\u2018I\u2019ve got my long johns and it\u2019s going to be epic,\u2019 says the actor, scheduled to perform with her castmates from the hit musical \u2018Six.\u2019<\/b>
\nGrowing up in Chicago, Broadway star Brittney Mack faithfully watched the Macy\u2019s Thanksgiving Day Parade on TV after fulfilling her own parade duties. Now she\u2019s getting ready to bundle up, hit the streets of Manhattan and be part of the big one for the first time. Mack, who plays one of the wives of Henry VIII in the hit musical \u201cSix,\u201d is slated to perform a mashup of some of its songs live Thursday with her castmates and band in front of a televised audience of millions. The parade broadcast begins at 9 a.m. (with a repeat at 2 p.m.) on WMAQ-Channel 5. \u201cI\u2019ve got my long johns and it\u2019s going to be epic,\u201d she says. \u201cI finally get to meet Snoopy. That\u2019s really my dream \u2014 to see the big Snoopy balloon, honestly.\u201d Astronaut Snoopy will hover overhead as the parade returns to its pre-pandemic form this year, with its route restored through Manhattan and high-flying helium balloons once again pulled by handlers. This year\u2019s parade \u2014 the 95th annual \u2014 will snap back to form after bowing to pandemic restrictions last year. It will feature 15 giant character balloons,28 floats,36 novelty and heritage inflatables, more than 800 clowns,10 marching bands and nine performance groups and, of course, Santa Claus bringing up the rear. New balloon giants joining the line-up include Ada Twist, Scientist; the pint-sized hero from \u201cThe Mandalorian,\u201d and the Pok\u00e9mon characters Pikachu and Eevee on a sled. Mack and her castmates have learned new choreography, been over the new music and will rehearse on the street in front of the department store to get it right. With the weather looking brisk, she\u2019s kindly ordered handwarmers and footwarmers for her fellow \u201cSix\u201d performers. \u201cI won\u2019t be home to watch it, but I think the trade-off is pretty good,\u201d says the actor, who has been with \u201cSix\u201d since its North American premiere at Chicago Shakespeare Theater in 2019. Her grandmother is taping the parade from Mississippi while her mom and the rest of her family will be cheering from Chicago. Mack may be used to performing live but this time is special. \u201cThe adult in me that has worked so hard to get here is like, \u2018You know what? You\u2019ll be fine. You\u2019re in it. Get it together,\u2019 \u201d she says. \u201cI think I also will feel better when I see Snoopy, so it\u2019ll all be good.\u201d In addition to \u201cSix,\u201d Broadway will be represented by the casts of \u201cChicago,\u201d \u201cWaitress,\u201d \u201cMoulin Rouge! The Musical\u201d and \u201cWicked.\u201d The Rockettes will be there, as will the cast of the upcoming NBC live production of \u201cAnnie.\u201d Maya Bowles, who will be there representing the Tony-winning \u201cMoulin Rouge! The Musical,\u201d recalls waking up every Thanksgiving in Atlanta and making pound cake with her mother while watching the parade before gathering with her family at Grandma\u2019s house. \u201cIt definitely does feel so special coming back after this long, long pause,\u201d she said. \u201cSo much has changed so quickly. I feel like, for me, it\u2019s weird not being with them for the holiday, but I\u2019m super-grateful to be doing what I\u2019ll be doing.\u201d There will be new floats led by the cast of Peacock\u2019s \u201cGirls5eva\u201d \u2014 Sara Bareilles, Ren\u00e9e Elise Goldsberry, Paula Pell and Busy Philipps \u2014 Nelly and Jordan Fisher, while Jon Batiste will be on an alligator-themed float celebrating Louisiana\u2019s music, food and culture. Other celebrities on hand will include Carrie Underwood, Jimmie Allen, Kelly Rowland, Rob Thomas, Kristin Chenoweth, Darren Criss, Foreigner, Andy Grammer, Mickey Guyton, Chris Lane, Miss America Camille Schrier, Muppets from \u201cSesame Street\u201d and the three past and current hosts of \u201cBlue\u2019s Clues\u201d: Steve Burns, Donovan Patton and Josh Dela Cruz. Some of the returning balloons will be \u201cThe Boss Baby,\u201d \u201cDiary of a Wimpy Kid,\u201d Chase from \u201cPaw Patrol,\u201d the Pillsbury Doughboy, Ronald McDonald, Red Titan from \u201cRyan\u2019s World,\u201d Papa Smurf, Sonic the Hedgehog and SpongeBob SquarePants. The Macy\u2019s parade has been a traditional holiday season kickoff and spectators often line up a half-dozen deep along the route to cheer about 8,000 marchers, two dozen floats, entertainers and marching bands. Last year, the usual 2 1\/2-mile route through crowded Manhattan was scrapped in favor of concentrating events to a one-block stretch of 34th Street in front of the retailer\u2019s flagship Manhattan store. Many performances were taped and most of the parade\u2019s performers were locally based to cut down on travel. The balloons were tethered to specialized vehicles instead of being controlled by handlers.<\/p>\n