Nov 26, 2007 2:03 pm US/Eastern
WCBS-TV Presents 'Holiday In Bryant Park'
CBS 2 HD Rings In The Holiday Season With First Annual Christmas Tree Lighting Special
Program Airs Tuesday, Nov. 27, At 7pm
NEW YORK
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CBS 2 HD anchors Kristine Johnson and Chris Wragge.
CBS
CBS2 HD proudly presents "Holiday in Bryant Park," a festive and entertaining hour-long holiday and Christmas tree lighting special airing live on November 27 at 7pm. Hosted by CBS 2 anchors Chris Wragge and Kristine Johnson and joined by weathercaster Lonnie Quinn, the special features a host of top stage, screen and television actors and performers, champion ice skaters, and a tree lighting ceremony that separates itself from the others in the NYC area.
Free and open to the public, "Holiday in Bryant Park" will be held at The Pond at Bryant Park presented by Citi and is expected to attract up to 10,000 audience members. Entertainment legend, Emmy Award-nominee and Tony® Award-winner Ben Vereen will sing Christmas favorites along with some of Broadway's biggest stars such as two-time Tony® and Emmy® Award-winner Bebe Neuwirth, Tony nominee Kelli O'Hara, and Broadway star Carolee Carmello. Drama Desk nominee Norm Lewis from the new Broadway show "Disney's Little Mermaid," and Mandy Gonzalez and Christopher Jackson from the new Broadway sensation "In the Heights" will also join the impressive line-up. Additionally, the Three Graces, a stunning new trio of singers that blend their various backgrounds, Opera, Pop and Broadway, will also perform in the special.
"We are thrilled to join forces with The Pond at Bryant Park to present this Christmas tree lighting special," said Peter Dunn, President and General Manager, WCBS-TV. "We wanted to bring our viewers an entertaining holiday program during this time of year, and with Bryant Park's various activities, shops, and visually appealing holiday atmosphere, it's the perfect partnership for our first Christmas tree lighting ceremony."
The skating performances, presented by Stars on Ice, include three-time US National Pairs Champions and World Bronze Medalists Kyoko Ina and John Zimmerman and US and World Figure Skating Champion Todd Eldredge, along with the acclaimed "Haydenettes," the 2007 US National Champions in synchronized skating. In addition, Talent Unlimited High School, featuring a choir of 28 NYC high school students, will perform and accompany some of the stars.
"We are so excited to partner with WCBS-TV this season for the first live broadcast of our Christmas tree lighting event at the Pond at Bryant Park presented by Citi," said Itai Shoffman, Executive Producer, ID&A, LLC. "We are proud to share this winter wonderland in the heart of Manhattan with all our fellow New Yorkers."
The tree lighting ceremony features a 50-year old Balsam Fir Tree from Quebec and has been decorated by award-winning Canadian designer Brian Gluckstein. The tree has been elegantly detailed with 3,000 snowflakes, stars, starbursts and twig silver wreaths, crystal and glass, and 30,000 lights. A 7-foot 3-D star sits atop the 50-foot tree, surrounded by white doves and additional lights.
WCBS-TV is part of CBS Television Stations, a division of CBS Corporation.
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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