- [Announcer] Bank of America.

Bank of America is proud to support local cultural programming.

Welcome to the 2024 Bryant Park Tree Lighting, hosted by Tony Award-winning performer Lea Salonga, featuring performances by world-class skaters Mirai Nagasu, Ashley Cain, Kaitlin Hawayek and Jean Luc Baker, Ryan Bradley, Ice Theater of New York, Figure Skating in Harlem, and The Skyliners.

And now please welcome your host for the evening, Lea Salonga.

- Welcome to the official start of the 2024 Tree Lighting at Bryant Park.

Thank you all for coming!

This is amazing.

(audience cheers) I am thrilled to take you on this magical evening that we have planned for all of you.

And now let's kick off the skating.

First, we have a very special duo for you from Ice Theater of New York Professional Ensemble, bringing the heat even in the coldest conditions.

Skating to "Baby It's Cold Outside," please welcome Sarah France and Aaron Singletary.

(soft jazzy music) ♪ I really can't say ♪ ♪ Baby, it's cold outside ♪ ♪ I gotta go away ♪ ♪ Baby, it's cold outside ♪ ♪ This evening has been ♪ ♪ I'm hoping that you'd drop in ♪ ♪ So very nice ♪ ♪ I'll hold your hands ♪ ♪ They're just like ice ♪ ♪ My mother will start to worry ♪ ♪ Beautiful, what's your hurry ♪ ♪ My father will be pacing the floor ♪ ♪ Listen to that fireplace roar ♪ ♪ So really I'd better scurry ♪ ♪ Beautiful, please don't hurry ♪ ♪ Well maybe just a half a drink more ♪ ♪ Put some records on while I pour ♪ ♪ The neighbors might think ♪ ♪ Baby, it's bad out there ♪ ♪ Say, what's in this drink ♪ ♪ No cabs to be had out there ♪ ♪ I wish I knew how ♪ ♪ Your eyes are like starlight now ♪ ♪ To break the spell ♪ ♪ I'll take your hat ♪ ♪ Your hair looks swell ♪ ♪ Why thank you ♪ ♪ I oughta say no, no, no sir ♪ ♪ Mind if I move in closer ♪ ♪ At least I'm gonna say that I tried ♪ ♪ What's the sense of hurting my pride ♪ ♪ I really can't stay ♪ ♪ Baby, don't hold out ♪ ♪ Baby, it's cold outside ♪ - [Singer 1] (sighs) You're very pushy, you know.

- [Singer 2] I like to think of it as opportunistic.

♪ I simply must go ♪ ♪ Baby, it's cold outside ♪ ♪ The answer is no ♪ ♪ But baby, it's cold outside ♪ ♪ The welcome has been ♪ ♪ How lucky that you dropped in ♪ ♪ So nice and warm ♪ ♪ Look out the window at the storm ♪ ♪ My sister will be suspicious ♪ ♪ Gosh, your lips look delicious ♪ ♪ My brother will be there at the door ♪ ♪ Waves upon a tropical shore ♪ ♪ My maiden aunt's mind is vicious ♪ ♪ Gosh, your lips are delicious ♪ ♪ But maybe just cigarette more ♪ ♪ Never such a blizzard before ♪ ♪ I've gotta get home ♪ ♪ Baby, you'll freeze out there ♪ ♪ Say, lend me your phone ♪ ♪ It's up to your knees out there ♪ ♪ You'd really be grand ♪ ♪ I thrill when I touch your hand ♪ ♪ But don't you see ♪ ♪ How can you do this thing to me ♪ ♪ There's bound to be talk tomorrow ♪ ♪ Think of my life-long sorrow ♪ ♪ At least there'll be plenty implied ♪ ♪ If you got pneumonia and died ♪ ♪ I really can't stay ♪ ♪ Get over that hold out ♪ ♪ Baby, it's cold ♪ ♪ Baby, it's cold outside ♪ - [Singer 1] Okay, fine, just another drink.

