NEW YORK , Brittney Mack, a Broadway star from Chicago, watched every Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade live on television as a child. She also had her own parade duties. She’s now getting ready to get dressed up and hit the streets of Manhattan to be part of the big one.
Mack, who is one of Henry VIII’s wives in the hit musical Six, will perform a live mashup with her castmates and band Thursday in front of a television audience of millions.
She says, “I’ve got my longjohns and it will be epic.” “I finally get the chance to meet Snoopy. It’s my dream to actually see the giant Snoopy balloon.
Snoopy will hover above the parade as it returns to pre-pandemic status, with its route through Manhattan restored and high-flying Helium balloons being pulled by handlers.
After being subject to pandemic restrictions last season, this year’s parade (the 95th annual) will be back in its original form. It will include 15 giant balloon characters, 28 floats and 36 novelty and heritage inflatables. There will also be more than 800 clowns. There will also be a total of ten marching bands, nine performance groups, and Santa Claus as the main attraction.
Ada Twist and Scientist are new balloon giants to join the lineup. Scientist is the pint-sized hero of “The Mandalorian”, while Ada Twist and Scientist are the new additions.
Mack and her castmates have been learning new choreography and going over the music. They will be practicing on the streets in front of the department shop to perfect it. Mack has ordered handwarmers as well as footwarmers for the “Six” cast members, since it is cold outside. She says, “I won’t be there to see it, but I think that the trade-off seems pretty good.”
Her grandmother will be filming the parade from Mississippi, while Mack and her family will cheer from Chicago. Mack is used to performing live, but this time it’s special.
“The adult me who has worked so hard to get there is like this: “You know what? You will be fine. It’s okay. She says, “Get it together.” “I believe I will also feel better when Snoopy is around, so it’ll all work out.”
Broadway will also be represented by the Broadway casts of “Chicago”, “Waitress,” and “Moulin Rouge!” The Musical” and Wicked will be represented by the Rockettes, along with the cast of the upcoming NBC Live production of “Annie.”
Maya Bowles will be representing “Moulin Rouge”, the Tony-winning musical. The Musical” recalls how she woke up each Thanksgiving in Atlanta to make pound cake with her mom, and then watch the parade with her family before going to grandma’s house.
She said, “It certainly does feel so special returning after this long, lengthy pause.” “So much has happened so quickly. It’s strange for me not to be with them on the holiday, but it’s amazing that I’ll be doing what I love.”
The New York Police Department stated that it would block all vehicular access to the parade route using sand-filled garbage trucks and other heavy vehicles, as well as 360,000 pounds concrete barriers. There are thousands of officers assigned to the parade route including counterterrorism units.
New floats will be led by the cast from “Girls5eva”, including Sara Bareilles and Renee Elise Goldsberry as well as Paula Pell, Busy Philipps and Paula Pell. Jon Batiste will be leading an alligator-themed parade celebrating Louisiana’s food, music and culture.
Other celebrity guests include Carrie Underwood and Jimmie Allen, Kelly Rowland and Rob Thomas. Kristin Chenoweth and Darren Criss will also be present.
There will be some returning balloons: “The Boss Baby”, “Diary of a Wimpy Kid,” Chase, “Paw Patrol,” the Pillsbury Doughboy and Red Titan from Ryan’s World. Also, Papa Smurf, Sonic the Hedgehog, and SpongeBob SquarePants.
Macy’s Parade is a tradition holiday kickoff. Spectators often line up half-dozen deep along route to cheer on 8,000 marchers, two dozen entertainers, marching bands, and floats.
The 2 1/2-mile route through Manhattan was abandoned last year in favor of a 1-block stretch on 34th Street, in front of the flagship Manhattan store. To cut down travel, many performances were taped and most parade performers were local. Instead of being controlled by handlers, the balloons were tied to specialized vehicles.
