think mean girls is obvious for nbc, because of the Tina Fey/Lorne Michaels connection. Frozen might. What’s the history on Disney shows performing on the telecast? Once on this island performed last year on nbc, so maybe they’ll do CBS this year. I’d also prefer to see The Bands Visit perform on CBS. My Fair Lady should perform on NBC and previous Bart shows have done so. I doubt head over heels has the money to perform with an angel investor or not. I could also see the prom perform.

[BroadwayGuy12]

Call_me_jorge said: "What’s the history on Disney shows performing on the telecast?"

Beauty and the Beast, Mary Poppins, The Little Mermaid, and Newsies have all performed on the Parade.

[Call_me_jorge]

We know who’s performing on the CBS broadcast

https://www.broadwayworld.com/article/DEAR-EVAN-HANSEN-KING-KONG-to-Perform-on-THE-THANKSGIVING-DAY-PARADE-ON-CBS-20181105

[Angelica_loves_musicals]

I’m honestly surprised Hansen is doing it again but it probably brings in a lot of views especially with the book and new “deluxe” album.

[Miles2Go2]

I assume these are the ones which will be televised from the respective theaters rather than from the parade route.

[Mike Barrett]

Miles2Go2 said: "I assume these are the ones which will be televised from the respective theaters rather than from the parade route. "

Yes! I'm actually kind of excited to see Kong and see how the puppet works.