MIDTOWN — The four-legged stars of one of New York's most famous shows preened in Midtown Tuesday to tease Radio City Music Hall's annual Christmas show.
Stepping from a large, curbside trailer and squinting in the late-morning glare, camels Carol, Gabby and Ted, sheep Nikki and Brody, and Ted the Donkey (not to be confused with Ted the Camel) strode down a ramp to stand on West 51st Street outside Radio City Music Hall for a gaggle of onlookers.
The group, led by handlers from Dawn Animal Agency, strolled around the corner to Sixth Avenue for some photos with four red-clad Rockettes — the animals' high-kicking costars in the 80th annual Radio City Christmas Spectacular.
"Before shows, we used to walk them up Fifth Avenue, but the Health Department doesn't really like that anymore," said Dawn Animal Agency owner Bambi Brook. "Now we just walk them around on stage or just stand outside for an hour and a half."
The animals live on a sanctuary in Westtown in Orange County, about 75 miles northwest of Manhattan. Featured in the Christmas Spectacular's nativity scene, they're all veterans of the stage. Ted alone has appeared as many as 12 times in the show.
"When we're on stage, I say we're going to Bethlehem," Brook said.
The Christmas Spectacular runs from Nov. 8 to Dec. 30.