(chuckles) - [Singer 2] That took a lot of convincing.

(audience cheering) (audience applauding) - [Lea] Let's hear it for Sarah and Aaron again, please!

That was beautiful.

I am so thrilled to sing my very own version of a holiday classic here at Winter Village at Bryant Park.

If you know the words, I invite you all to sing.

♪ Just hear those sleigh bells jingling ♪ ♪ Ring ting tingling too ♪ ♪ Come on, it's lovely weather ♪ ♪ For a sleigh ride together with you ♪ ♪ Outside the snow falling ♪ ♪ And friends are calling yoohoo ♪ ♪ Come on, it's lovely weather ♪ ♪ For a sleigh ride together with you ♪ ♪ Giddy up, giddy up, giddy up, let's go ♪ ♪ Let's look at the show ♪ ♪ We're riding in a wonderland of snow ♪ ♪ Giddy up, giddy up, giddy up ♪ ♪ It's grand just holding your hand ♪ ♪ We're gliding along ♪ ♪ With the song of a wintry fairy land ♪ ♪ Our cheeks are nice and rosy ♪ ♪ And comfy, cozy are we ♪ ♪ We're snuggled up together ♪ ♪ Like two birds of a feather would be ♪ ♪ Let's take that road before us ♪ ♪ And sing a chorus or two ♪ ♪ Come on, it's lovely weather ♪ ♪ For a sleigh ride together with you ♪ ♪ There's a birthday party ♪ ♪ At the home of Farmer Gray ♪ ♪ It'll be the perfect ending ♪ ♪ To a perfect day ♪ ♪ We'll be singing the songs ♪ ♪ We love to sing ♪ ♪ Without a single stop ♪ ♪ At the fireplace ♪ ♪ While we watch the chestnuts pop ♪ ♪ Pop, pop, pop ♪ ♪ There's a happy feeling ♪ ♪ Nothing in the world can buy ♪ ♪ When they pass around the coffee ♪ ♪ And the pumpkin pie ♪ ♪ It'll nearly be like a picture print ♪ ♪ By Currier and Ives ♪ ♪ These wonderful things are the things ♪ ♪ We'll remember all through our lives ♪ ♪ These wonderful things are the things ♪ ♪ We'll remember all through our lives ♪ ♪ Just hear those sleigh bells jingling ♪ ♪ Ring ting tingling too ♪ ♪ Come on, it's lovely weather ♪ ♪ For a sleigh ride together with you ♪ ♪ Let's take that road before us ♪ ♪ And sing a chorus or two ♪ ♪ Come on, it's lovely weather ♪ ♪ For a sleigh ride ♪ ♪ A sleigh together with you ♪ ♪ It's lovely weather ♪ ♪ For a sleigh ride together with you ♪ - Thank you.

(audience cheers) (audience applauds) Thank you so much!

All right, everybody get ready to cheer for our next sparkling star.

Performing to "Grownup Christmas List," please welcome two-time National Champion and Olympian, Ashley Cain.

(audience cheers) (audience applauds) (soft heartwarming music) ♪ Do you remember me ♪ ♪ I sat upon your knee ♪ ♪ I wrote to you ♪ ♪ With childhood fantasies ♪ ♪ Well I'm all grown up now ♪ ♪ And still need help somehow ♪ ♪ I'm not a child ♪ ♪ But my heart still can dream ♪ ♪ So here's my lifelong wish ♪ ♪ My grown up Christmas list ♪ ♪ Not for myself ♪ ♪ But for a world in need ♪ ♪ No more lives torn apart ♪ ♪ That wars would never start ♪ ♪ And time would heal all hearts ♪ ♪ And everyone would have a friend ♪ ♪ And right would always win ♪ ♪ And love would never end, no ♪ ♪ This is my grown up Christmas list ♪ ♪ Everyone would have a friend ♪ ♪ And love would never end, no ♪ ♪ This is my grownup Christmas list ♪ ♪ This is my only lifelong wish ♪ ♪ This is my grownup Christmas ♪ ♪ List ♪ (audience cheers) (music fades) (audience cheering) (audience applauding) - [Lea] Okay, we have another fan favorite.

