Nathan Riley ’10 will sing and dance in New York City’s iconic holiday show this season
This winter, Nathan Riley ‘10 will trade orange trees for the Rockefeller Center tree as he joins the Radio City Christmas Spectacular ensemble.
“It’s a huge accomplishment for me, as the casting of the show can be pretty competitive, so I’m grateful for the opportunity,” said Riley, an actor, singer and dancer, who will sing and dance in the iconic New York City production Nov. 13 to Jan. 3. “It’ll definitely be the highest profile show I’ve had the privilege to be part of to date. I’m so looking forward to spreading that holiday spirit alongside those high-kicking Rockettes.”
Riley majored in music, minored in theater and studied biology abroad in Salzburg. He worked in the facilities department every summer, learning valuable electrical and carpentry skills and also performed in productions of “Macbeth,” “La Traviata,” “The Fantasticks” and “L’Elizir D’Amore.” Riley also had a very special classmate—his mother, Marté Riley ‘08—who transferred to the University to finish her bachelor’s in vocal performance the same year Nathan began his studies.
Since graduation, he’s worked with the Old Globe Theatre, Lamb’s Players Theatre, Cygnet Theatre Co., the Welk Resort Theatre and Moonlight Stage Productions, founded by University of Redlands alumna Kathy Brombacher ‘71. After roles in “Hairspray,” “Guys and Dolls,” “The Man of La Mancha,” “Mixtape” and “How the Grinch Stole Christmas,” Nathan landed at Disney’s California Adventure, appearing in “Aladdin: A Musical Spectacular.” Earlier this year, he decided to “take the plunge” and move to New York City.
“It was the best choice for me career-wise as there are so many opportunities here in NYC for performers that it truly keeps you motivated, and the arts and culture keep you inspired,” he said. “I just finished up a production of “Godspell” at Westchester Broadway Theater this summer, and I am also a cast member of “Disney in Concert,” a group that travels all over the nation and internationally to sing favorite Disney songs.
“I’ll also be working on creating my own cabaret show,” he said. “But mainly I just hope to continue to grow creatively and continue to tell great stories.”