Please welcome our ice cool US men's champion, the one and the only Ryan Bradley.

(soft magical music) ♪ Christmas ♪ ♪ The snow's coming down ♪ ♪ Christmas ♪ ♪ I'm watching it fall ♪ ♪ Christmas ♪ ♪ Lots of people around ♪ ♪ Christmas ♪ ♪ Baby, please come home ♪ ♪ Christmas ♪ ♪ The church bells in town ♪ ♪ Christmas ♪ ♪ Are ringing in song ♪ ♪ Christmas ♪ ♪ The happy sounds ♪ ♪ Christmas ♪ ♪ Baby, please come home ♪ ♪ They're singing Deck the Halls ♪ ♪ But it's not like Christmas at all ♪ ♪ I remember when you were here ♪ ♪ And all the fun we had last year ♪ ♪ Christmas ♪ ♪ Pretty lights on the tree ♪ ♪ Christmas ♪ ♪ I'm watching them shine ♪ ♪ Christmas ♪ ♪ You should be here with me ♪ ♪ Christmas ♪ ♪ Mmm, baby please come home ♪ ♪ They're singing Deck the Halls ♪ ♪ Not like Christmas at all ♪ ♪ I remember when you were here ♪ ♪ All the fun we had last year ♪ ♪ Christmas ♪ ♪ Oh, if there was a way ♪ ♪ Christmas ♪ ♪ I'd hold back these tears ♪ ♪ Christmas ♪ ♪ Oh, but it's Christmas Day ♪ ♪ Please ♪ ♪ Please ♪ ♪ Please ♪ ♪ Please ♪ ♪ Please, please ♪ ♪ Please, please ♪ ♪ Please, please ♪ ♪ Please, please ♪ ♪ Oh, comin' home ♪ ♪ Oh, babe ♪ ♪ You know I need you ♪ ♪ Oh, comin' home ♪ (audience cheering) (audience applauding) - [Lea] Everyone please, another round of applause for Ryan Bradley.

I think my heart stopped at that back flip.

Now prepare to be dazzled as our shining stars from Figure Skating in Harlem glide onto the ice, ready to create a winter wonderland of dreams and determination.

♪ Maybe it's much too early in the game ♪ ♪ Ah, but I thought I'd ask you ♪ ♪ Just the same ♪ ♪ What are you doing New Years ♪ ♪ New Years ♪ ♪ Eve ♪ ♪ Celebrate tonight ♪ ♪ Do, do, da, da, da, do, di ♪ ♪ Celebrate tonight ♪ (bright upbeat music) ♪ Through the fire we made it ♪ ♪ Look at us now ♪ ♪ Tonight we party like Vegas ♪ ♪ Rollin' through the ups and the downs ♪ ♪ It's the age-old cross to bare ♪ ♪ Living, living, living ♪ ♪ It's more than enough ♪ ♪ To get up and out your chair ♪ ♪ Celebrate with me tonight ♪ ♪ Celebrate tonight ♪ ♪ Celebrate while we got time ♪ ♪ Do, do, da, da, da, do, di ♪ ♪ Celebrate tonight ♪ ♪ So lucky to have you in my life ♪ ♪ Celebrate tonight, hey ♪ ♪ You better, you better ♪ ♪ Do, do, da, da, da, do, di ♪ ♪ Hit the right and hit the left now ♪ ♪ Turn around and slide ♪ ♪ Oh, woo ♪ ♪ Somebody ♪ ♪ Somebody celebrate with me tonight ♪ ♪ Celebrate with me tonight ♪ ♪ Celebrate tonight ♪ ♪ Celebrate while we got time ♪ ♪ Do, do, da, da, da, do, di ♪ ♪ Celebrate tonight ♪ ♪ So lucky to have you in my life ♪ ♪ Hit the right and hit the left now ♪ ♪ Turn around and slide ♪ (audience cheers) (audience applauds) - [Lea] Another round of applause for the Figure Skating in Harlem!

From aspiring Olympians to an Olympic pair, let's welcome another duo who will be painting the ice with their brilliance.

Please welcome 2022 Olympians, Kaitlin Hawayek and Jean Luc Baker.

(audience cheers) ("Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas") (music fades) (audience cheers) (audience applauds) Thank you Kaitlin and Jean Luc.

I'm thrilled to sing an original song from my brand new album Sounding Joy, accompanied by an extraordinary ensemble of skaters from Ice Theater of New York.

(warm nostalgic music) ♪ The bells are ringing in my heart ♪ ♪ The trees are glistening all around ♪ ♪ There's magic up and down ♪ ♪ The great white way ♪ ♪ It's the heartbeat of this town ♪ ♪ December brings a festive charm ♪ ♪ It feels electric here tonight ♪ ♪ The marquee shines much brighter ♪ ♪ In the snow ♪ ♪ I'm ready in the wings to take flight ♪ ♪ The city comes alive ♪ ♪ With joy at Christmas time ♪ ♪ When all the stars align ♪ ♪ To light the way ♪ ♪ When I am far from home ♪ ♪ I will never be alone ♪ ♪ My family's grown ♪ ♪ Because it's Christmas on Broadway ♪ ♪ Put up the lights ♪ ♪ And build a roaring fire ♪ ♪ We'll revel in the glow all night ♪ ♪ Stockings are hung ♪ ♪ Saint Nick is on his way ♪ ♪ As loved ones gather 'round me ♪ ♪ Christmas dreams are burning bright ♪ ♪ The city comes alive ♪ ♪ With joy at Christmas time ♪ ♪ When all the stars align ♪ ♪ To light the way ♪ ♪ When I am far from home ♪ ♪ I will never be alone ♪ ♪ My family's grown ♪ ♪ Because it's Christmas on Broadway ♪ ♪ My family's grown ♪ ♪ Because it's Christmas on Broadway ♪ - [Lea] Thank you once again to Ice Theater of New York.

(audience cheers) (audience applauds) Now we have another magical holiday moment for you all, The Skyliners!

(audience cheers) ("Jingle Bell Rock") ♪ Jingle bell, jingle bell ♪ ♪ Jingle bell rock ♪ ♪ Jingle bells swing ♪ ♪ And jingle bells ring ♪ ♪ Snowin' and blowin' up bushels of fun ♪ ♪ Now the jingle hop has begun ♪ ♪ Jingle bell, jingle bell ♪ ♪ Jingle bell rock ♪ ♪ Jingle bells chime in jingle bell time ♪ ♪ Dancin' and prancin' ♪ ♪ In Jingle Bell Square ♪ ♪ In the frosty air ♪ ♪ What a bright time ♪ ♪ It's the right time ♪ ♪ To rock the night away ♪ ♪ Jingle bell time is a swell time ♪ ♪ To go glidin' in a one-horse sleigh ♪ ♪ Giddy-up jingle horse ♪ ♪ Pick up your feet ♪ ♪ Jingle around the clock ♪ ♪ Mix and a-mingle in the jinglin' feet ♪ ♪ That's the jingle bell rock ♪ ♪ Jingle bell, jingle bell ♪ ♪ Jingle bell rock ♪ ♪ Jingle bells chime in jingle bell time ♪ ♪ Dancin' and prancin' ♪ ♪ In Jingle Bell Square ♪ ♪ In the frosty air ♪ ♪ What a bright time ♪ ♪ It's the right time ♪ ♪ To rock the night away ♪ ♪ Jingle bell time is a swell time ♪ ♪ To go glidin' in a one-horse sleigh ♪ ♪ Giddy-up jingle horse ♪ ♪ Pick up your feet ♪ ♪ Jingle around the clock ♪ ♪ Mix and a-mingle in the jinglin' feet ♪ ♪ That's the jingle bell ♪ ♪ That's the jingle bell ♪ ♪ That's the jingle bell rock ♪ (audience cheers) - [Lea] Once again, everybody, The Skyliners!

Gliding in with grace, please welcome Olympic bronze medalist, two-time Olympian, US champion, and radiant new mom to tie, here is Mirai Nagasu.

♪ Don't cry, snowman ♪ ♪ Not in front of me ♪ ♪ Who will catch your tears ♪ ♪ If you can't catch me, darlin' ♪ ♪ If you can't catch me, darlin' ♪ ♪ Don't cry, snowman ♪ ♪ Don't leave me this way ♪ ♪ A puddle of water ♪ ♪ Can't hold me close, baby ♪ ♪ Can't hold me close, baby ♪ (audience cheers) ♪ I want you to know ♪ ♪ That I'm never leaving ♪ ♪ 'Cause I'm Mrs.

Snow ♪ ♪ Til death we'll be freezing ♪ ♪ Yeah, you are my home ♪ ♪ My home for all seasons ♪ ♪ So come on, let's go ♪ ♪ Let's go below zero ♪ ♪ And hide from the sun ♪ ♪ I'll love you forever ♪ ♪ Where we'll have some fun ♪ ♪ Yes, let's hit the North Pole ♪ ♪ And live happily ♪ ♪ Please don't cry no tears now ♪ ♪ It's Christmas, baby ♪ ♪ My snowman and me, eh ♪ ♪ My snowman and me ♪ ♪ Baby ♪ ♪ Don't cry, snowman ♪ ♪ Don't you fear the sun ♪ ♪ Who'll carry me ♪ ♪ Without legs to run, honey ♪ ♪ Without legs to run, honey ♪ ♪ Don't cry, snowman ♪ ♪ Don't you shed a tear ♪ ♪ Who'll hear my secrets ♪ ♪ If you don't have ears, baby ♪ ♪ If you don't have ears, baby ♪ ♪ I want you to know ♪ ♪ That I'm never leaving ♪ ♪ 'Cause I'm Mrs.

Snow ♪ ♪ Til death we'll be freezing ♪ ♪ Yeah, you are my home ♪ ♪ My home for all seasons ♪ ♪ So come on, let's go ♪ ♪ Let's go below zero ♪ ♪ And hide from the sun ♪ ♪ I'll love you forever ♪ ♪ Where we'll have some fun ♪ ♪ Yes, let's hit the North Pole ♪ ♪ And live happily ♪ ♪ Please don't cry no tears now ♪ ♪ It's Christmas, baby ♪ ♪ My snowman and me ♪ ♪ Baby ♪ (audience cheers) - [Lea] The moment of magic has arrived.

It is time to light up this tree!

But before we do, let's bring back our extraordinary stars who have sprinkled this evening with pure holiday wonder.

(audience cheers) Woo hoo!

Everyone, everywhere else, are you ready?

Okay, let's all count it down together.

- [All] Ten, nine, eight, seven, six, five, four, three, two, one!

(audience cheering) (bright festive music) - [Lea] Happy holidays!

♪ It's the most wonderful time ♪ ♪ Of the year ♪ ♪ With the kids jingle belling ♪ ♪ And everyone telling you ♪ ♪ Be of good cheer ♪ ♪ It's the most wonderful time ♪ ♪ Of the year ♪ ♪ There'll be parties for hosting ♪ ♪ Marshmallows for toasting ♪ ♪ And caroling out in the snow ♪ ♪ There'll be scary ghost stories ♪ ♪ And tales of the glories ♪ ♪ Of Christmases long, long ago ♪ ♪ Long ago ♪ ♪ It's the most wonderful time ♪ ♪ Of the year ♪ ♪ There'll be much mistletoeing ♪ ♪ And hearts will be glowing ♪ ♪ When loved ones are near ♪ ♪ It's the most wonderful time ♪ ♪ Yes, the most wonderful time ♪ ♪ Oh, the most wonderful time ♪ ♪ Of the year ♪